Geneseo Dems Pick 3 With College Ties for Town Council

GENESEO – A Geneseo Democratic caucus designated three candidates with ties to SUNY Geneseo for the three Town Council seats that are up in November.

The caucus designated SUNY Geneseo student Wesley D. Ebersole, SUNY Geneseo professor Tony Macula and Leah Fletcher, wife of SUNY Chancellor’s Award-winning SUNY Geneseo professor Dr. Kurt Fletcher, without contest.

“I do not have a speech prepared, thank you for this,” said Ebersole, a 3rd-year political science major who is working on minors in conflict studies and legal studies minor. “I’ve always lived in the area, always loved Geneseo and it’s been a hub of my activity since I moved here from Byron Bergen when I was 6 years old. […] I really think Geneseo is a wonderful place that really exemplifies what it’s like to live in a small town in upstate New York. I would be more than happy to represent the residents and the individuals so represented by the Town Council.”

“One of the reasons I want to be on the board is to keep Geneseo vibrant, welcoming and affordable community,” said Fletcher, who has lived in Geneseo for 23 years. “If you have any specific concerns about issues that might be related to the Town Board, please let me know because I’d love to hear about them.”

“I will pledge to do my best to win with respect, integrity, with commitment to Democratic principles of the social compact and general welfare,” said Macula. “And I pledge to put evidence over ideology. I learned that in Washington and that’s the way I would operate if I win.”

About 25 democrats attended the caucus.

“I’m all for younger people in our political system,” said Constance English, who nominated Ebersole. “Younger people in this community need someone to represent them.”

Incumbent Town Council member Roberta Irwin, a Republican, was in attendance. English also moved that the caucus limit nominations to only members of the Democratic Party, which the caucus did.

“I was just there to observe, not seek any nomination,” said Irwin. “I’m invested as a Town Board member and as a member of the community.”

The election is Nov. 7.