In two days, Lancaster’s political parties will be canvassing the town seeking candidate petitions for primary ballot eligibility to fill the vcated council seat in the recent election.

Former council member Dawn Gaczewski who recently ran for Town Supervisor and lost by 130 votes, has been endorsed by the Republican and Conservative Parties. The Democratic Party will hold a committee meeting Monday night to endorse and announce its candidate. Haven’t heard regarding the Independence Party endorsement.

One can be assured that as in the recent election, there will once again be ‘spoilers’ gathering primary petitions attempting to siphon off votes from the endorsed candidates hoping to dislodge the party-endorsed candidate form the ballot line. That’s politics 101.

With the current town board make-up of two Republicans and two Democrats, this year’s primary and election is of utmost importance and should actually focus on town related issues, future town direction in growth and accommodating for said growth, and overall community best interests.

One would hope that today’s voter focuses on signing a petition, or casting a future vote not based solely on party line affiliation or ‘hey I know that person and they are nice and getting my support’. Candidates should be knowledgeable and/or experienced in town politics to answer questions regarding issues that plague the town and present a plan for remedy. Issues like overburdened roads, traffic and traffic safety issues, wanton destruction and filling of wetlands (for developer best interests) and resulting flooding and drainage issues, infrastructure, low water pressure, growing debt load (near $1 million per year in interest payback), etc.

We are now faced with a $6.2 billion state debt and where our esteemed Governor is looking to close that debt load by pushing back on the counties and school districts. Our county taxes just increased by over 12%. Our town spending and taxes have increased. We are well into a reassessment and hearing nothing and where the final tax roll is due in July. Where are the promised informational meetings? What are the candidates thoughts on the outrageous Condominium Law 339-y tax breaks where some recipients are receiving tax breaks that far exceed the costs of providing for town services not received; in fact, their entire Association fees, and then some.

Unlike last year’s primary and election, we should not be hearing what the other candidate is not doing, but what this candidate plans to do. Last year’s primary was downright deceitful and corrupt, we don’t need a replay.

Hopefully, residents will be considering addressing more than why their garbage was not picked up when talking to the candidates. There are residents who are voicing concerns on whether they can continue to afford paying the taxes to live in this town.