Need for an Able, Truth-telling Town Clerk Who Understands the Job
The Lancaster Town Republican Committee recently endorsed for re-election the current town clerk, Diane Terranova. Terranova ran 4 years ago on the Democratic ticket. The endorsement says something about the Republican Committee's regard for the great job Terranova is doing. Terranova understands the role of the town clerk, having been part of the office team for over 14 years. She has ably fulfilled all responsibilities.
A local Republican candidate, Anne V. Desiderio, is pursuing a June 25th primary day challenge on the Republican line against Terranova. Candidate Desiderio appears not to understand the job of town clerk for which she is a candidate. Desiderio also appears to believe that in politics it is okay to misrepresent the facts. Speaking truthfully to the public apparently is not her priority.
Desiderio has crossed the line of campaign ethical decency and engaged in campaign deception in her local mailing and press releases. The town board approved a new contract for garbage collection. Desiderio, perhaps uninformed about how policy is made and who implements policy, mistakenly blames Terranova for a $5 excess garbage fee, calling that fee “The Terranova Tax”. That is outrageous.
The duties and authority vested in the office of the town clerk are set forth in detail in the NYS Town Law, General Municipal Law, Local Finance Law, Public Officers Law and Real Property Tax Law. I suggest candidate Desiderio inform herself of the powers and duties of a town clerk by reading these laws before casting stones upon the clerk, Diane Terranova, and misinforming the public. None of these laws vest in the town clerk any authority to enact laws or set fees. The town board, as the legislative body, enacted the $5 fee. It did so via the signing of 5-year garbage contract authorized by resolution of the town board. Town clerk Diane Terranova was not a signatory to that contract. Nor, did Diane Terranova have a vote on that contract. To say otherwise misrepresents the facts and misleads the electorate.
I love this community and want to see it well governed by public servants like Diane Terranova. Having served as Lancaster's town clerk for 36 years, I do understand the job of town clerk. I know that Diane Terranova is able, experienced and innovative. I also know that campaign falsehoods and misrepresentations hurt the electoral process. They deprive the public of the ability to choose wisely those who represent them. We need to stop these blatant campaign falsehoods and sleazy half-truths in campaign literature. We need an able, truth-telling town clerk.
Robert P. Thill
Town Clerk from 1964 to 2000
Town of Lancaster