GO VOTE DAMMIT!

Last time 10 votes made the difference for Town Supervisor!

If you are a Rush, NY resident, get yourself to your polling place (which is the Rush United Methodist Church) and pull a lever.

Not keeping up with things and unsure what to do? Here's a quick short informative guide:

Town Supervisor Gerry Kusse vs. Phyllis Wickerham

In a stunning rematch of their 2019 bout where Gerry beat Phyllis 717 to 707, they face off again for control of the Rush Town Board. Phyllis Wickerham, currently a councilperson on the Town Board accuses Gerry of not being a leader and listening to only a small number of the town's residents. Phyllis is for commercial development in small parts of the town where it makes sense, which generally bends the older residents the wrong way. Rush hasn't developed any substantial commercial property or housing on less than 2 acres in over 50 years. Why do something so radical now? Pop over to the Rush Republican's website to read her position.

Leading the charge of angst and outrage against Phyllis is the venerable Rush Hometown Team. Be sure to visit their stream of indignance and anger against Phyllis and anything that smacks of any development on Facebook. You would think that the goal of anyone wanting development in Rush is trying to do this:

No, it isn't a computer game. It really exists. Don't panic Rush Hometown Team, Jack Moore doesn't want to build it in Rush.

Gerry Kusse (once a Republican, now a Democrat and also a member of the Rush Hometown Team, which effectively blurs all the party affiliations) says simultaneously that he promotes development, but stands with a party that says is it wants to "Preserve the agricultural and residential character of our town". Here's a letter from Gerry.

There was a "Meet the Candidates" event at the Rush Church back on October 14th where you can hear all the candidates speak for 5 minutes.

At past Town Board meetings when any controversial development changes are proposed, Gerry always votes nay and Phyllis always votes yay.

So in a nutshell, if you like Rush the same, with predictably low town taxes and the predictably regular boring day to day, then vote for Gerry. If you want to see stuff get "shaken up" by a person with different ideas, then vote for Phyllis.

Two seats are up for grabs for councilperson on the Town Board. One is being vacated by Phyllis Wickerham and the other is being vacated by Ryan Lang. You can pick any two of three candidates:

Dan Chase is running as everybody's darling. He's featured as a Democrat and a Rush Hometown Team member. (The Republicans say they endorse him, but don't promote him. We wonder if they messed up?) Dan is son of Bill, son of Selden - who went all out and built the Chase's Greenhouse empire after a disastrously destructive fire years and years ago. Selden "doubled down" and built back big after the fire and staged a comeback that is still celebrated today. The Chase's are practically all that remains of any semblance of "family farming" as known in Rush for generations. Dan appears as all farmers should in a video: covered with dirt standing in a barn. The Chase family certainly embodies the heritage and character of the old town. Dan thinks that the forces of evil want to convert Rush into Henrietta with strip malls and high density subdivisions. Don't look for him to support any development in town. You can read about him on all the sites of Rush Hometown Team and the Democrats, but the Republicans just "endorse him".

It's been 5 years since the Big M was torn down. Do you think anyone in government wants to fill its space? (July 2015)

Jeanne Morelli is running as a CPA that wants to be the town's financial professional. She's a Democrat and a member of the Rush Hometown Team. She parrots the same points of the other Rush Hometown Team members, firmly against any outside meddling that will spoil the cherished beauty of Rush. She states she is for fixing up the hamlet, but the Hometown Team doesn't want to raise taxes. If she is elected it will be interesting to see how she balances the books while getting financing to do something different in Rush. You can read her letter here.

James Kolb is running as the Rush businessman on the Republican ticket. He's the owner of Colby's Ice cream, bakery, catering, BBQ, Pig Roast, and Wedding barn. He's the one man embodiment of corporate rage against the anti commercial nature of the Town of Rush. It isn't surprising, as Rush doesn't like businesses unless they involve farm equipment. The closest Jim has come to being a farmer is making a barn into a successful wedding venue and this just doesn't count to some Rush residents. Jim would like a few more gas stations around Rush and a bit more competition to the 7-11. He is truly angry against the anti-commercial nature of the town and the residents that have been predicting his failure since he opened. You can read about him here.

Does Rush really need more gas stations in town? (The ARCO now Papa's in 1976)

Please take a minute or two to look at your choices in Rush, and may the best, most qualified candidates win! Please forward this to others so they are informed.

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