It's that time of year again to get to church and vote! Some nice ladies might have some home baked goods for you if you do! Do your civic duty and buy some brownies and vote.
In Rush, you vote at the Rush United Methodist Church on Rush Lima Road. Voting is from 6 AM until 9 PM. Remember to vote early and often.
Can't make it? Then you can vote RIGHT NOW until Sunday, Nov 5th from 9 AM until 5 PM at The Henrietta Public Library, 625 Calkins Rd, Rochester, NY 14623. If you live in Rush, you got all the info in the mail if you are registered to vote.
Who are you Voting For?
That's your business of course, as there are a few offices up for election in Rush. The Town Supervisor office is open. This happens every two years. Two of the four seats are open on the Town Board. You can read about the Rush Town Board here.
The Town Clerk job is also up for election, but Pam Bucci has been there for four years and she's the only one crazy enough (oops, we meant brave enough) for another term.
The office of Highway Supervisor is also up for election, but only DJ Kyle, a long time Highway Department member and manager is running. He's from a family of farmers from Avon.
Here at the Echo, we have found a bunch online about the various candidates. To make it easy for you, info about them is linked to sources below. If any of you potential office holders want to say more than what is in this stuff, feel free to contact us and we'll publish your views.
Candidates for Town Supervisor
Lee Hankins (Democrat)
Read a statement from him here. He's a newcomer to the Town political system. He put his e-mail and phone number on his message. Give him a call or shoot him an e-mail to find out more on his positions.
Top priority: “Improve communications. Citizens will receive timely and accurate information before the town board makes decisions, and public forums will be reinstated at town meetings … Complete building projects including rehabilitation of the 1911 Corner House. … Support our town parks and the volunteers working to care for them. And prepare and pass zoning regulations to support our comprehensive plan.”
Dan Woolaver (Republican)
Dan's been on the Rush Town Board for 12 years and has held many other jobs in Town Government. He's lived in Rush his entire life. His dad served in local government too. Read about him and the other Republican candidates here.
Top priority (relayed by Rush Republican Committee Chairman Donald T. Eichenaur, as Woolaver was traveling at the time this story was compiled): “Assure Town appointments represent a cross section of interested community residents (and) assure Rush retains the rural nature of the community that … residents have enjoyed while efficiently providing needed services.”
Candidates for Town Council
Luther Keyes (Republican)
As far as I know, The Keyes are the only family in Rush that lives on a street named after their family. Luther's family are farmers forever (but now they are more farmers "on the side".) Back in the day farmers all stuck tanks in the ground for oil and gasoline long before there were rules about such things. With the rules in the 1970's came the need to remove the tanks - which became one of Luther's specialties. Luther served on the Rush Town Board back in the 1990's, but digging holes around the country got in the way of his duties so he quit. He's running again for Town Council and The Echo heartily recommends him.
[Echo Note: Luther and his son Luke removed a fuel oil tank from my property and 400 tons of contaminated earth along with it. They and the company they worked for did an amazing job. Full disclosure: Luther's the step 2nd great grandson of my half 2nd cousin 4 times removed, so I guess we are kinda related?]
Shannon Wisnowski (Democrat)
As the only candidate being heavily endorsed by the "Rush Home Town" faction, they have an extensive write up on her here. She's a political newcomer with professional experience in crisis intervention and staff training.
I became interested in working with the Town Board after being inspired by those who are on the board now. My husband and I have water problems and had been trying to have the town help us since 2012. It wasn’t until 2021 that a person from the Town Board got back to us, and listened to us that we were heard. I then began speaking with my neighbors who all have had negative experiences in the past. I joined Residents United to Save our Hometown as I felt residents need to be heard, and I wanted to help ensure that happens.
Peter Kim-Fredell (Democrat)
He's new to Rush government but has been involved with various political groups and business associations for years.
He's Co-Founder / Co-Owner of The Archimage alternative department store on Monroe Ave in Rochester.
There have been some accomplishments in Rush recently, and I would like to build on that. But there are also things I take issue with. And looking back a decade or so, I see things that have been allowed to slide until they seem to have taken on a hopeless aspect, as if they were insoluble. The economic demographics of Rush are mixed, but overall, we are hardly a poor community. Yet there are issues here that lend a sense of neglect, when you put your attention in that direction.
Derek Brown (R)
Derek is from Rush and worked for the School District taking care of the grounds. His profile says he works "at a major School District."
Best of luck to all the candidates and may you all do your best to represent all of us whether we voted for you or not.
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