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Massena police chief to represent Massena Democrats on the November ballot for mayor

Posted 8/14/14

Tim Currier, who received the Massena Democratic nod to appear on the November ballot as a mayoral candidate, addresses the party’s caucus on Wednesday night. By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Tim Currier …

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Massena police chief to represent Massena Democrats on the November ballot for mayor

Posted

Tim Currier, who received the Massena Democratic nod to appear on the November ballot as a mayoral candidate, addresses the party’s caucus on Wednesday night.

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Tim Currier will represent the Massena Democrats on the November ballot, challenging Republican incumbent James Hidy for the mayor’s office.

The party filled four other slots on the ballot. Eric Gustafson will run for village justice, Matt Lebire and Tim Ahlfeld will run for village trustees and Gerald Sharlow will run for town justice. All except Lebire are incumbents.

Currier received the nod on Wednesday night from a caucus of about 50.

His nomination received what appeared to be an aye vote from everyone in the room during a vote by raised hands. No one raised their hand when asked for opposing votes.

“I’m really pleased, I appreciate the Democratic support,” Currier said after the event. “I look forward to a positive and engaging campaign.”

Currier said he wants to apply his brand of leadership, which he described as based on teamwork, to a village besieged by decay.

“We have a failing housing market, aging infrastructure and an illegal drug market that’s fueling crime … We can do better, we must do better,” he told the room during a speech prior to the vote. “I have a passion to see young people succeed.

Currier has been Massena’s police chief for 26 years and has recently spearheaded an effort to bring the Boys and Girls Club to Massena.

He said under his watch, the village government would be “more transparent than the government today.”

“I will remain open to your ideas, suggestions and input.”

Mike Violi and George Trippany both spoke in favor of Currier’s candidacy after giving him a nomination and second, respectively.

“He’s a proactive leader, rather than a reactive leader,” Violi said.

Tim Currier, who will run as a Democrat for Massena mayor, with his wife Emily and son Nathaniel.

Currier officially launched his campaign over social media on Tuesday with a Facebook page called “Currier is Committed.”

The Facebook page has 353 “likes” as of late Wednesday night.

“We face some real challenges here in Massena, ranging from economic issues to deteriorating neighborhoods to a stalled housing market to aging infrastructure. We have an illegal drug problem that is driving the crime rate. And the cost to operate Village government continues to rise,” he posted to the page on Tuesday afternoon, which as of Wednesday night had been “liked” over 130 times. “These are difficult problems, but we can solve them. We can do better. We must do better.”

He goes on to pledge a transparent government, to treat people with respect and “bring people together, by being inclusive and respectfully listening to all opinions.”

The response on the page is positive, thusfar.

“I definitely believe we must all work together if our community is going to succeed and change for the better! You've got my vote!!” Sharon Perkins Girard wrote.

“Currier to me equals hope for our community in a way that trancends politics. My vote has already been cast,” Aaron Larrow wrote.