Unopposed Corning city councilmen set agendas
Candidates running unopposed for four city councilmen positions in Tuesday's general election all said Monday they are looking forward to serving the city for the next four years.
By Jeffery Smith
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Posted Nov. 2, 2015 at 6:47 PM
CORNING | Candidates running unopposed for four city councilmen positions in Tuesday’s general election all said Monday they are looking forward to serving the city for the next four years.
Newcomer Alison Hunt is running for the 8th Ward seat currently held by Democrat Ross Cavallaro Jr., who chose not to seek re-election.
Hunt, who has served as a member of the Corning City Republican Committee for the past two years, is a Penn State University graduate.
“I wouldn’t have thrown my name in the hat if I wasn’t looking forward to serving the 8th ward and the city as we move forward to making the city a better place,” Hunt said.
Hunt said, if elected, said she would work to keep taxes low and to improve infrastructure and housing quality.
“As I’ve gone around the ward, a lot of what I’ve heard about is economic development and improving our housing stock,” said Hunt, who lives on Cutler Avenue.
Councilmen Lee Welles, D-2, Bill Boland, D-4, and Frank Coccho, D-6, said they are looking forward to remaining on the City Council.
“I’m excited about it,” Boland said. “I really enjoy public service and I was energized by the re-election bid. I’m unopposed, but I walk my ward thoroughly and I like the city’s direction. It really pumped me up.”
Coccho, who has served on the City Council for 25 years, agreed.
“I’m absolutely looking forward to serving the 6th ward for another four years,” Coccho said.
The councilmen all said the continuation of city street repairs and keeping city taxes low topped their agenda.
“I’m looking forward to serving another term. I enjoy the committees I chair and serving on the Gaffer District Board,” Welles said Monday night.
Incumbent city Mayor Rich Negri will face Green Party candidate Darin Robbins in the only contested city government race.
Negri, a Republican who has served as mayor since 2010, said if re-elected, he is looking forward to continuing improvements to city roads, alleys and parking lots; and redeveloping the old Corning Hospital site.
Robbins said if elected, he would allow city residents to determine where 30 percent of their property taxes would be used in the city budget.
Polls are open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday.