Election petitions are due Feb. 11

PENN YAN—Petitions for the March 18 Penn Yan village elections have begun circulating and are due to the Yates County Board of Elections by Feb. 11. Mayor Bob Church’s term will be expiring along with seats currently held by trustees Bart Winslow Jr., William Allison and David Reeve. Each position carries a four-year term.
The remaining two years on former trustee Michael Christensen’s seat will also be up for grabs in the March election. Christensen had previously resigned his position in order to accept the position of Milo town justice. The village board appointed Carolyn Benedict as the interim trustee in December to serve the remaining months leading up to the election.
Church said he was not interested in serving another four-year term as mayor. However, Church said he is considering Christensen’s vacated two-year seat in order to remain involved in some of the village’s projects. Church said he has not yet officially decided, and will make his decision in the next few weeks.
Former mayor Leigh MacKercher said he is interested in running for the mayor position again. MacKercher said he served as mayor of Penn Yan 12 years ago and was interested in getting involved again now that the position is available. He said now he is retired he will have more time to focus on the work required. MacKercher said he had also previously served on the village board as a trustee and deputy mayor prior to becoming the mayor.
All other parties interested in running for village office can begin circulating petitions as of Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Petitions may be submitted and filed beginning Feb. 4. No petition will be accepted later than Feb. 11.