March vote will include village contests

FINGER LAKES--The villages of Dundee, Dresden and Hammondsport will each have mayoral and trustee positions up for grabs during the upcoming village election. The election date is March 18, and the petition deadlines are Jan. 29 for party candidates andFeb. 10 for independent candidates. Nominating petitions can be filed for party candidates beginning Jan. 22, while independents can begin filing nominating petitions Feb. 3. Polls will be open election day from noon to 9 p.m.

Dundee will see the seats currently occupied by Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr., Trustee Greg Wright and Trustee Warren Smith up for election in March. In Dresden, Mayor William Hall's seat will be up for election, along with Trustee Steve Venturino. The village of Hammondsport will see elections for Mayor Emery Cummings Jr., and two trustee positions held by Bruce White and Stella Pulver.

Swinnerton, Gibson look to switch jobs
WATKINS GLEN--The village of Watkins Glen will see the seats currently occupied by Mayor Mark Swinnerton, Trustee Kevin Smith, Trustee Scott Gibson and Village Judge Nicholas Dugo up for election in March. Both Swinnerton and Gibson have said they plan to switch roles in the upcoming election, with Gibson running for Mayor and Swinnerton running for a trustee seat. Swinnerton said the two had discussed the matter during a social gathering Friday, Jan. 9 and agreed on it over the weekend.
Swinnerton said he still wishes to be involved on the village board, but added passing the mayorship to Gibson would allow him more time for things like participating in the Lions Club. Gibson said becoming mayor is something he has wanted to do for a long time, adding still having Swinnerton on the board would help to ease the transition. He said if they are both elected, he plans on making Swinnerton the deputy mayor.
The election date is Wednesday, March 18, with petition deadlines being Jan. 29 for party candidates and Feb. 10 for independent candidates.
Nominating petitions can be filed for party candidates beginning Jan. 22, while independents can begin filing nominating petitions Feb. 3. Polls will be open election day from noon to 9 p.m.