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The Conservative Committee of Grand Island has endorsed, from left: Mary Cooke for town supervisor, Gary Roesch and Mike Madigan for Town Council; Mark Nemeth for town justice; and Pattie Frentzel for town clerk.
The Conservative Committee of Grand Island has endorsed, from left: Mary Cooke for town supervisor, Gary Roesch and Mike Madigan for Town Council; Mark Nemeth for town justice; and Pattie Frentzel for town clerk.

Grand Island: Conservatives announce slate of candidates

•Taken from the Aug. 21 Island Dispatch

Sat, Aug 22nd 2015 11:00 am

The Conservative Committee of Grand Island has announced its endorsed slate of candidates for town government. In a statement issued by party chairman the Rev. Kevin M. Backus the committee said: "After thorough interviews and careful consideration we highly recommend these candidates who have proven their commitment to our community."

The party endorses Mary Cooke for re-election as town supervisor, Gary Roesch for re-election to the Town Council, Mike Madigan for Town Council; Mark Nemeth for town justice, and Pattie Frentzel for re-election as town clerk.

Mary Cooke - Town Supervisor

Town Supervisor Mary Cooke is seeking re-election after being the first woman elected to the position in 2011. The Conservative Party endorsement said Cooke has made communication with Grand Islanders a priority in her first term, with monthly columns in Island publications. In making the endorsement, the party said conservative fiscal policies have helped the town maintain a bond rating that allowed refinancing $12.5 million at .249 percent, saving $150,000 over 10 years. Cooke believes that economic development and recreational, historical and eco-tourism can be major contributors to keeping the Island affordable for residents and said she will work diligently to make it a reality.

Gary Roesch - Town Council

Roesch's commitment to responsible government is supported by his years of experience in business and government. A registered Conservative, Roesch "continues to provide sound fiscal management without sacrificing quality services that are important to residents," the Conservative Party endorsement said. He currently serves as deputy supervisor and liaison to the Planning Board, the Economic Development Advisory Board, the Cable-Communications Committee, the Safety Committee, the Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Golden Age Center. Roesch and his wife Carol have resided on the Island for over 50 years. "As a longtime Island resident his service is guided by his knowledge of the priorities of the residents of the community he loves and calls home," the endorsement said.

Mike Madigan - Town Council

Madigan has lived and worked on GI for over 27 years with wife Leslie and sons William (20) and Matthew (18). He has degrees in fisheries, wildlife and natural resource conservation and business communication, and he holds a master's certificate in project management. Madigan is a certified project management professional currently working for a local biotech company where he is a senior program manager. The Conservatives tout Madigan's reputation for transparency, accountability, and accessibility. "He is known on Grand Island as a consensus builder. As a committee we are impressed with his commitment to fiscal responsibility," the Conservatives said.

Mark Nemeth - Town Justice

Nemeth is currently serving as the Grand Island town prosecutor, a position he has held for 11 years. He has handled thousands of vehicle and traffic, building, zoning and other cases over the years. He is a practicing attorney for the past 21 years, with trial experience in all courts throughout New York. The Conservatives say Nemeth looks forward to serving "the dynamic and growing community of Grand Island" as town justice.

Pattie Frentzel - Town Clerk

According to the Conservatives in their endorsement, Frentzel's office is well known for its excellence and quality customer service. She's added cost-saving electronic maintenance of town records and an improved town clerk's website, giving residents 24-hour accessibility to Clerk's office with "e-gov" forms. Her office serves as an E-ZPass retailer and is one of the few town clerk's offices in Erie County that accepts passport applications.

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