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Helwig announces candidacy for councilman

by jmaloni
Thu, Sep 1st 2011 11:40 am

Larry Helwig has announced his candidacy for re-election as councilman in the Town of Wheatfield.

Helwig, a Republican, has the endorsement of the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties.

Helwig recently fought for recovery of $32,987 from Time Warner Cable for franchise fees. As councilman, he coordinated efforts during the 2010 Census to make certain that all Wheatfield residents were counted, resulting in Wheatfield receiving approximately $600,000 in additional sales tax revenue. He worked with the Town Board to reduce the minimum water rate, resulting in lower water bills for seniors. Helwig supported privatizing dog and animal control with the SPCA and Wild Critters, saving more than $15,000 per year, with no reduction in service. Helwig also established a computer recycling program, which generates revenue for the town.

Helwig is board liaison to the Recreation Department and has worked to improve Wheatfield's parks and its recreational programs. Helwig promoted a partnership with the YMCA to provide a summer day camp for Wheatfield youth, which also produced a financial benefit to the town.

Helwig is concerned with environmental issues, particularly in the River Road area. He worked with River Road residents and the Greenway Commission to find an alternate location, away from houses, for a hiking path. Helwig has coordinated an annual cleanup of the Liberty Drive with Cub Scout Pack 833 for 20 years.

As a former member and treasurer of the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency, Helwig secured more than $500,000 in funding from the Love Canal settlement for environmental projects in Wheatfield, including the Wheatfield Lions Club Five Senses Nature Park. He worked to improve drainage, including connection to North Tonawanda drainage outfalls. Helwig worked with the Town Board to fight FEMA, removing large areas of Wheatfield from the flood maps, saving residents hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood insurance premiums. Helwig fought for $90,000 in insurance refunds to the town for duplicate charges.

Helwig is currently the director of Niagara County Data Processing and was previously employed by Occidental Chemical Corp. for 23 years as a senior computer analyst. Prior to working at Occidental, he taught math at Tonawanda High School.

Helwig is a graduate of North Tonawanda High School, Niagara County Community College and Brockport State. He received his master's degree in math from Buffalo State College.

Helwig is past director and coach of Cayuga Little League, past treasurer Cub Scout Pack 833 and Weblow den leader, a member LaSalle Sportsmen Club, and is the current vice president and past president of Wheatfield Republican Club.

Helwig resides in Wheatfield with his wife Marianne (Peri), and they have two adult children, Michelle and Jason.

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