Former Geneseo town board member and county commissioner Gerald Smith will face Tom Bushnell in the race for Geneseo town justice in November. He defeated contender Paula Pieper by a vote of 88 to 32 at the Geneseo’s Republican town caucus Saturday morning.
Bushnell is the current Geneseo village justice. He is running as a step toward easing consolidation of the town and village courts. Smith told the County News this morning out that the plan would be difficult to implement because it would require dissolving both justice positions in the town court — a difficult feat where elected positions are involved.
Schoolteacher Roberta Irwin and chemist and zoning board of appeals chairman Rick Taylor will each get a shot at running for the town board in the general election — as both board members Mike Tenalio and Dan Dimpfl have declined re-election.
Before nominations began, caucus chairman David Dwyer expressed admiration for retiring town justice David Haskins, starting with his performance as a deputy sheriff. “He’d go out to a certain establishment in Hemlock that is now closed. There’d always be some kind of trouble there. He’d go in and solve the problem, arrest whoever needed to be arrested and usually do it single-handedly. It was like Matt Dillon, except no one got shot.”
Dwyer continued by noting Judge Haskin’s fairness and diligence as town justice — especially his reputation of being willing to come to court for middle-of-the-night arraignments.
Dwyer also recognized the contributions of town board member Mike Tenalio, including his work writing the town’s personnel guidelines, performing technology upgrades and raising its online presence. “He is a great steward of our tax money. Any time we had to discuss a tax increase, he’d ask if there needed to be any tax increase at all.”
Dwyer credited Tenalio for ushering in the Lowe’s home improvement center project. “Lowe’s will be coming. Mike has been on the phone with those folks constantly. I’m not sure it would have happened without his work.”
Gerald Smith’s name was placed into nomination by former town councilor Madeline Peri. “I served with him on the town board for three terms. He puts a lot of thought into his decisions. He’s honest and conscientious.”
Paula Pieper was nominated by Brett Pieper. “She’s probably one of the most honest people I’ve ever known, and I’m saying that as her husband.”
Mike Tenalio introduced town board candidate Rick Taylor, whose chemistry background he says will aid the town in working with the Conesus Lake Association on its environmental clean-up efforts. He also credits Taylor with the same kind of fiscal responsibility for which Tenalio has built his reputation.
Peggy Linton nominated Roberta Irwin for town board. Linton pointed to Irwin’s 26 year teaching background in Livingston and Wyoming Counties, including work as a union negotiator and grade-level representative. “She’s honest and can lead with integrity using varying ideas to solve problems,” said Linton.
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