Republicans select full slate for Nov.
Coyne, Suttmeier, Ostrander, Miller and Feeney win nods
The Daily Mail
June 26, 2009

CAIRO — Cairo Republicans selected Thursday a slate of four men and one woman to run for public office this November.

The slate includes three incumbents — Town Supervisor John Coyne, Councilman Raymond Suttmeier and Tax Collector Emily Feeney — and newcomers in Douglas Ostrander Sr., who was also nominated for Councilman and Town Justice hopeful Leland Miller.

Councilwoman Alice Tunison and current Justice Thomas Baldwin are not seeking re-election.

More than 175 Republican committee members packed the Crystal Brook Resort Mountain Brauhaus before 7 p.m. to hear nomination speeches and to cast their ballots for the party slate. Roughly 250 of the party faithful attended the caucus in 2007, according to Greene County Legislator William Lawrence, R-Cairo, who ran both caucuses.

Sue Hilgendorff offered Coyne as the the first nomination of the night.

“John’s motivations and decisions are based on what is best for our town and it’s future and not on the advances of personal agenda,” Hilgendorff said.

Coyne, she said, has maintained an open-door policy and supported his department heads. He has run orderly and respectful board meetings, Hilgendorff said.

She said Coyne had implemented recommendations from the Office of the State Comptroller regarding accounting practices and accountability.

Pam O’Reilly, who seconded Hilgendorff’s nomination, said Coyne had inherited a number of problems from the previous administration and deserves a second term in office.

“John has come across with great understanding for what he is doing and he is looking forward to the future,” she said.

Coyne faced a challenge from former county legislator Michael Camadine, who was nominated by Cairo Republican Party Committeeman and Cairo Township Taxpayers Association Vice President Charles Umbach.

“As a legislator, which he was for three years, the tax rate was four, two and zero,” Umbach said, referring to Camadine. “In Cairo, it is 14 percent.”

Coyne took the nomination with 137 votes to Camadine’s 40 votes, with one blank vote, Lawrence said.

Suttmeier defeated challenger Chuck Kaiser for the nomination for the first Councilman seat on the Town Board in a vote of 113 ballots to 64.

Richard Booth nominated Suttmeier, saying the councilman embodies the traits that a member of the Town Board should have.

Suttmeier is honest, does not back down, does not compromise to get votes and is not a puppet, Booth said.

“Some people may say Ray is contradictory and outspoken but that is because Ray wants what is best for Cairo,” he said.

County Coronor Richard Vigilo also nominated Kaiser. Kaiser, he said, is learned and interested in the community and medical services in the area.

Kaiser was nominated again, for the second spot on the board as Councilman, but was defeated with 34 votes to 139 votes cast for Ostrander.

Greene County Clerk Michael Flynn nominated Ostrander, calling Ostrander a “very unique Republican candidate.”

He said Ostrander’s years of service as a teacher in New York City, as an officer with the State Police and as a member of the Cairo Town Library Board and Cairo Zoning Commission would make him a good member of the Town Board.

“Doug understand the great qualities that Cairo has to offer,” he said, “but at the same time, Doug will work for good quality development and business, which will help to relieve the tax burden we all share.”

Miller and Feeney did not face opposition to their respective nominations as Town Justice and Tax Collector.

Miller was nominated by Monica Fabiano. Miller, Fabiano said, will bring not only more than 25 years of experience as a corrections officer and hostage negotiator to the job, but a sense of fairness and honesty, as well.

Cairo Planning Board member Ed Forrester nominated Feeney for a tenth term as Cairo’s Tax Collector.

He noted that Feeney’s long service could qualify her as the ranking Cairo official.

After the voted were tallied the nominees thanked their supporters and rallied the crowd for a successful vote this fall.

Coyne said he would continue to hold himself to the statements his supporters had made. He said he was looking forward to the election season.

Ostrander said that although he has never run for office before, he was looking forward to helping the Town move toward the future while protecting its quality of life.

“I really have my heart and soul in Cairo,” he said.

Miller said he would try to follow the example of honesty and integrity Baldwin has shown.

The assembled Republicans applauded Baldwin’s years of service before the meeting was adjourned.

Feeney thanked everyone for their support over the years and said she hoped that everyone in Cairo voted for Republicans in November, a sentiment echoed by Suttmeier.

“We are at a crossroads in time,” he said. “With the slate we have nominated tonight, we will continue to move into the future.”