Newstead residents will have two town offices to fill in November

Town of Newstead residents, including the Village of Akron, will have two town elected positions to fill this November.

They will select a person to complete the unexpired term (three years) of Town of Newstead Councilwoman Jeannine Morlacci who resigned May 27, 2020, and vote for someone to fill a full four-year term as Town Justice, following procedures to fill the position of Town Justice when someone elected to that position wishes to take retirement and continue to serve, which Town Justice Dennis Freeman opted to do.

On July 23, following receiving the official nomination from the Republican and Independence parties, Patricia Pope made it official that she is seeking the unexpired term on the Town Board.  Also announcing candidacy for the unexpired term on Thursday, was Adam Burg, the officially endorsed candidate of both the Democratic and Conservative parties.

The Hon. Dennis Freeman, is running for the four-year term as Town Justice.  Freeman, who has served the Akron-Newstead community for over 25 has received bipartisan support across the board and will not have an opponent this year.  He resigned as Town Justice late in 2019 to take retirement and was reappointed by the Town Board to serve through 2020.  In the case of judges, the Board could not continue to appoint Freeman to fill the position, and an election for a full four-year term was necessary this November.  This changes the election cycle for Town of Newstead justices from alternating elections every two years to the election of Justices in successive years, with a Justice on the ballot again the third year election year.

Elias Cobti, Newstead Republican Chairman said the interview process, to find a candidate to fill Morlacci’s seat, brought the town many great candidates and left local leaders with some tough decisions to make.  “The Newstead Republican Committee voted and nominated Patricia Pope to be the Republican candidate for Town Board. She secured the Independence Party nomination shortly thereafter,” Cobti said.

“Patricia Pope is an assistant public defender for the Orleans’ County Public Defender’s Office and has had a private law practice based out of Akron for the last 14 years that is primarily focused on representing children in Family Court proceedings and parents in adoption proceedings. Patty is also an advocacy volunteer and support group facilitator for the Alzheimers Association and an ombudsman in the NYS Long Term Care Facility Program. Last year she received the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award,” Cobti said.

“I am looking to use my skill set to serve the community and I believe that a position on the Town Board would be a perfect opportunity,” said Pope. “My experience advocating for children, the elderly, and underprivileged has provided me with strong communication skills and the ability to work out agreements under the most challenging of circumstances. Most importantly, I am passionate about helping people and am enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve the community.”

Burg, who has served on the Zoning Board for 10 years, is a life-long Newstead resident, vice president of the town’s historical society, and former president of the Akron Lion’s Club.

“This is a great honor and another chance to give back to a town that has given so much to my family and me,” Burg said. “On the zoning board I’ve had the opportunity to shape Newstead’s future, and this takes that opportunity to the next level. I’m grateful to the executive committee for its support, and to ECDC Chair Jeremy Zellner and Newstead Chair Justin Rooney for their great encouragement.”

“Adam is the ideal candidate – someone who knows his community and understands the needs and challenges of its people and taxpayers,” ECDC Chair Zellner said. “Our committee’s goal is to provide the very best leadership at every level of government in Erie County, and we have that in Adam Burg.”

Burg and his wife, Heather, have a two-year-old daughter, Blair. He is a licensed insurance agent with the Fred E. Thomas Agency and a real estate salesperson with Hunt Real Estate.   “For those of you that have worked with me in business or in the various organizations I’ve been fortunate to be a part of, you know my work ethic and my commitment to public service. For those that don’t, I am looking forward to showing you what else I can bring to Town government beyond my ten years on the Zoning Board.”