Two actively seek post in Northampton

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NORTHAMPTON - Three candidates are officially on the ballot for the town supervisor seat, but only two-the incumbent and the Northville mayor-say they hope voters choose them.

Town Councilman Guy Poulin, 66, who will appear on the ballot as an independent, said he hopes town residents who intended to vote for him instead will vote for Supervisor Linda Kemper, 55. He said he feels he cannot win the race and fears he will take votes away from Kemper. He said he does not want Northville Mayor James Groff, 61, who is also running, to win the election.

"Linda's done a respectable job," Poulin said. "I'm afraid that the town of Northampton will be deeply in debt [if she loses]."

Groff said he felt the endorsement was strange.

"If he was a firm believer that he's a better candidate, I can't believe he's endorsing someone who he was running against and working with on the board," he said.

The odd turn of events did not distract the candidates, however, from talking about the issues that face the town. All three said a proposal to build an intermunicipal highway facility that would allow the town, the village and the Northville Central School District to share bus and truck space is too expensive in its current form, but they disagreed on what should be done on the matter.

Kemper said she felt the project was a waste of money.

"I can't see any cost savings to the town whatsoever-it's going to cost us more," she said. "I would never even consider bonding or putting the town into debt."

Groff said the plan to build the facility, in its current form, is excessive. The municipality, he said, cannot afford a potential $6 million price tag. But he said he would favor a scaled-down plan that does not include the school district.

"I believe we do need to consolidate wherever we can, and I believe the town and village should look at a joint highway facility of some kind," he said.

Kemper said she is the only candidate who has made the connections necessary to be successful in the job, and said she is able to successfully lobby state politicians in a way that gets results. She said no one will work as hard as she does, and said she will create an open, accountable, transparent and proactive government.

"How many people would chew at the governor's ankles until he would meet with you?" Kemper asked. "If I don't continue in the position I'm in, there's no doubt the representation will be gone."

Groff said he has more experience in municipal government than the others. He has been on the village board as a trustee since 1977 and has been mayor since 1994. One of his main priorities, he said, is to work hard at the county level to push back against state mandates.

"Somehow, we've got to figure out a way to say no," he said.

Poulin said he still feels he is the best candidate, but said he no longer has a chance to win. Groff, he said, will raise taxes, and he said he does not want the town to suffer in the future.

Groff denied he would raise taxes.

Kemper has an accounting background, while Groff was a Fulton County sheriff's road patrolman until his retirement. Both are lifelong residents of the town. Poulin moved to the area from Quebec when he was 4 years old and was a teacher at Northville Central School until he retired.

The four-year, full-time position pays a combined county and town salary of $31,663. There are 1,739 registered voters in the town, including 1,024 registered Republicans and 358 registered Democrats.

Zach Subar can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com