POTSDAM — A local community organizer with previous careers in teaching, museum coordination and corporate relations, is running as a write-in candidate for Potsdam Town Supervisor.

Larissa Fawkner hopes to draw from a varied resume of work and volunteer experience if elected to the supervisor’s position.

North Country This Week recently asked the candidates several key questions on the minds of some voters, and inquired about the candidates’ stance on several issues facing the electorate.

“I’m running for Potsdam Town Supervisor because I believe that Town Hall needs a fresh perspective and a community-centric approach,” Fawkner said.

“If elected, I’ll focus on town-wide strategic economic development and proactive efforts to bring businesses to the region that community members need such as veterinarians for our animals, enhanced childcare and health and wellness services for our families, businesses that the community needs for services and jobs. I’ll work toward one vision for community and economic development and sustainable growth for Potsdam.”

Fawkner said she has observed tension and a lack of collaboration between town and village governments and believes the community must vote to “re-set” local municipal leadership to achieve progress.

“I was also motivated to become a public servant for the Town of Potsdam because I’ve learned that our Town government isn’t serving all community members fairly,” she said. “For instance, I spoke with residents this week about their neighbor burning down his barn which had asbestos shingles and lead paint. The residents endured hazardous smoke plumes of burning asbestos particles filling the air for four days. The Town ignored the hazmat situation and disregarded environmental, agricultural, and community health. Our community members deserve better.”

The candidate said the town needs a “singular vision” for economic development in the town to create jobs, deliver services and preserve resources.

“One issue is realizing efficiencies between Village and Town services. I also see the need for a plan for smart and sustainable business development along the Town’s corridors Route 56 project and other areas. In the past, steel and aluminum manufacturing companies provided the region with jobs but there was environmental impact to their operations and land and water contamination that has had long-term community health impacts. We have five known EPA superfund sites in this region. We don’t want to create any more hazardous and contaminated communities - not in Potsdam, not in the North Country,” Fawkner said.

Fawkner and her husband Allen Gontz moved to Potsdam from California in 2021 after Gontz was hired as a professor at Clarkson University.

Fawkner’s broad work history includes career experience in community relations, tourism and economic development, emergency services, education, and recreation, grant writing and public engagement for planning. She has also served as a FEMA disaster reservist and a disaster volunteer and coordinator for the American Red Cross.

“I think holistically and strategically about regional development and I have ideas on how we can drive prosperity in the North Country by attracting new businesses, residents, and visitors. For instance, I created themed trail maps to bread-crumb visitors from Canada, Vermont, and downstate. The trail maps are called, More Places to go in NoCo and each GIS-based map has more than 100 places to visit. I’m developing more themed maps that will be located on a website for people looking to relocate or visit the region,” she said.

Fawkner was actively involved in helping to develop the early plans and fundraising for the Fall Island Skate Park, previously helped raise funds for high schools and helped coordinate tourism efforts in other communities.

“I’ve worked as a bartender, lifeguard, teacher, and for nonprofits. I know what it is to have all of my hard work and long hours still not generate enough cash to make the rent and a car payment. I’ll be looking at Town salaries to ensure that we’re paying reasonable wages to our front-line workers and not wasting taxpayer dollars on consulting fees for retired and former Town employees,” Fawkner said.

She has also worked with small startup companies with a focus on community services.

“For-profit social impact businesses occupy a unique space between a charitable nonprofit and for-profit business. I will ensure that the Town of Potsdam invites social impact businesses to establish here. I believe my strongest skill set is energizing people around common aspirational goals and new projects that deliver value to the community,” she said.

Fawkner is campaigning by directly connecting with voters on the streets and local businesses, organizations and gathering places. She said that many years of doing community relations leads her to focus on the needs of people, families, businesses and their employees.

“I’ll be focused on creating a Town Hall that serves the entire community. I’m thinking about potholes and budgets too but I’m very focused on improving the lives of people and enhancing the services that we all need for this community to thrive. Also, I’m from a hardworking middle-class family so I’m the community member that meets the DPW team on the curb and occasionally chases down their trucks to thank them for their hard work,” said Fawkner.

“I'll focus on what we all need: healthy lives, care for our families, support for our Veterans, sustainable economic growth, prosperity expressed in our pockets and purses, protection of our historical, cultural, natural, and agricultural resources. I'll work to create a community where we go beyond our divisions and beyond mere civility, to create a Town where we care about one another and this unique place in the world where we are so fortunate to live,” Fawkner said.

Learn more about Fawkner and her candidacy at https://sites.google.com/view/elect-larissa-fawkner?usp=sharing .