BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Two town council seats are up for grabs Nov. 2 and Adrian Taraska feels he’s the right man for the job.

“I want to see Massena grow. I believe working, listening, creating ideas, and solving solutions with local businesses,Town employees and Town Board members is important. I didn’t feel that this was being accomplished,” he said.

Running against Taraska are fellow Republican and former CFO of Massena Hospital Pat Facteau and Democrat Kyle White.

Taraska feels his work experience will allow him to bring a unique perspective to the council.

“Being a NYS Correction officer for 14 years, working and managing a restaurant for 12 years and being President of Little League has taught me how to control costs, create profits, negotiate contracts, manage people and to work with people to reach a common goal,” he said.

At a time when political parties had led to battle lines being drawn, Taraska says he will reach across the aisle to ensure the work gets done.

“What party you belong to is not important to me. What is important is having the ability to work together, and getting maximum effort with the resources we have to accomplish goals that will make Massena grow,” he said.

Massena is currently one of three communities that has applied for DRI funding with the state, setting the table for a potential reinvigoration of the downtown.

Potential new council members can play a key role in that push, he says.

“I would like to set a strategic plan of 1 to 3 years that would create revenue, jobs and business in Massena,” he said.