BY ADAM ATKINSON

North Country This Week

POTSDAM — Incumbent Village Trustee and Deputy Village Mayor Steve Warr is running for reelection on the Democratic ticket in the November election.

Warr , a Democrat, has served on the board for the last 12 years and has changed his approach to local government after initially campaigning on a platform to dissolve the village government.

“Twelve years ago when I decided to run for Village Trustee, I had an agenda, and that was to dissolve the Village. I thought by dissolving the Village and eliminating one level of governance, we would save money and be more efficient,” Warr said.

“The trouble with individual agendas is, others on the board have to share your vision and the voters also have to share that vision. Dissolution was roundly defeated and I set about making sure I was a productive member of the Board of Trustees and shared their vision for a better Potsdam Village. I realized it takes a Board of four Trustees, the Mayor and Village Administrator to make this Village run. It is not about one individual.”

The incumbent credits his fellow board members with helping to bring the village back from financial distress to enjoy a low tax rate and increased growth.

“I have been fortunate to serve with wonderful people who take the job seriously, take great pains to make sure all decisions are well thought out do their very best to represent those who elected them. I would like to be a part of this process moving forward,” he said.

“The village tax rate in 2007 was $19.91932 per $1,000.00. The current tax rate today is $18.285543 per $1,000.00. In my time serving, this board has kept the tax rate lower than it was 14 years ago. This is a result of careful spending, and continued growth within the Village limits that increases the tax base,” Warr said.

“We have gone from a Village under fiscal stress and a bad credit rating to a healthy, vibrant one with a great credit rating. Who do you think is responsible?” he said.  

Warr pointed out other progress over the last few years in the village under the watch of the current board, including the major renovation of the village’s waste water plant, a repair of the Clarkson water tower, a complete overhaul of the east dam, the completion of the west dam project and “successful negotiations with our unions to keep our excellent work force employed and doing a great job for the Village.”

“The Airport has undergone two major renovations. These and other projects are reviewed by the Planning or Zoning board, if needed, and carefully scrutinized by our leadership group to make sure they are done correctly and will be beneficial for the future of Potsdam,” he said.  

“Saint Lawrence Health has just started a comprehensive project aimed at bringing new and expanded health services to our area and, if re-elected, I would like to see this project come to fruition,” Warr said.

“I have joked in the past that sometimes I can’t even make it to the fruit section at Price Chopper before having a conversation about the current state of Potsdam. It is those conversations that assure me that our residents are paying attention to what we are doing on the board of Trustees,” he said.

“I have lived in the Village for most of my adult life and choose no other place to live. Let us be clear, not everyone is wired to be involved in running for village office, and those that do run serve those who do not, to the best of their abilities. I am proud of the work we, not I, have done in the past, and would like to represent village taxpayers further and all the challenges it will bring,” Warr said.