CANANDAIGUA – A few 12 months in the past, Jack Marren was confronted with a choice.
The Victor supervisor was fascinated with giving up his chairmanship of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, which he has held for 10 years. Persevering with on as supervisor — his time period as supervisor, which is up on the finish of this 12 months — additionally was a consideration on the time, though he has since determined to hunt reelection this fall.
By not searching for a brand new time period as chairman – which he has completed – Marren might sit on the Board of Supervisors for at the least a 12 months and function a useful resource to the incoming chairman, who after his election by the board Thursday evening will likely be West Bloomfield Supervisor Todd Campbell. Seneca Supervisor Drew Wickham will function vice chairman.
In giving up the chairmanship, Marren mentioned which means his workload will ease and he can decelerate, fulfilling a promise he made to his spouse after a well being scare in 2019.
“It will assist so much,” mentioned Marren, who additionally served as president of the New York State Affiliation of Counties for practically two years. “It will likely be an adjustment for me, however I feel in a great way. Like something, we’ve got to regulate.
“It will likely be a possibility to focus in on some gadgets within the city of Victor.”
Campbell, who mentioned he was honored to be chosen by a unanimous vote of his fellow supervisors, mentioned Marren has served as a mentor to him over the past 10 years, 9 as supervisor and one as vice chairman of the board.
“I watched how Jack operated and stay up for offering the identical degree of regular management for the county that he did,” Campbell mentioned. “I don’t see any vital adjustments in how I intend to work because the chair of the board compared to how Jack labored because the chair of the board.”
What does the Board of Supervisors chair do?
The Board of Supervisors is the county’s legislative physique and is made up of 16 city supervisors representing every of the county’s cities, two supervisors representing the town of Canandaigua, and three supervisors representing the town of Geneva.
The chairman presides at conferences in addition to appoints supervisors to numerous committees, amongst different duties.
For Marren, 10 years of being the focus of communications, to the media and to the general public, at instances created plenty of complications however extra typically meant plenty of nice storylines and accomplishments, he mentioned.
“I’ll be sitting with new duties the chairman will give me, so it is going to be an adjustment for me,” Marren mentioned.
As for Campbell, sure, he would be the seen face of the county with regards to residents, workers and media, however he emphasised he’s one member.
“My vote is not any extra essential than others,” Campbell mentioned.
Who’s Todd Campbell?
Campbell is getting into his 10th 12 months as supervisor. He headed up the Campbell Fee, which seems to be at methods to enhance the county’s felony justice system.
He additionally not too long ago led the 209 Committee, which was created to research alleged wrongdoing within the Ontario County Sheriff’s Workplace within the wake of the resignation of then Sheriff Kevin Henderson and Undersheriff John Frasca.
Campbell most not too long ago served as vice chairman of the board beneath Marren.
“The county is in a really steady, sturdy place,” Campbell mentioned. “My objective and my hope are to proceed on that path on behalf of the residents of the county.”
Campbell appointed Wickham, who had been chairman of the board’s Planning and Environmental High quality Committee, as vice chair, partially as a result of among the many main points going through the county within the years forward is what to do concerning the Ontario County Landfill, which is positioned in Seneca.
Wickham has a powerful background and has been on the board lengthy sufficient to have deal with on how issues function, Campbell mentioned.
“I’m trying ahead to working with him as my vice chair,” Campbell mentioned.
What’s going to Jack Marren miss?
Marren was first elected chairman in January 2013, succeeding then Farmington Supervisor Ted Fafinski.
Throughout his 10 years as chairman, Marren mentioned he has many fond recollections, most centered on the precious classes realized from and the mutual respect shared amongst fellow supervisors.
Marren mentioned he by no means approached the job as “my manner or the freeway.” His most essential lesson, and one thing he’s very pleased with, is the bipartisanship demonstrated in Ontario County.
“It’s not only a phrase; it’s an precise tradition that exists on this board. I’m extraordinarily pleased with that and it nonetheless exists at present,” Marren mentioned. “I can’t thank the devoted workers and division heads all through our nation for what they do day in and day trip, most significantly for the residents of the county.”
