As Election Day approaches, three Town of Canandaigua candidates — Supervisor Jared Simpson, incumbent board member Terry Fennelly, and newcomer Mick Szoczei — are emphasizing local control, transparency, and protection of Canandaigua Lake as defining issues for the town’s next chapter.
Simpson: Stability, infrastructure, and pushback on state mandates
Town Supervisor Jared Simpson said his first term brought “stability to the office,” noting he is “the first supervisor in over a decade to complete a full four-year term.” He left a teaching career to serve full time and said that decision reflects his commitment to community leadership.
“I have worked hard to make sure that the elected officials you put in the supervisor and town board seats are the ones making the decisions on things that affect you,” Simpson said.
He cited the expansion of Onanda Park, completion of the Motion Junction playground, preservation of farmland, and sidewalk and lighting upgrades along Route 332 as examples of infrastructure investment.
Simpson also said he plans to advocate for upgrades to the local electric grid and against what he described as “costly and damaging electric mandates” from Albany. “These statewide directives fail to account for the local realities and needs of Canandaigua and Ontario County residents,” he said.
Environmental protection remains a key part of his platform. “I have leveraged my leadership role on the Watershed Council and Friends of Canandaigua Lake into hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of water quality projects,” he said. “This is my home; this is our home.”
Fennelly: Experience, family, and managed growth
Town Board member Terry Fennelly, a longtime resident seeking reelection, said his focus is on continuity and experience. “The Town has been my home for over four decades and now there are three generations of my family living in the town,” he said.
Fennelly pointed to projects such as the Cramer Road water tank reconstruction and highway garage rebuild as examples of steady progress. “Having served on the Town Board for several terms, I believe that I should be re-elected because I have proven my ability to help our Town move forward in a challenging environment,” he said.
He cited the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council as an ongoing priority. “We must always be vigilant and protective of our greatest resource, Canandaigua Lake,” Fennelly said. “I will continue to advocate our cooperation with the Watershed Council, Manager and Association aimed at preserving the health of the lake.”
Fennelly said collaboration remains central to effective government. “I do not have the corner on good ideas or directions and want and encourage my fellow residents, Town officials, and staff to come together to offer ideas and ways to improve our overall quality of life.”
Szoczei: Transparency and accountability
Candidate Mick Szoczei said his campaign is built on community involvement and accountability. “I believe the town of Canandaigua is headed in the right direction,” he said. “After attending a majority of the town board meetings, community round tables, and many other board-related events, I have firsthand knowledge on how the current town board operates in less than perfect conditions because of the dictates from Albany.”
Szoczei said attendance and visibility are essential to effective leadership. “Sadly, the Democrat candidates for town board have not been heard from or observed at town board meetings or taken advantage of any other opportunities to engage and be heard,” he said.
He said his background in law enforcement has prepared him to approach the role decisively. “As a retired law enforcement commissioned officer, I am programmed to hit the ground running,” he said. “I have the foresight and commitment to deliver real-time solutions for our short- and long-term goals.”
Szoczei said he wants to strengthen communication with residents and protect Canandaigua’s open spaces. “I promise transparency and will work to ensure an even more accessible communication process with the community,” he said. “Our town needs protectors of its natural beauty while allowing controlled growth.”
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