The supervisor candidates are Tim Follos (Democratic and Silent Majority) and Favor J. Smith (Honesty for Wilmington).

The town council candidates are Laura Dreissigacker Hooker (Honesty for Wilmington), incumbent Darin Forbes (Republican and Citizen’s Data Boy), incumbent Michelle Preston (Community First) and Forest “Randy” Winch (People’s).

Also, Devan Korn (Citizen’s Data Boy) and Alphonso Smith (Republican) are running unopposed for two assessor seats.

The Lake Placid News sent questionnaires to candidates running in the contested races. Below is the response for Favor J. Smith.

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Favor J. Smith

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Age: 60

Occupation: Attorney

Position sought: Supervisor

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Q: Why are you running for this position?

A: I am old enough and ready to give time, experience and skills back to a community that I am proud to call my home. Like many families, our first 21 years in Wilmington were focused on our children and making sure all was well with them.

I can and will help the town of Wilmington face the challenges ahead. Wilmington’s growth is limited because of the public commitment to preserve the wilderness and natural features that surround it. These will outweigh the idea of unfettered development much beyond the current circumstances. The history of Wilmington shows a flexibility and resilience to adopt new approaches as needed.

In 1876, the center of Wilmington had an iron forge, two gristmills, a starch factory and two sawmills (Images of America’s “Wilmington and the Whiteface Region,” Wilmington Historical Society, 2013, page 18). In the early 20th century, Wilmington harvested pulpwood and floated that wood down the AuSable to the factory in AuSable Forks. Wilmington adapted as it faced changes in the economy over its 200-year history. The best tool Wilmington had for those challenges was a town board that worked cooperatively: one that set priorities, marshaled resources and made things work for the town and its residents.

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Q: What are your qualifications?

A: I am an experienced attorney who has long practiced listening, identifying the important issues and tackling those issues. That experience has also involved negotiating settlements (very few cases go to trial), which requires compromise. I served on the Lake Placid Central School Board of Education from 1999 to 2001, a period during which the question of school safety took priority after the horror of Columbine and the school undertook multi-million-dollar capital projects. I was the town attorney for Wilmington from 2004 to 2007 where I also advised the planning board and the zoning board of appeals. I was the principal of St. Agnes School in 2008 as it transitioned from a pre-K-6 school to a pre-K/primary. This involved being responsible for the safety of 70 children and staff, working with teachers and support staff, coordinating schedules, meeting with parents and paperwork. More recently, I have worked as counsel for businesses with employees and oversaw payroll, payroll returns, New York state unemployment, family leave, disability, audits from the state Department of Labor and from workers compensation insurance companies, sales and occupancy tax returns and employer-provided health insurance benefits.

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Q: What are your main goals?

A: To focus on what can and should be done. This will require members of the town board to be part of a cooperative effort. Ideally, each member would become the board go-to person for a particular department — department heads should be able to reach out to this person with questions or to touch base. This will assist a department head when reporting to the general board, knowing that at least one board member has some idea of what’s going on.

Second, to increase the pay for the town employees. The current board has started working on that.

Third, to revive the zoning board of appeals and organize volunteers for a review of the subdivision regulations and to report to the planning board and (new) zoning board of appeals.

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Q: What do you think are the three biggest problems in the town, and how do you propose solving them?

A: The following are not problems — these are challenges.

1. Wilmington is an aging community. Out of a population of 880, 505 are 50 and older. The student population, by contrast, has declined over the years: In 2012, 250 children were enrolled in K-12; in 2023, that number is 114. For the seniors, the town board will continue to provide funds for meals at the Methodist Church, work with the Essex County Office of the Aging to help with fuel oil or propane expenses and get a new bus. Access to supermarkets and medical appointments is vital. For the young, my family loved the Northern Lights School in the early 2000s and how our children were well cared for and connected to other children from Wilmington, Jay and the surrounding areas. I would be happy if the community would like to reestablish such a program and will commit to any assistance that the town board could offer.

2. The rising costs of employment. The town board must continue to address sustainable pay rates for its employees and help with the costs associated with benefits. It is a fact that those expenses increase each year, often above the rate of inflation. The town board will be proactive in looking for what is best for the employees.

3. The rising burden of compliance and regulation. The town board must give greater assistance to the department heads, judges and the administrative staff who are faced with legal, insurance and accounting compliance challenges or burdens from regulators. It is cliche but still true that paperwork never goes away, and more is inevitably added. This is a strain on resources and staff for a town the size of Wilmington, and I will work with the already busy staff to use my experience in compliance and regulatory requirements to make it less of a challenge.

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Q: Other comments to voters?

A: I appreciate very much the kind words and support I have had from many of my neighbors and from my family. I would be honored if elected by the voters in Wilmington to be its next town supervisor.