BETHLEHEM TOWN BOARD MEMBER SAM MESSINA ANNOUNCES HE WILL RUN FOR BETHLEHEM TOWN SUPERVISOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 5, 2009

Contact: Sam Messina
Phone: 859-2918
Email: supporters@messinaforsupervisor.com

Sam Messina, Independence Party Member Looking Forward to a Spirited Race for Town Supervisor

May 5, 2009- Delmar, NY – Bethlehem Town Board Member Sam Messina, Delmar, announces his candidacy for Town Supervisor.  Messina, a registered Independence Party member will be seeking the endorsement not only of his own party but additional parties as he seeks to unseat Bethlehem Democratic Party Vice – Chair Jack Cunningham, current Town Supervisor. Messina says that “I have represented all of the people and will seek their support and the support of all political Parties.”

Sam Messina brings 40-years of government and business leadership experience in planning, management and economics to the office of Supervisor. As a Town Board Member he first served with former Bethlehem Supervisor Terri Egan. “I was proud to serve with Terri Egan, because I believe in and share her values and principles of open, inclusive, non-partisan and competent government leadership. I intend to bring back those principles and values that made Bethlehem a special place and lead our Town government, as a team, to achieve outstanding service and management accomplishments.” Messina said.

“Since the appointment and election of Supervisor Cunningham, Bethlehem Town Government has been under the arrogant, intolerant and partisan political thumbs of Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Matthew Clyne and Vice Chairman Jack Cunningham. Backroom politics has trumped good government,” Messina said.  “When Chairman Clyne states publicly that ‘I personally got tired of Sam Messina’s grandstanding. He wasn’t able to harmonize his views with the other board members,’ it’s time for Bethlehem residents to tell Chairman Clyne and Vice Chairman Cunningham that they want balance and representation from their elected officials, not back room partisan politics.”

Sam Messina continues, “Four years ago when the Democratic Party interviewed me I stated I would always do what I believed to be in the best interests of the residents and the business community of Bethlehem, and balance politics and governance. Today, I commit to continue that promise and keep my word as I seek the office of Town Supervisor.”

The principle issues of my campaign and my commitment to our entire Town, will be clear and bold:

• Become a sustainable community – Balance and manage revenue sources, Town government expenditures (including a future capital infrastructure plan), economic development and open space planning to protect and enhance the community character and quality of life in Bethlehem.
• Create a more open and accessible government – Introduce common sense and progressive changes to Town Board meetings and the use of technology to greatly strengthen transparency, and encourage and enable meaningful involvement from residents and businesspersons in all Bethlehem hamlets (Delmar, Elsmere, Glenmont, Selkirk, Slingerlands, South Bethlehem and North Bethlehem.)
• Institute government best-practices – Identify best-practices for service delivery and cost avoidance/reduction in other communities and work with our Department heads to review and implement these where it make good sense to do so.
• Introduce a new leadership philosophy – Use a team and partnership approach throughout Town government that acknowledges that the best ideas often come from staff, and true leadership is all about enabling, not directing.
• Focus on existing businesses – Expand our efforts to work with existing Bethlehem businesses, large and small, to address their interests, because the businesses in Town are committed to Bethlehem and their continued success is a town-wide interest.
• Evaluate new opportunities – With care and due diligence for the best interests of the Town of Bethlehem, evaluate potential opportunities, such as cost-saving functional consolidation, and alternatives to property taxes as revenue sources.
• Demonstrate true non-partisan government and politics – In all things I do, now and as Bethlehem Town Supervisor, I will show by my example and my actions that I respect and value all people and all political Parties. I will advance the goal of public service in all that we do.

A 35-year resident of Bethlehem, Sam Messina and his wife Jan reside in Delmar and have three children, Matthew, Tracy and Valerie. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Community Development and a Bachelors in Business and Economics. Sam serves on numerous committees and boards and is an active volunteer for Bethlehem Senior Projects, Bethlehem IDA, Bethlehem Youth Court, Samaritan Suicide Prevention, DWI Impact Panels, Organ and Tissue Donation, Hospitality House Addition Recovery Program, Albany Medical Center Chaplaincy and Slingerlands Methodist Church. Sam Messina also served in the United States Army and is a Vietnam veteran. For more information about Sam Messina’s campaign for Bethlehem Town Supervisor visit www.messinaforsupervisor.com.