Bath village incumbents to seek re-election
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Bath village Republicans and Democrats will hold their annual political caucuses at the end of January, with three elected officials ready to seek re-election.

Village Mayor David Wallace will run for a third term when Republicans meet between Jan. 22 and Jan. 29. That caucus has not yet been scheduled, according to the village clerk's office.

Wallace told The Courier recently he had considered not running for reelection; however, he added, the village board has several issues to work through and he wants to be present for the effort.

"There are still some things to work on," Wallace said, singling out completion of a new municipal parking lot and a bond issue to finance upgrades to the electrical and water distribution systems of Bath Electric, Gas and Water Systems.

Village board members earlier this month refused to support a $9 million bond issue requested by BEGWS officials for electrical upgrades. The cost of the project has risen from $5 million to its current $9-million price tag. Village officials will meet with BEGWS representatives and their engineers next month to review the project.

A third issue also is likely to concern the village board in 2008: the former Dana Lyon elementary school building and a development company's efforts to demolish the structure and replace it with a retail business.

Under Wallace's direction, the village board has served as lead agency in a state-mandated environmental impact study of the project. The board continues to wait for additional information from the development company, Liberty-East Washington LLC.

Two village board members' terms also expire in 2008. Trustees Michael Skelly and Jeanne Glass, who were elected to two-year terms in 2006, both plan to stand for reelection along with Wallace. Glass and Skelly told The Courier they will seek Republican nominations when the GOP holds its caucus at the end of the month.

Village Democrats also will caucus and are scheduled to meet in the village board room at 7p.m. Jan. 23.

Village elections will be held on March 18.