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On Election night, 2007, I put up this post with incredible enthusiasm. Today, I watched as these fine candidates were sworn in as the new Supervisor and 2 new Town Board Members.

The parking lot was full and people were still arriving when we got to the Mendon Community Center. Chairs inside were set up for, probably, about 60 people and we were SRO. The interesting thing was the bipartisan feeling in the room. We had those from both sides, and those from neither. A breath of fresh air for Mendon, at last.

Doing the Swearing in was town Justice, Allen Ross. Allen is a Republican, who had made the mistake, 4 years ago, of cow-towing to the entrenched Republicans of Mendon and refusing to swear in our newly-elected, Democratic Town Supervisor, Moe Bickweat. (In fact, they locked the door to the town hall and didn’t give Moe a key, so he was sworn in , outside, next to the falls, by the Village Justice, Pete Skivington. Half the town was there.) He realized the error of his ways, 2 years ago, and swore Moe in with the rest of the town board members. I feel like I saw a hint of relief on his face as he was going though the ceremony with our newly elected officials.

The new Board Members were sworn in first, followed by James P. Merzke (R-Town Clerk), William E. Smith (R-Highway Super) and Town Justice, William P. Fletcher(R).

Each of the new inductees was given a chance to say a few words (paraphrased):

Shari Stottler: Challenges and opportunities. The door is always open and my number is in the book. I need to know what your concerns are.

Mark Cottle: Going door-to-door was great. We had the opportunity to listen to your views on the issues that were important to you.

Ian McNabb: Inclusive, collaborative governance. Will work with the mayor of Honeoye Falls (who was there and has been working with Moe and is eager to work with Ian) The issues that are uppermost in Ian’s mind at this point are, New Library (to close on Library property Jan 14th) bringing new businesses into the community and, near and dear to his heart-a community wide wellness initiative(Town Clerk Mertzke asked the question, quite tongue in cheek-”Is that like a town diet or something?”) Ian feels that we have incredible resources in Mendon and we should strive to be an example to the other towns in Monroe County in working with both sides to establish a strong and thriving community.

Moe is introduced in the end to say some parting words which basically amounted to, “I’m delighted to pass the torch on to this proficient group, and now I’m going fishing.” (picture a happy, dancing Jewish Leprechaun here.)