July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Dunkirk gearing up for two races (05/02/07)
Mayor
By By ROBERT BANSER-
DUNKIRK - Two political newcomers, each making his first bid for public elective office, will be facing each other in the May 8 Democratic primary contest for that party's nomination for mayor.
The winner will face incumbent Dunkirk Mayor Sam Hubbard who filed as the only Republican candidate for the post.
Hubbard will be seeking his second term in office.
Seeking the Democratic Party nomination are Ronald N. Hunt, 323 N. Meridian St., and Raymond Theodore Pettus, 125 S. Third St.
Hunt, who has lived in Dunkirk for the past 30 years, is employed at Meshberger Brothers Stone Corp.'s quarry in Portland.
He and his wife, Penny, have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Hunt, 52, was born in Ohio. His family later moved to Florida where he grew up before relocating to the Dunkirk area where he completed his education at Dunkirk High School.
Hunt said he is interested in making some new improvements and bringing new businesses to Dunkirk.
"This town needs more businesses brought back into it," Hunt said. "I can remember stores like Danner's and the Boston Store. A lot of the commercial establishments of the past are not here anymore," he added.
Also he said he would like to see a new recreation spot in town for young people.
Hunt said that if elected, he plans to continue working at Meshberger's but would switch to second shift so that he could spend more time during the day in Dunkirk.
"I figure it's time for a change," Hunt said of the mayor's job. He added that he thought it was time to let a younger person take over the job.
Hunt added that he has managed to keep informed about issues facing the city with the help of his son-in-law, Dunkirk Patrolman Bobby Johnson.
"Also my wife, Penny, and I go for walks and see what the town looks like and needs," Hunt said.
Raymond T. Pettus, 43, has been a resident of Dunkirk for more than 30 years. He currently works at the Saint-Gobain Containers plant in Dunkirk.
Originally from Tennessee, Pettus moved to this area when he was a youngster. He went to Westlawn Elementary School, West Jay Junior High School and Jay County High School. He and his wife Vicki, a waitress at Christie's Family Restaurant in Dunkirk, have six sons and eight grandchildren.
He has worked in the cold end of the Saint-Gobain plant for 12 years. Prior to that, he worked for Littler Diecast in Albany.
Pettus said that a lot of his friends and acquaintances encouraged him to run for mayor. "I think we need to pay more attention to saving and cleaning up what we've got in town," he said.
Some of the older downtown buildings "look awful," Pettus said, pointing out that he would like to change that image.
"I just think the town needs to pay more attention to what we've got," Pettus said. "We need to try to save what we've got."
If elected, Pettus said, he would take a cautious thoughtful approach, rather than doing something like spending $40,000 to purchase a building like the old Pennsylvania Railroad depot - "and now no one knows what to do with it."
"I just feel like we're not putting the money in the right things. We need to focus more on what we've got," Pettus said.[[In-content Ad]]DUNKIRK - Though there will be no Republican primary in Dunkirk next week, Democrats will not only be choosing a candidate for mayor but a candidate for the city council seat from District 3.
While Portland elects its city council members on a district by district basis, Dunkirk chooses council members on an at-large basis, though candidates must meet district residency requirements.
Two longtime Dunkirk residents are vying for the Democratic District 3 nomination: Incumbent councilman A. Craig Faulkner, 338 E. Washington St., and Richard "Rick" Buckner, 125 Harold Ave.
The winner in the May 8 primary will face Charmaine M. O'Conner who was the lone Republican to file for the post in the November general election. O'Conner lives at 203 E. Washington St.
Faulkner, 54, is the current council president.
A lifelong Dunkirk resident, he is an employee of Saint-Gobain Containers. He graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1971.
Faulkner is a journeyman machine operator in the forming department or "hot end" of the glass plant.
He is the council member in charge of the fire department.
Faulkner belongs to the Sons of the American Legion, Dunkirk Moose Lodge, Union Local 121, and the board of directors of the CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union. He also serves on the city's Health and Safety Board as well as the Dunkirk Planning Commission.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for more than 30 years. They have one daughter and a grandson.
"Every day I think about what the city should be doing," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said he is eager to serve the public and would greatly appreciate being re-elected to another term. "Ask your questions. If nothing else I'll be honest with you," Faulkner said.
Longtime Dunkirk resident Richard E. Buckner's candidacy emphasizes the need for change.
"I believe it is time to allow the citizens of our city to have a clear voice in matters regarding fiscal accountability and allow those citizens a full and open disclosure of all matters pertaining to the daily operations of our city. Close-door meetings and agreements are unacceptable and have no place in government," Buckner said.
"I would like to be elected, but if I don't get elected, it doesn't mean I won't be a watchdog. I will hold those who are elected accountable for their actions," he said.
Buckner, 54, attended elementary and junior high school in Dunkirk, but later transferred to Muncie South Side High School from which he graduated.
He and his wife, Sandra Jayne (Bishop) Buckner, have been married for 36 years. He currently owns two computer-based businesses under the business name The Midwest Web Group, which he operates from Dunkirk.
He is a retired career military veteran, having served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps for four years, two years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, two years with the Indiana Air National Guard, 14 years with the Indiana Army National Guard, and 12 years as a Department of Defense senior systems analyst.
Buckner held the rank of sergeant in the military.
The winner will face incumbent Dunkirk Mayor Sam Hubbard who filed as the only Republican candidate for the post.
Hubbard will be seeking his second term in office.
Seeking the Democratic Party nomination are Ronald N. Hunt, 323 N. Meridian St., and Raymond Theodore Pettus, 125 S. Third St.
Hunt, who has lived in Dunkirk for the past 30 years, is employed at Meshberger Brothers Stone Corp.'s quarry in Portland.
He and his wife, Penny, have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Hunt, 52, was born in Ohio. His family later moved to Florida where he grew up before relocating to the Dunkirk area where he completed his education at Dunkirk High School.
Hunt said he is interested in making some new improvements and bringing new businesses to Dunkirk.
"This town needs more businesses brought back into it," Hunt said. "I can remember stores like Danner's and the Boston Store. A lot of the commercial establishments of the past are not here anymore," he added.
Also he said he would like to see a new recreation spot in town for young people.
Hunt said that if elected, he plans to continue working at Meshberger's but would switch to second shift so that he could spend more time during the day in Dunkirk.
"I figure it's time for a change," Hunt said of the mayor's job. He added that he thought it was time to let a younger person take over the job.
Hunt added that he has managed to keep informed about issues facing the city with the help of his son-in-law, Dunkirk Patrolman Bobby Johnson.
"Also my wife, Penny, and I go for walks and see what the town looks like and needs," Hunt said.
Raymond T. Pettus, 43, has been a resident of Dunkirk for more than 30 years. He currently works at the Saint-Gobain Containers plant in Dunkirk.
Originally from Tennessee, Pettus moved to this area when he was a youngster. He went to Westlawn Elementary School, West Jay Junior High School and Jay County High School. He and his wife Vicki, a waitress at Christie's Family Restaurant in Dunkirk, have six sons and eight grandchildren.
He has worked in the cold end of the Saint-Gobain plant for 12 years. Prior to that, he worked for Littler Diecast in Albany.
Pettus said that a lot of his friends and acquaintances encouraged him to run for mayor. "I think we need to pay more attention to saving and cleaning up what we've got in town," he said.
Some of the older downtown buildings "look awful," Pettus said, pointing out that he would like to change that image.
"I just think the town needs to pay more attention to what we've got," Pettus said. "We need to try to save what we've got."
If elected, Pettus said, he would take a cautious thoughtful approach, rather than doing something like spending $40,000 to purchase a building like the old Pennsylvania Railroad depot - "and now no one knows what to do with it."
"I just feel like we're not putting the money in the right things. We need to focus more on what we've got," Pettus said.[[In-content Ad]]DUNKIRK - Though there will be no Republican primary in Dunkirk next week, Democrats will not only be choosing a candidate for mayor but a candidate for the city council seat from District 3.
While Portland elects its city council members on a district by district basis, Dunkirk chooses council members on an at-large basis, though candidates must meet district residency requirements.
Two longtime Dunkirk residents are vying for the Democratic District 3 nomination: Incumbent councilman A. Craig Faulkner, 338 E. Washington St., and Richard "Rick" Buckner, 125 Harold Ave.
The winner in the May 8 primary will face Charmaine M. O'Conner who was the lone Republican to file for the post in the November general election. O'Conner lives at 203 E. Washington St.
Faulkner, 54, is the current council president.
A lifelong Dunkirk resident, he is an employee of Saint-Gobain Containers. He graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1971.
Faulkner is a journeyman machine operator in the forming department or "hot end" of the glass plant.
He is the council member in charge of the fire department.
Faulkner belongs to the Sons of the American Legion, Dunkirk Moose Lodge, Union Local 121, and the board of directors of the CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union. He also serves on the city's Health and Safety Board as well as the Dunkirk Planning Commission.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for more than 30 years. They have one daughter and a grandson.
"Every day I think about what the city should be doing," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said he is eager to serve the public and would greatly appreciate being re-elected to another term. "Ask your questions. If nothing else I'll be honest with you," Faulkner said.
Longtime Dunkirk resident Richard E. Buckner's candidacy emphasizes the need for change.
"I believe it is time to allow the citizens of our city to have a clear voice in matters regarding fiscal accountability and allow those citizens a full and open disclosure of all matters pertaining to the daily operations of our city. Close-door meetings and agreements are unacceptable and have no place in government," Buckner said.
"I would like to be elected, but if I don't get elected, it doesn't mean I won't be a watchdog. I will hold those who are elected accountable for their actions," he said.
Buckner, 54, attended elementary and junior high school in Dunkirk, but later transferred to Muncie South Side High School from which he graduated.
He and his wife, Sandra Jayne (Bishop) Buckner, have been married for 36 years. He currently owns two computer-based businesses under the business name The Midwest Web Group, which he operates from Dunkirk.
He is a retired career military veteran, having served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps for four years, two years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, two years with the Indiana Air National Guard, 14 years with the Indiana Army National Guard, and 12 years as a Department of Defense senior systems analyst.
Buckner held the rank of sergeant in the military.
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