SARANAC LAKE -- Three candidates are facing off Tuesday for two open seats on the Saranac Lake Village Board.

The candidates are Jeff Branch, Jason Brill and John McEneany.

Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Harrietstown Town Hall.

JOHN McENEANY

Incumbent John McEneany said the top priority in the next four years is maintaining local representation for the taxpayers.

"That is important inasmuch as some of the board members are thinking of issues that go beyond local and outside the scope of immediate responsibilities we have," McEneany said.

"It is important to maintain a local voice; the decisions made by our board directly affect the village taxpayer. Those are the numbers we have the most control over and will allow us to then deal with the larger issues in concert with other town, county and state boards."

Maintaining local perspective will matter, McEneany said, as plans are laid for several big municipal projects, including a water-filtration plant and major infrastructure upgrades.

"These will cost somewhere between $12 (million) and $18 million. We need to stay focused."

JASON BRILL

Democratic hopeful Jason Brill puts economic development at the top of his "to do" list.

"It's the one issue that affects all the others," Brill said, "in its potential to create jobs, broaden the tax base and attract more business and various businesses to the area."

Brill envisions expanding the business economy in Saranac Lake, specifically along the lines of green industries, building off the efforts of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee that is already in place.

"We need to brand ourselves in such a way that builds off the existing types of industry we have in the area," he said, pointing to several key employers in Trudeau Institute, Bionique and American Management Association.

"We also have two colleges in the area with strong components of a green curriculum. Green industry is what I see is the future, and there's no reason why Saranac Lake shouldn't be leading the parade. Broadening the tax base is the way you lower tax rates."