Mark Margeson has a lengthy and varied career in the private sector, including in the hotel, airline and insurance industries, and he also has eight years experience in county government.
Now Margeson, chairman of the Chemung County Legislature, hopes to add a new title to his resume — county executive.
Margeson, who was elected to the county legislature representing District 5 (towns of Erin and Horseheads) in 2018 and also serves as chairman of the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency, is challenging incumbent Christopher Moss in the June 23 Republican primary election.
Margeson shared thoughts on the important issues of the campaign with the Star-Gazette:
Question: What is your motivation for running for county executive?
Margeson: My motivation … is to continue the successful string of accomplishments that have been obtained under my leadership for the past three years:
What professional and personal background experience qualifies you to serve as county executive?
With 40-plus years in the insurance business I have worked with many large businesses in and out of Chemung County. In addition, as president of an aviation management company, managing 16 large cabin aircraft exposed me to the corporate world outside Chemung County handling large accounts financially. In addition, building my own insurance agency for the past 10 years acquires a lot of knowledge in finance and risk management. In addition, I have served on a number of nonprofit boards, along with being elected as chairman of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) involved me with all of the community development projects in Chemung County. Lastly as chairman of the legislature, we set policy under my leadership for the county.
What are your top achievements during your tenure as legislator and chairman of the county legislature?
Term limits were approved under my leadership. Securing ARP (American Rescue Plan) funding for the following organizations:
Also, transferring ownership of the LECOM Event Center to new ownership, and accepting purchase on 17 Aviation Drive being held up by the county executive because the land lease has not been offered.
What are some of your top priorities for the next four years if you are elected as county executive?
Business development to increase property tax revenue; better working environment with the legislature; open lines of communications with community businesses; research options for the nursing facility, which loses $5 million annually; homeless issue research; build a grant department that is active with obtaining more grant opportunities; stabilize budget and unfunded mandate issues; work on a new shared service program for the entire county.
Your primary opponent also has experience in county government. What is your message to voters who want to know what makes you the best candidate for the job?
Over the past eight years I have built a confidence level with the county business owners. I have helped create business development in the entire community. As chairman of the IDA, we brought back the arena and put it on the property tax rolls. My leadership style attracts a team approach to getting things done and it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as the job gets done. Under my leadership, the goals I set out to accomplish have been accomplished — LECOM Event Center transferred to new owner, 17 Aviation Drive has a tenant and a purchase offer, term limits have been put in place, and Incubator Works has expanded the development of 40 new business opportunities in our community.
More information
For more information, go to markforchemung.com, or the Margeson campaign Facebook page.
Other Chemung County races
There are also Republican primary races for four county legislature seats.
District 1: Towns of Catlin and Veteran. Incumbent Lawana Morse faces Brent Tartino.
District 3: Town and Village of Horseheads. Former Horseheads Mayor Donald Zeigler is challenging incumbent Tom Sweet.
District 5: Towns of Erin and Horseheads. Currently represented by Mark Margeson. Kenneth Miller is running against Nicole Eastman.
District 6: Towns of Baldwin, Chemung, Erin and Van Etten. Incumbent Joseph Donovan faces a challenge from Kyle Wieder.
The primary election is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 23. For more information, go online to chemungcountyny.gov/420/Board-of-Elections.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Goals ‘accomplished.’ Margeson makes case for Chemung County executive
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
