Democratic Primary for Irondequoit Town Supervisor WXXI (WXXI) - Primaries for the fall election are Tuesday, and included among the races is a Democratic contest for town supervisor in Irondequoit. The town's lack of a community center, libraries in need of renovation, and the Medley Center development are topping the debate agenda in advance of the primary. The incumbent Irondequoit Town Supervisor is Democrat Mary Ellen Heyman.
She's up against newcomer Robert Ament. Ament says over the last 25years the town has done nothing for young people. "We have no YMCA for example, no community center. We are the only major town in all of Monroe County that I can think of that lacks a massive facility for social and physical well-being. The town had a high population of seniors and is being replaced by young families. Heyman says Irondequoit is in a "turnover mode," meaning an increasing number of younger families are moving into neighborhoods long populated by older residents. She says building a YMCA in Irondequoit is not an option. "While that seems like a very easy solution and something someone could accomplish relatively easy, you have to have a partnership with the Y. And right now they don't want to become a partner with Irondequiot. So you can't say you're going to get something that other person doesn't want to happen. Heyman says this is not a supervisor-driven project but a community project. Ament says he wants to mimic Penfield's idea, and build a massive community center -- getting around the YMCA situation. © Copyright 2009, WXXI