June 11, 2007
Bio - Rick Spencer
Download full printable version of Rick Spencer's biography HERE.
RICHARD SPENCER
Democratic Candidate for
Rush Town Council
Rush should be a place where children know that they are valued; where there is community dialogue, where citizens talk and officials listen; a place where people know what they get for their tax money.
I understand government budgets, matching funds, grant writing, consensus building and above all the importance of being open to the public.
Family:
Janet and I have been married for 26 years. We have two sons, Tim and Steve. Our children were born here, have gone to school here, made friends, gone to college. I hope they will find work here. Rush is our home.
Qualifications:
- 4 years as a successful program assessment and development consultant
- 31 years of progressively increasing responsibility at Monroe County Department of Social Services
- 22 years as the Department’s welfare to work administrator
- Lead, coordinated and supervised 50 employees
- Negotiated and monitored contracts and agreements with annual funding exceeding $9,000,000
Honors and Awards:
- Distinguished Volunteer Service Award (United Way of Greater Rochester)
- Certificate of Appreciation for Service (New York State Department of Education)
- Service Award (Rochester Private Industry Council)
- Friend of Education (School Board Rochester City School District)
- Outstanding Contribution (New York State Council on Vocational Education)
- Recognition and Appreciation (Rochester Rehabilitation Center)
Past and Present Community Activities:
- Town of Rush Conservation Board
- Rochester City School Board Advisory Council for Career Education (Past Chair)
- Southwest YMCA Board of Management
- Boy Scouts of America Troop 134 Assistant Scout Master
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors (Chair Personnel Committee)
- Wilson Commencement Park Advisory Committee
- Monroe Community College Damon City Campus Advisory Board
- Rush Henrietta Education Foundation (Founding Trustee)
- Rochester Business Education Alliance
- Action for a Better Community Board of Directors
- Court Appointed Special Advocates Board of Directors
Education:
- University of Rochester Bachelor of Arts
It seems like more and more decisions are made before most of us even know there was a question. I would like our town to be a place where decisions are made after the discussion, not a place where last week’s decisions are this week’s discussion.
I would like to serve our community as an elected representative, working as your Town Council member.
Posted by gmadore at 9:38 PM | Comments (1)
December 27, 2005
Lisa Sluberski takes oath for Rush Town Council
Who: Judge Henry Kirch swears in new Rush Town Council member Lisa Sluberski
What: Rush Town Government Office induction
When: Sunday, January 1, 2006 at 4 p.m.
Where: Rush Town Hall, 5977 East Henrietta Road, Rush
Lisa Sluberski, who was endorsed by the Rush Democratic Committee, will
take the oath of office for Rush Town Council before Judge Henry Kirch
on January 1st at 4 p.m. at the Rush Town Hall. Sluberski had the
majority of the votes in a town dominated by republicans, with a 60/40
majority. The Rush Town Government has been 100% republican up until
January 1, 2006. This was Sluberski’s first campaign for public office.
Contact: Dave Sluberski, (585-880-4349) www.rushdemocrats.org
Posted by gmadore at 11:41 PM
November 7, 2005
Lisa Sluberski wins seat on Town Council.
Lisa Sluberski has won a seat on the Rush town Council!!!!
2 seats were open. 2 republicans(1 incumbent) and 1 democrat ran for office.
Rush Council -- 4 of 4 precincts reporting (100%)
SLUBERSKI [D] 700 36% (X)
KNAB [R] 650 33%
TALLO [R] 612 31%
Lisa would like to thank her family and all her friends for all their support and well wishes. The voters have spoken and would like to see a two party system in Rush resume. She looks forward to a positive relationship with the Rush Town Board and hopes to work on all the issues raised during the campaign.
Posted by gmadore at 11:49 AM
September 8, 2005
Improving Balance Party in the town of Rush.
An article posted in the Democrat & Chronicle on 8/27 listed many new parties created by the candidates. In New York State, candidates can get a specified number of petition signatures to form their own party. They often come up with unique names for the parties.
In the Town of Rush, NY Lisa Sluberski has added the:
Improving Balance Party
Rush council: Lisa Sluberski
Posted by gmadore at 8:46 AM
July 22, 2005
Dem seeks diversity on Town Board
Democrat Lisa Sluberski will challenge two Republicans for a Town Board seat this fall.
By COLLEEN M. FARRELL / cfarrell@mpnewspapers.com
Between the marching firefighters and crowds of residents straining for a view during last week's Rush Firemen's Parade, an unusual float passed by.
Rush resident David Sluberski, dressed as Uncle Sam, drove a tractor pulling his wife, Lisa, and area children through the town's streets. A "Vote for Lisa Sluberski" sign adorned the homemade float.
Click here for a video clip from the parade. (Quicktime required Macintosh | Windows)
"It (the parade) is the year's highlight, every year," Lisa Sluberski said.
This year's parade was extra special for her family, as it marked the beginning of her campaign for a seat on Rush's Town Board.
Lisa Sluberski, 43, has been endorsed by the Rush Democratic Committee. She is the only Democrat in the November race for two Town Board seats. The four-year term pays $6,235 a year.
Incumbent Don Knab was endorsed by the Republic committee and will run again. Republican Jerry Tallo was also endorsed and is running to fill Town Board member William Riepe's seat. He isn't seeking re-election.
A native of Pennsylvania, Lisa Sluberski has lived in Rush for 18 years. During that time, she has been a member of Rush United Methodist Church, held various titles in Cub Scout Pack 217 and has been on the Rush Fall Festival Committee.
She has also served on Leary Elementary's PTA, Parents as Partners committee, Shared Decision Making and Parents as Partners committees, and has been chairwoman of several fund-raisers and activities at the school.
She also ran a day care in her home for five years. Now, she is a clerical worker at Rush-Henrietta's Continuing Education Office.
"I like to be involved in my community," she said.
The number of town residents who encouraged her involvement, along with a lack of political diversity on the board, prompted her to run, she said.
"People on it (Town Board) haven't done a bad job, but it doesn't hurt every once in awhile to throw a new person in there just to add a little outside opinion and just to add a little diversity," Lisa Sluberski said.
She isn't dissuaded by her lack of political experience.
"When I get involved in something, I put my all into it," Sluberski said. "I would certainly do that in this position and try to listen to everyone and everyone's opinion and try to keep an open mind in all situations."
David Sluberski, chairman of the town's Democratic Committee, said his wife's service in the community makes up for her lack of political experience.
"With all her community involvement, with all her other groups, she has had contact with many, many people and parents especially" and "got a feel for the vibes" of the town, he said.
"A lot of other people saw what she did ... and encouraged her from both parties," he added.
She said her specific goals include pushing for a community center and developing businesses.
"Right now, in the town of Rush, there's not a lot of huge political issues or anything going on," she said, "but I would like to see the community center revisited."
Rush doesn't have adequate space for a gym that could hold dances, athletic events for youth, senior and Scouting activities, and it's needed, she said.
Besides a community center, Sluberski said she would pursue some business growth for the town, while preserving green space.
"I'm really in favor of low-key kind of business growth," she said. "I don't want to see things like McDonald's and strip malls like Jefferson Road (in Henrietta)."
She said she would like to see a high-tech industry come in, to help Rush "continue to grow as a community."
The newest Town Board candidate and her husband hope her candidacy will entice others to serve publicly.
"The bottom line is, talking to both parties, not a lot of people want to get active," David Sluberski said. "We're trying to stay active as much as we can."
And at the very least, a Democrat provides an alternative point of view, which is helpful to the Town Board, both Sluberskis said.
"Democracy works best when people have a choice of candidates," Lisa Sluberski said. "I'm here to provide that alternate choice."
Posted by gmadore at 5:44 PM
June 1, 2005
Post signs in October
Currently we are planning on putting up signs displaying our support for the local candidates in October. Keep an eye on this site for more information.
These signs will be removed a day or two after the elections have passed.
Posted by dsluberski at 9:24 PM
Petitions passed for Candidates in June
For all individuals who might be interested in running for a political office in the town of Rush, the petitions for available positions will be passed during the month of June and are due by the end of the month. If you are interested in participating in the elections as a candidate you can fill out this form and someone will contact you to assist in the preparations.
Posted by dsluberski at 9:18 PM
