Endicott mayor election: What the candidates say are the biggest local issues

This Election Day, Endicott voters will take to the polls to decide who their mayor will be.

The candidates for mayor this year include incumbent Linda Jackson, who is running under the Endicotters party she created. She will face village board trustee Nick Burlingame, who is running as a Republican and village planning board chair Larry Coppola, who is running as a Democrat.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reached out to the three candidates during their campaign and asked them the same questions. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order and have been edited for clarity and length.

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Why are you running for mayor?

Burlingame, who was deputy mayor in 2022, cited his time on the zoning and planning boards, and said his experience as an area manager in multiple states and as director of a post secondary career school make him the right fit for the job.

"I believe in this community," said Burlingame. "I believe in our collective future and I know its worth fighting for. I am not, and I never have been a sideline participant. I'm active in our community and our village government needs someone who won't be a spectator."

Coppola, who serves on the planning board and parking advisory commission in Endicott, said his main reason for running is to revitalize the area, and fix problems he believes are stagnating under the current administration.

"The village needs to recapture its pride and establish some progress," said Coppola. "Neither one of those have been present in the last four years."

Jackson expressed a desire to continue her work as mayor, saying her existing connections with local groups and authorities, alongside her experience, make her the right choice.

"I haven't done all this all by myself," Jackson said. "I work with political parties from the other side of the aisle, I work with companies like the Chamber of Commerce and the Agency, I work with volunteers. It takes a whole community to raise a village. We are Endicotters."

What are the biggest problems Endicott is facing, and how are you going to address them?

All three candidates said they believe public safety is one of the main areas of concerns facing the residents of Endicott.

Burlingame said since he has joined the village board, the police have seen an increase in funding and are getting the tools they need to control crime — a trend he will continue if elected mayor. He said public safety is crucial to bringing businesses to the area.

Coppola cited Washington Avenue as one of his primary concerns, saying while a committee he sat on five years ago secured a grant to renew the area, the money has not yet been spent.

Coppola also praised the work of the police, and said if he was elected, he would enhance the police department and place cameras in the alleys and parking lots on Washington Avenue. Coppola brought up neglected properties in the village, and said he planned on enforcing the penalties for code violations.

Jackson praised the police department, and said that work on making Washington Avenue safer is already beginning, with funds being allocated toward fixing up buildings, and plans for lights and cameras in the future.

"I'm going to simply continue what I'm doing," said Jackson. "I'm not going to make any promises — I've already made the progress."

Mayoral candidates point to water, tourism in Endicott

Burlingame said the village's water situation was one of his primary concerns, and that he would address it if elected.

"I can't stand here and tell you I think I'm going to fix it — but I'm gonna try like heck to," said Burlingame. "This is a 100-year-old problem, and our residents deserve clean water."

If elected, Coppola stated that he would look into establishing a hotel in Endicott, in order to drive visitors and enhance the area.

"I feel as though I can move the village forward by listening to people, collecting information and moving forward with the best solution," Coppola said. "I don't actually pretend to have the answers."

Jackson also pointed to the village's water as one of the biggest problems facing Endicott. She referenced work done under her administration, including the installation of a new flushing system, which she said has reduced dirty water calls by 60%.

Going forward, Jackson said Endicott will get a new water filtration system and an additional well.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Endicott mayor election 2023: Who's running