Letterman, DeBenedictis react to Clayton Town Council wins

Clayton Town Council will have a familiar face and a newbie come their Monday, May 14 town council meeting as incumbent David W. Letterman was re-elected and Mary Ellen DeBenedictis won her first term in the April 24 Clayton Town Council election.

Incumbent Wayne Stover, who has served eight inconsecutive terms on council, lost his re-election bid.

Six candidates were vying for the two seats on council; each term is for two years. Also losing in the election were R. Deja Belle Johnson, Howard Blackstone and Stephen Marynowicz.

Both Letterman and DeBenedictis were happy for their victories in the election.

“I’m very pleased. I’m very, very pleased I did so well the first time I came out,” DeBenedictis said.

Thus far, DeBenedictis has gotten a positive response from her fellow Clayton residents. While she won’t become a member of council officially until their next council meeting, she’s ready to dig in and get her hands dirty.

“The first thing I’m going to do is I have a list of things I’m going to go to town hall and ask to look at,” DeBenedictis said.

This list includes the ordinance book, contracts for police and garbage, and what the budget looks like. “I want to familiarize myself with all these things before I’m sworn.”

Now that she’s been elected, DeBenedictis said her agenda hasn’t changed, which includes being an advocate for the people; if a resident has an issue, she wants them to come to her for help.

As for Letterman, the win marks his second term on council. He said council has worked hard over the past few years to keep rates down for residents and he hopes this continues in the future.

"Over the last two years, we as council have worked very hard to keep rates down and still provide services. We have reduced trash rates by $2 a month and decreased the PCA electric rates from .0165 to .0056 for a total savings of $10 per 1000 kw. In the coming months we hope to further reduce electric rates if things go as planned,” Letterman said. “Thank you for your confidence in me and thank you for your vote."

A total of 334 residents voted in the election, 324 at the polls and 10 by absentee ballot.

Clayton Election Board Chairman Skip Carrow said that total is believed to be one of the highest turnouts in town history.

There was no election last year because three candidates filed for three seats.

In 2010, there were 224 voters.