Published: October 27, 2009 11:26 pm      

WHEATFIELD ELECTION: A new supervisor in town

For the first time in 14 years, town voters will pick a new man to lead the town

Sam Conti and Bob Cliffe come from two very different backgrounds.

One is a successful businessman, the other a long-time state employee and union president. Yet both found their way into politics by way of a newspaper ad.

“I answered an ad for candidates,” Conti said with a chuckle. “It was the local Democratic Committee and they invited me to their dinner-dance for an interview. The next thing I knew, they were standing up and saying, ‘This is our (Wheatfield Town) Council candidate, Sam Conti.’ ”

That was about five years ago, now Conti is the Wheatfield Democratic Committee chair and after two unsuccessful bids for a seat on the town council he’s after the community’s top job, town supervisor.

“I had tried to get an appointment (five years earlier) to the town drainage committee and when I didn’t get it, I figured maybe you had to get into politics to get things done,” Conti said.

His opponent in the supervisor’s race, Cliffe, shares a similar political background.

In the early 1990s Cliffe was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Wheatfield Board of Education. He then ran for a full term, served it, left the board and then returned to fill another vacancy.

“I make a lousy spectator,” Cliffe laughed. “I like to get involved and with my kids in school, I decided being on the school board would be a good thing.”

Then, like Conti, Cliffe saw a newspaper ad seeking political candidates. The ad he answered was from the Wheatfield Republican Committee.

“They were looking for a candidate for supervisor and one for town justice,” Cliffe said. “I thought the supervisor’s job was a little too much, so I ran for town justice.”

Battling a 24-year incumbent, Cliffe won a 53-vote victory that elevated him to the bench and now he’s looking to move up again.

“It seems a logical step (running for supervisor),” Cliffe said. “After 14 years, it’s time for someone else. Whether it’s Sam or me, we’ll find out (on election day).”

Both men are running on almost identical platforms, with no new taxes for town residents at the top of the list.

“Nobody is getting a raise anymore,” Conti said. “I don’t want to pay more taxes. I don’t think other folks want to pay more taxes.”

Cliffe said in door to door campaigning, the message from town residents was clear.

“People are just sick and tired of government throwing more taxes and fees on their backs,” Cliffe said. “So the first thing I’ll do if I’m elected is hit the budget books and make sure we’re making a difference without breaking the bank.”

Both candidates agree that drainage issues in the town need more attention, along with economic development.

Where they differ is on who is better suited to execute that platform.

“My background in business shapes what I’ll do as a supervisor,” Cliffe said. “My experience leaves me better suited to handle a $12 million checkbook and 55 employees.”

Conti says his time in politics and union leadership give him the skills he needs to succeed as a supervisor.

“I think I’m a leader, not a follower,” Conti said. “I’ve been the local union president for 11 years, and I’m a quick learner.”

Like Cliffe, Conti says he’s looking to make a difference.

“I think we really need to change how government has been operating in the town,” he said. “I’m tired of sitting back and complaining about how things work in government. It’s motivated me to stand up and get involved.”

Incumbent Town Supervisor Tim Demler, who was defeated in a primary battle with Cliffe for the GOP endorsement, says he is still an option for voters as a write-in candidate.

Neither Conti nor Cliffe seem concerned about Demler’s continued candidacy.

“I’m running against Sam, Sam is running against me and Tim is on the sidelines making noise,” Cliffe said.



Samuel Conti Jr.

• AGE: 42

• FAMILY: Married for 16 years and has two sons.

• EDUCATION: Graduated from Trott Vocational High School with a degree in carpentry.

• EMPLOYMENT: Has worked for 22 1/2 for New York state Department of Parks and Recreation.

• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: He is the endorsed Democrat and Working Families party candidate.

• EXPERIENCE: This is his third run for public office.



Robert Cliffe

• AGE: 59

• FAMILY: Married for 37 years, with two sons and two daughters. Two of his children are adults and two are in college.

• EDUCATION: Graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in English.

• EMPLOYMENT: Worked for 16 years in management at Voss Manufacturing and is currently employed as a manager at Helmel Engineering Products Inc.

• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: He is the endorsed Republican, Independent and Conservative party candidate.

• EXPERIENCE: He has been elected to a term on the Wheatfield Board of Education and was elected 4 times and served 13 1/2 years as a Lewiston Town Court Justice.