WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) - A Watkins Glen village trustee has announced her candidacy for mayor.

Laurie DeNardo has served as a village trustee for more than seven years. 

DeNardo said her priority is listening to residents, and open, transparent and ethical village leadership is needed. The election for village mayor will take place in March 2023.

Former mayor Luke Lezyk resigned in July over personal misconduct allegations.

DeNardo's full campaign announcement is below:

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for Mayor of the Village of Watkins Glen.  I appreciate the incredible support I’ve received from our residents during the last few months and during the past seven + years I’ve served as a Village Trustee and I’m counting on that support in my bid to become your next Mayor.  Retiring from Cornell University with just shy of 40 years, I’m more than ready to work for the benefit of our residents and I’ll have the time to devote to this important position. 

My experience with state and local governments have provided me with considerable fiscal wisdom, human resources management experience and capital project management all of which have prepared me well for the role as Mayor.  As the longest serving Village Trustee, I’ve seen and understand not only the complexities of the role of Mayor, but how a strong, transparent leader should lead.  I’ve spent my entire life living in the Village and enjoy serving the community; my knowledge of our heritage and deep family history is always at the forefront of my deliberations.  I am visionary, yet a pragmatic Trustee. Our residents come first, and I will continue to support initiatives that can secure a safe and prosperous future for us all.   

Building a thoughtful, cohesive Board of Trustees, one that serves all our residents at the forefront of our priorities, is my first goal.  In the coming months, I will continue to be available to residents and businesses to “hear you” as we approach the 2023 village elections in March.  It is painfully apparent that we need an open, transparent, and ethical Board, including the Mayor, to serve the people of the Village of Watkins Glen.  I will do all I can to ensure we listen to our residents and respond in a professional and caring manner, stressing honesty and fiscal accountability, and always looking to the future and the success of our community.  I very much look forward to speaking to the many wonderful staff, residents, and business owners between now and election day on March 21, 2023.