The Peru Gazette

Incumbent Republican Michael Farrell is seeking reelection as Peru Superintendent of Highways on the Republican Party line. Chip Blair, also a registered Republican, is seeking election on the Democratic Party line. The Peru Gazette posed three questions to each candidate. Here are their responses.

1. Summarize your educational background, a brief employment history, a little about your family, and your past community involvement. How will/does your background make you an effective Superintendent of Highways? 

Chip Blair

My name is Chip Blair. I am a life long resident of Peru, NY. I went to Peru Central School. My employment began at Don G. Orchards in Peru operating the forklift, organizing the warehouse, loading trucks, and doing general maintenance on the grounds. I went on to work at NJ Brunell road construction for 13 years, many of those years as superintendent. For 10 of those years, in the winter season I cleared and removed snow at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base flight line. I have owned my own company now for almost 30 years-trucking, paving, excavating, concrete work, drainage systems, septic systems, landscaping and more, hiring and supervising employees, ordering materials, reading blueprints, dealing with specifications and inspectors. I perform the maintenance and majority of repairs on my trucks and equipment. All of this history has taught me not only the management side of the job but also the experience in the physical labor side of the position. I also owned Murphy’s Tavern in Peru for over 25 years along with my wife Stephanie. Together we organized many fundraisers for local residents in need, raised over $120,000 for Make A Wish Foundation, hosted receptions, wrestling banquets, and many events for community residents.

2. Why are you running for election/reelection? 

Chip Blair

I am running for highway superintendent because I have had many members of the community approach me, encouraging me to run for the position knowing my experience and work ethics.

3. What town highway issues concern you the most?

Chip Blair

My goals/concerns are to keep the roads and sidewalks well maintained and safe. To operate the department in an efficient manner and use my experience to complete projects, repairs, and maintenance using our own manpower and equipment instead of outsourcing to others, whenever possible. I will always address the taxpayers’ concerns in a professional manner and with respect. 

Michael Farrell responded in this format. 

I am a 1982 graduate of Saranac Central School . My wife Anne (Dimock) and I were married in 1990. We have two grown children , a son Heath who is 34  years old , who was born with a condition called Autism Spectrum Disorder. and a daughter Steffany who is 32 and is  married to Cody Boudrieau and they gave us our only grandchild, Ian who is four years old.

I have always been active in the community , as I was a  volunteer fireman for 17 years with the Morrisonville and Peru Volunteer Fire  Departments, with 2 years as fire chief in Morrisonville. I am currently in my 29th year as a member of the Keeseville Elks Lodge. I was on the Town of Peru Zoning Board of Appeals for 12 years, serving as vice chairman for a few years. My wife and I are active every year with the annual autism walk which helps raise money for children living with autism.

For 28 years after completing high school , my employment history has always involved building and maintaining roads all over upstate New York and  into parts of Vermont with two of the  largest contractors in the area before being asked to run for highway superintendent in the fall of 2008. This would be a one  year term, to finish out former highway superintendent Robbie Timmons term. On January 1st 2009 I started with the town. In 2022 I was elected to the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways Executive Board. Our mission is  to set up training and education classes at the annual  highway school which is held each year at Ithaca College. We also help with Advocacy Day in Albany where we meet with our state senators and assembly members to lobby for more funding for the Chips and Bridge and culvert programs.

The biggest issue I see with the town in the near future is the replacement of 9 large stream crossing’s, with 2  crossings that will require a bridge to be built. These will all require environmental permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation and Army Corps of Engineers which is a very slow and expensive process. We have applied for funding 5 times through Bridge/Culvert NY and were not selected.