LISBON – The race to fill the Town Council seat formerly held by C. Roger Shoen, who resigned in April, has heated up as former St. Lawrence County Sheriff Gary J. Jarvis and Keystone Road farmer Patrick J. Green have launched write-in campaigns for the November election.

The position on the council is for one year, because there is one year left on Mr. Shoen’s four-year term. Whoever gets the seat will need to run another campaign in 2013 to win a full four-year term.

Mr. Green has offered to debate Mr. Jarvis.

“Does he want to debate? If he wants to sit somewhere I’d like to talk about pensions and these public serpents who control the town boards and the school boards and the county Legislature,” said Mr. Green.

Mr. Jarvis turned down the offer.

“I have nothing to debate him about. It’s just a write-in campaign for Town Council.”

Mr. Jarvis, a Republican who also served on the council for four years in the late 1980s and opted not to run for another term as sheriff in 2007, said he is concerned about ensuring taxes stay “as low as possible.”

Mr. Green said he is running as an independent.

“I don’t see much difference between the Democrats and the Republicans,” he said.

Both candidates said they are concerned about the Lisbon Beach and Campground.

“I’d like to see that flourish,” said Mr. Jarvis.

Mr. Green believes the beach and campground’s prices are prohibitive for town residents.

“Lisbon Beach was started for the downtrodden and disadvantaged souls,” he said. “You can pull up in your $100,000 camper and go out wherever you want to go. And these local boys who are milking cows have to pay $18 a night to pitch a tent.”

“I’d like to get people to be able to go camping at Lisbon beach for a respectable price according to their wages,” said Mr. Green.

Mr. Jarvis said he isn’t concerned about Mr. Green’s decision to run.

“I don’t have any big agenda,” he said.

Mr. Jarvis said he decided to run under the assumption that no one else was running.

“I’ve talked to a few people, and they seem willing to write my name in,” he said.

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