Voters to choose for Phoenix Board of Education

Along with the voting on presented budget propositions, on Tuesday, May 15, registered voters will have an opportunity to go to the polls and vote for their choices among four candidates, to fill three positions on the Phoenix Central School District Board of Education. All three positions will be for a three year term. The polls are will be open on May 15 from noon until 9 p.m. in the John C. Birdlebough High School gymnasium. The candidates are listed in the same order as their position on the ballot. 

Daniel Dunn

Daniel Dunn, has lived in Phoenix all of his life, and is the son of Rod and Rose Dunn of Besaw Road. He graduated from John C. Birdlebough High School in 2008, and attended SUNY Maritime for two years, where he began studying nuclear engineering. He transferred for his junior year and is currently studying full time at SUNY Oswego to complete an accounting degree, in addition to working for Upstate Labs Inc., as a laboratory analyst. Dunn has been a Board of Education member for one year and is seeking re-election. 

The Phoenix Community and Youth Council selected Dunn as ‘Youth of the Year’ in his senior year at JCB, for extensive hours contributed to community service. Dunn served as president for the Youth Advisory Council in 2008, and participated in numerous local and county leadership programs including Youth Court for Oswego County. 

He spent many hours as a volunteer with various school clubs and organizations, was awarded the Presidential Service award and, prior to leaving JCB, established an annual leadership scholarship presented now each year through Dollars for Scholars. He was also was president of his student class for all four years at JCB High School. 

As a college freshman, Dunn served as chairman for the committee that coordinated programming and entertainment on the SUNY Maritime campus for students, and went on to serve as treasurer for the Student Government Association at the college. 

Earl Rudy

Earl Rudy is a 1982 graduate of Phoenix High School and married his high school sweetheart, Michelle (Huntley), in 1985. They live on Gilbert Mills Road and together they have two children, Alan (24), a paramedic and business man, and Aaron (21), a junior at Syracuse University (SU). Both are also Phoenix graduates and past Phoenix Community “Youth of the Year” winners. 

Rudy is the general manager of Town Mechanical Incorporated. Having been a Board of Education member for six years, Rudy has served on many sub-committees and has been the board of education vice president for the past two years. He is seeking re-election to the board.  

An avid supporter and booster member with the Phoenix Band, Chorus and Drama organizations for years, Rudy has also devoted support time as a past volunteer coach with Phoenix athletics.  He currently serves on a committee with the athletic director focused on continuing improvements for the sports program. 

Rudy volunteers with the Phoenix Alumni Band to raise scholarship money every year and supports the Town of Schroeppel Community Services Program, where he coached for 14 years. 

Throughout the year, Rudy supports fundraising efforts for Junior Achievement of Central New York and is also a member of the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club.  Rudy has been an archer since childhood and has coached archery, including the Central Archery Team in the Empire State Games (ESG), for many years.  He is also an ESG Gold Medalist and NYS Archery Champion.

As a member of St. Stephen’s Parish in Phoenix, Rudy has served in the past as a trustee, Parish Council President, Finance committee member and choir member.

Rudy enjoys spending time with his family, going to all SU Football games and races DIRT Sportsman Modified cars.

Robert Southworth

Robert Southworth and his wife, Pamela, live on Pendergast Road with their three young children - Aiden and Sheriden who attend Maroun Elementary School and Regan who is expected to attend preschool in the fall. After purchasing a property in Phoenix in 1999, they spent two years building their home and have now been residents of Phoenix for 10 years. 

Southworth grew up in and graduated from Liverpool High School in 1990 and went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Binghamton Univeristy. He continued to pursue his education at Syracuse University where he received his masters degree in electrical engineering in 2004. 

His professional experience has kept Southworth active as an engineering and manufacturing manager with recent years at ABB Inc, SSAC Division in Baldwinsville, SSAC, LLC, as well as with Future Electronics as an advanced engineer. 

Southworth and his wife participate in helping out with two 4-H Clubs - one of which is involved in dog obedience training, with demonstrations at the state fair. They are also active members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. 

Kevin Dix

Kevin Dix grew up in Phoenix, attended Phoenix Central Schools and graduated in 1977. He has been a Phoenix school board member since 1999, a representative Oswego County BOCES board member since 2011, and is seeking another term. He and his wife, Jamie, live on Dix Drive and have five children and two grandchildren. 

Dix attended Jefferson Community College for LE basic school (1988), Syracuse University for technical courses, NYSP/FBI technical courses, and Oswego County BOCES for trade courses. Dix is a retired Oswego County Deputy Sheriff and the owner and operator of Delta IX Supply. He currently works part-time for the Pulaski police department, works his firearms business and does training in firearms for civilians and law enforcement.  Dix was a former Sheriff’s department union president and vice president, also serving on the negotiations committee. 

He belongs to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National Rifle Association (NRA), Pathfinder Fish and Game Club, Albion Rod and Gun Club, the MG Car Club of Central New York, the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), and the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF).