Election 2025: Wendy Guild Swearingen announces candidacy for Lewiston town clerk

By Wendy Guild Swearingen

Dear friends and neighbors,

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Lewiston town clerk to serve the remaining two years of Donna Garfinkel’s four-year term. She retired this past fall, having provided excellent service to the town in various roles for decades. With so many campaign signs sprouting up around town for primary candidates, you may have thought that the election was this June, but the general election is Nov. 4.

I have a long record of public service within our community, including a three-year term on the Lewiston-Porter School Board, 13 years on the Orleans-Niagara BOCES Board, and six years on the Friends of Youngstown Library Board. I’m currently a member and volunteer of Lewiston Council on the Arts, and a member and secretary of the Lewiston Public Library board of trustees.

I’m running for town clerk because I want to continue serving my community. I believe in transparency, accessibility, and friendly, efficient service – and I am committed to bringing those values to Town Hall every single day. The clerk’s role includes responsibilities to keep town records, books and papers; attend and record all meetings of the Town Board; maintain and file ordinance, deed and conveyance records and oaths of office; receive and deposit town moneys; issue licenses and permits and collects fees; and facilitate elections, among other duties. It is often the first point of contact for residents, and I intend to make it a welcoming, helpful, and well-organized resource for all, while adhering to state and local laws and regulations as written.

I have deep roots in Lewiston. I am the ninth child in my family to graduate from Lewiston-Porter, as did both of my children – my eldest is now an Army corporal, and my youngest is a sophomore studying biology at Buffalo State. I have a B.A. in English from SUNY Brockport and M.F.A. in writing from the University of Montana.

I have developed a strong command of Word, Excel, Adobe, content management software, social media, as well as other digital and web tools and software. I am adept at creating agendas and writing minutes, having done so as library secretary and program assistant at Cornell University. As a longtime communications professional – including my roles as publications coordinator at Harvard Business School and senior editor at Buffalo Spree – I understand the value of delivering clear, consistent and accurate communication and responsive service to stakeholders who depend on the town for important information regarding taxes, elections, permits, records and more.

Over the coming months, I look forward to hearing from you, learning what matters most to our town, and earning your trust and support. If elected, I will serve with integrity, professionalism and dedication to the needs of Lewiston’s residents.

Finally, I want to acknowledge how amazing it is that three Lewiston women have had the courage and commitment to run for this office, which is a testament to the character of the town and its residents. Kudos to my fellow candidates!

Thank you for your support. I hope to meet many of you on the campaign trail!