I am a life-long resident of Onondaga County. I graduated from city schools and attended Syracuse University in 1964, graduated from Central City Business Institute in 1966, and was married to George R. Hanford from Dewitt, New York that same year. In 1971, after George’s service in the US Army, we moved from Fort Hood, Texas to our current home in Marcellus, New York. I am an gardening enthusiast, and together with my husband George have created Sycamore Hill Gardens.

Of my work in our county the thing that most bears the imprint of my own philosophy regarding community and personal responsibility is the Marcellus School Mission Statement written during my time on the site-based team.

The mission of the Marcellus Central School District is to provide an education that challenges, nurtures, and supports each child as a whole person. The responsibility for this mission lies with the entire community including students, staff, parents, and community members. It is our intent that each student will develop the responsibility, the confidence in his/her talents, and the knowledge necessary to function in a diverse and changing world. June 1993

When working with others I listen first, next I think things over with an emphasis on community and then I work with involved parties to come up with choices that recognize different interests. I realize that there are not always easy answers; that people may be on opposite sides of a problem. But the way I look at it is, the more polarized the viewpoints, the more room we have in the middle for solutions. Working hard together we can satisfy the needs of individuals while safeguarding our communities as a whole.

When I meet you, please tell me what is important to you. You’ll find that I am a good listener who uses experience in farming, business, education, and raising a family to see things from many points of view.

Thank you for your interest and your support.

The most important political office is that of private citizen.

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