ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Leadership in the town of Union has come under fire in recent years.

In 2017, current supervisor Rose Sotak was indicted on charges that included abusing authority when employees accused her of harassment.

While those charges were dismissed, she chose not to seek re-election.

The two men vying for her spot are hoping to mend those relationships.

"I want to restore trust from the community to the supervisor's office, make sure that they know that we're on their side. Same with our employees, make sure they know that we have their back," said Frank Bertoni, (R) Union Supervisor Candidate.

"I've worked with people, I've been able to work with people and get people to work together. I think that's my key. I just think you need new blood in there, not to shake things up as much as just get them going again," said Rick Materese, (D) Union Supervisor Candidate.

Democrat Rick Materese was a county legislator for 8 years, more recently serving as the head of a local Boys and Girls Club.

He believes the town could be stricter on code enforcement and improve its overall look to attract businesses.

"I want people to come in and say this place looks great, because it always has been. It's just the last couple of years, it's sort of shifted away from that and I'd like to get those things moving again," said Materese.

Republican Frank Bertoni has been a union councilman for 10 years.

Bertoni's main focuses are better managing spending and improving aging infrastructure.

"We have sections of town that the roads have been there a long time, and so we have to be aggressive in trying to fix what we can, and make sure that we can afford it," said Bertoni.

Both candidates believe their time in political office will help them in the supervisor position.

"I'd like to think that I have a good connection with the people in the community and certainly have a working relationship with the board. We have to repair some damage that was there and we have to be honest about it that it was there," said Bertoni.

"I've worked with budgets, I've worked with probably three times with the town budget is, so I know how to go through budgets, I know how to look for things. I know how to try and find money that may be here or there," said Materese.

Both men believe their work with budgets over the years will help them move the town in the right direction.

Materese and Bertoni are both retired teachers from the Union-Endicott school district.