Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Editorial — Get out and vote
Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day and residents in towns and cities nationwide will be voting. Residents in Columbia County will be expressing their right to vote in the 18 towns and city of Hudson.
There are 187 candidates running for various positions throughout the county — 35 alone in Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham and New Lebanon.
In Austerlitz and Canaan, all four candidates running for supervisor have the advantage of currently or at one time sitting in the seat.
Jeff Braley Sr., Austerlitz town supervisor from 2003-05 who is a lifetime farmer and has driven bus for the Chatham Central School District for 20 years, is challenging incumbent George Jahn, who’s running for a second term as supervisor. Jahn is involved in commercial real estate investment and has a business degree in investment finance.
The biggest issue facing each candidate is the town’s new zoning law, officially adopted in June of this year.
In Canaan, incumbent Rick Keaveney is being challenged by former supervisor Gary Flaherty. Flaherty has an active background in the military and is a strong proponent of veterans affairs. Keaveney is retired from financial services with JPMorgan Chase and Merrill Lynch.
One of the issues Canaan is facing is a salt/sand facility. Keaveney is for building one, while Flaherty doesn’t think the town should spend a lot of money to build one and should seek alternative options.
There is no race for supervisor in Chatham and in New Lebanon, Margaret Robertson is running unopposed for a second term.
For Town Board, incumbent Chic Vander Weit will be facing three challengers, Jean Corigliano, Carol Pinto and Matt Verenazi for two Austerlitz seats, while in Canaan, it looks like Carrie Bither and David Patzwahl will be reclaiming their seats. Incumbents Bob Balcom and Don Hegeman are being challenged by Maria Lull and Henry Swartz Jr. in Chatham. Same scenario in New Lebanon, Monte Wasch and KB Chittenden are hoping to keep their seats in a race against challengers Doug Clark and Charles Geraldi.
There’s only one town justice race in northern Columbia County — current New Lebanon justice Shaun McHugh is being challenged by Jessica Byrne. Also in New Lebanon, Cherie Lane-Smith is looking to unseat Colleen Teal as town clerk, while Tammie Darcy and Stacey Wallace are vying for the tax collector position.
Meanwhile, Austerlitz and Canaan have a combined town clerk/tax collector position, both being sought by incumbents, Susan Haag and Charlotte Cowan, respectively. In Chatham, Landra Haber is challenging Beth Anne Rippel, who is currently a Town Board member.
All highway superintendents in these districts are seeking re-election and the only assessor’s race is in Chatham, with incumbent Daniel Horst being challenged by James Forster.
Countywide, voters will be re-electing Sheriff David W. Harrison Jr. and Coroner Angelo Nero and will also be voting for a Supreme Court judge in the 3rd Judicial District: James P. Gilpatric or Jill Dunn.
There are also two amendments on the ballot this year. To learn more, visit the New York state Board of Elections Web site at www.elections.state.ny.us.
We encourage you to get out and vote. Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check out the special Election section that was inside Thursday's paper.
There are 187 candidates running for various positions throughout the county — 35 alone in Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham and New Lebanon.
In Austerlitz and Canaan, all four candidates running for supervisor have the advantage of currently or at one time sitting in the seat.
Jeff Braley Sr., Austerlitz town supervisor from 2003-05 who is a lifetime farmer and has driven bus for the Chatham Central School District for 20 years, is challenging incumbent George Jahn, who’s running for a second term as supervisor. Jahn is involved in commercial real estate investment and has a business degree in investment finance.
The biggest issue facing each candidate is the town’s new zoning law, officially adopted in June of this year.
In Canaan, incumbent Rick Keaveney is being challenged by former supervisor Gary Flaherty. Flaherty has an active background in the military and is a strong proponent of veterans affairs. Keaveney is retired from financial services with JPMorgan Chase and Merrill Lynch.
One of the issues Canaan is facing is a salt/sand facility. Keaveney is for building one, while Flaherty doesn’t think the town should spend a lot of money to build one and should seek alternative options.
There is no race for supervisor in Chatham and in New Lebanon, Margaret Robertson is running unopposed for a second term.
For Town Board, incumbent Chic Vander Weit will be facing three challengers, Jean Corigliano, Carol Pinto and Matt Verenazi for two Austerlitz seats, while in Canaan, it looks like Carrie Bither and David Patzwahl will be reclaiming their seats. Incumbents Bob Balcom and Don Hegeman are being challenged by Maria Lull and Henry Swartz Jr. in Chatham. Same scenario in New Lebanon, Monte Wasch and KB Chittenden are hoping to keep their seats in a race against challengers Doug Clark and Charles Geraldi.
There’s only one town justice race in northern Columbia County — current New Lebanon justice Shaun McHugh is being challenged by Jessica Byrne. Also in New Lebanon, Cherie Lane-Smith is looking to unseat Colleen Teal as town clerk, while Tammie Darcy and Stacey Wallace are vying for the tax collector position.
Meanwhile, Austerlitz and Canaan have a combined town clerk/tax collector position, both being sought by incumbents, Susan Haag and Charlotte Cowan, respectively. In Chatham, Landra Haber is challenging Beth Anne Rippel, who is currently a Town Board member.
All highway superintendents in these districts are seeking re-election and the only assessor’s race is in Chatham, with incumbent Daniel Horst being challenged by James Forster.
Countywide, voters will be re-electing Sheriff David W. Harrison Jr. and Coroner Angelo Nero and will also be voting for a Supreme Court judge in the 3rd Judicial District: James P. Gilpatric or Jill Dunn.
There are also two amendments on the ballot this year. To learn more, visit the New York state Board of Elections Web site at www.elections.state.ny.us.
We encourage you to get out and vote. Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check out the special Election section that was inside Thursday's paper.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Letter — A vote for Beth Anne Rippel | Letter — Selective enforcement |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
