To the Editor:
Recently, we knocked on your doors to collect signatures on our petitions to get our names on the ballot for the upcoming Democratic primary on June 22. We are grateful to the people who opened their doors and signed our petitions

Because of you, we collected almost four times the number of signatures required, an amazing accomplishment for a grassroots campaign. As a result, for the first time in history, there will be a primary election to select the Democratic candidates for Guilderland Town Board.

Some of you may remember me, Christine M. Napierski. I ran for Guilderland town justice a couple of years ago. At the time, the Guilderland Democratic Committee was still using the outdated, unfair caucus system, which disenfranchised thousands of Democratic voters.

The Guilderland Democratic Committee selected the candidates without much input from the Democratic voters. I demanded that the Guilderland Democratic Committee change to a primary system for nominating its candidates and I went to court to try to stop the caucus that unfairly suppressed the vote. 

Although the lawsuit was unsuccessful, the Guilderland Democratic Committee finally allowed a primary this year.  

You may also know Kevin McDonald, a Westmere resident who successfully sued Pyramid to stop the construction of a massive apartment complex next to his house. Kevin stood up against powerful interests when our town planning board failed to follow the necessary State Environmental Quality Review process meant to protect our neighborhoods, the historic Rapp Road neighborhood, and the Pine Bush from the negative impacts of overdevelopment.

Democratic voters have an important choice to make this year. There are four candidates running for two town board seats. The Democratic voters can choose to stay with the current status quo or vote for a change.

The candidates endorsed by Guilderland Democratic Committee are a current town board member who has been on the town board for 15 years and is running for another four-year term, and a current member of the town planning board that failed to follow the State Environmental Quality Review Act. 

As Guilderland Democratic candidates have done in the past, both of these candidates have also petitioned to run on the Conservative Party line.

Or the voters can elect two Democrats, Christine Napierski and Kevin McDonald, who have not been afraid to challenge the establishment and stand up for their values, two candidates who will bring much needed change to Guilderland and much needed independence on the town board.

Christine Napierski and Kevin McDonald will stand up for the residents of Guilderland and have pledged not to take money from developers or from the Guilderland Democratic Committee, which has accepted donations from Crossgates Land Company and other developers.

The choice is clear: Keep the status quo or vote for change. Christine Napierski and Kevin McDonald will work for the residents of this town and not for the developers.

You can learn about our values and and our vision for Guilderland by following us on Facebook at Friends of Christine Napierski and Friends of Kevin McDonald and visit our websites  www.christineforguilderland.com and www.kevinforguilderland.com

Christine M. Napierski

Democratic candidate for

Guilderland Town Board