To the Editor:

The Berne Democratic Committee is proud to announce its slate of nine highly qualified and dedicated candidates for the 2025 town elections.

These individuals were selected through a rigorous interview and vetting process by the committee. They also have strong support from the Democratic voters in Berne as shown by the enthusiastic signing of these candidates’ petitions.

Each candidate brings a deep commitment to public service, a strong record of community involvement, and a vision for a more accountable and responsive town government.

Joseph Giebelhaus is running for supervisor. Mr. Giebelhaus brings decades of municipal experience, including serving as deputy commissioner of Albany’s Department of General Services and 18 years as the city’s solid waste manager.

His leadership and operational expertise make him an ideal candidate to lead Berne into a new era of responsible governance.

This is our slate for town board members:

— Melanie laCour: An accomplished attorney, Ms. laCour answered the call to serve when appointed by the governor during a crisis in town governance. Her leadership helped restore functionality to the board after a wave of mass resignations;

— Scott Duncan: A lifelong Berne resident and 26-year member of the East Berne Volunteer Fire Company, including 20 years as chief, Mr. Duncan’s longstanding public service demonstrates an unmatched dedication to community safety and service to Berne;

— Brian Bunzey: Mr. Bunzey has lived his entire life in Berne and serves actively with the Helderberg Evangelical Lutheran Church. His involvement in the church council, community breakfast program, and church thrift store speaks to his deep-rooted commitment to helping Berne and its neighbors in need;

— Donald Lee: A lifelong town resident, Mr. Lee has raised his family in Berne and is stepping forward as a citizen candidate. “I’m not a politician. I care deeply about this town,” he said. “It’s my home, and it always has been. I believe it’s time to bring the town board back to working for all of us. We need to listen and take real action to help our neighbors. It’s not about politics; it’s about doing what’s right for everyone in Berne.”

Katherine Brown is running for town clerk. Ms. Brown has over a decade of municipal experience, including five years as Berne’s deputy town clerk. She is the only candidate with direct experience in this role. Ms. Brown brings unmatched knowledge and experience to serve Berne from day one.

Allen Stempel is running for highway superintendent. Mr. Stempel and his family are icons of dedication to the town. More than just experience, who he is speaks loudly about why he is the best choice for this position. “Family values and hard work are most important to me,” he said. “Many people in the town know of my father and grandfather. I grew up in our family business. I learned there about how important hard work is. I put everything I have into every job that I do.”

Jim Kaufman is running for tax collector. A 30-year veteran of the United States Postal Service and longtime legislative director for the Albany Local of the American Postal Workers Union, he brings decades of financial and organizational experience to the role. His candidacy is further strengthened by the current tax collector, Debra Flagler, who will be joining him as deputy tax collector. This makes Mr. Kaufman the only candidate who brings experience to this office.

Incumbent Albert Raymond is running for town justice. A long-time, trusted public servant in Berne, Mr. Raymond is widely respected across party lines for his character, fairness, and commitment to justice. He is well known for his integrity, honesty, and fairness.

This election is especially consequential for Berne. All town offices are on the ballot — supervisor, all four town board seats, town justice, clerk, tax collector, and highway superintendent.

During four years of Republican control, Berne has experienced a series of catastrophic failures, culminating in an unprecedented 800-percent increase in property taxes. The need for accountable, reliable, and fair leadership has never been more important.

We strongly believe that this slate represents the best path forward for our town. These candidates are extremely qualified and committed to bringing back responsible government, fiscal stability, and community trust.

Chairman Jim Kaufman

Peggy Christman

Kelly Martin

Jeff Marden

Berne

Democratic Committee

Editor’s note: See related story, “Berne election: All major posts open, most contested.”