By Zach Simeone

KNOX — The Democrats in town have picked their candidates for the fall elections. On Tuesday night, they met at the town hall for a caucus that nominated long-time Supervisor Michael Hammond for another term, along with a full slate of incumbents, with one exception.

Matthew Clyne, the Democratic chairman of the Albany County Board of Elections, was present at the caucus, and the town’s Democratic chairman, Maynard Porter, led the caucus from the table at the far end of the basement meeting room.

First to be nominated was Hammond for town supervisor. Hammond has been supervisor for over 30 years, in a town where Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 2 to 1. He was nominated with almost unanimous approval.

“It is truly an honor to be nominated again,” Hammond said.

Incumbent town board members Nicholas Viscio and Dennis Decker were nominated soon after.

“It feels great,” said Decker on being nominated. “We’ve got some great projects underway, and it will feel good to continue working on them.”

“It was an interesting caucus,” added Viscio. “I’m pleased with the outcome.”

But when Porter asked for nominations for town clerk, two were named: incumbent Kimberly Swain, a Republican, and Deborah Liddle. In the end, Swain came out on top with 26 votes; Liddle received 17.

Next, the committee nominated Tax Collector Delia Palombo to keep her current position. But the crowd was forced to another vote when Dennis Barber and incumbent Gary Salisbury — a Republican — were both named as nominees for highway superintendent.

Salisbury had won in 2003 when improperly filed paperwork kept the Democrats off the ballot. He was subsequently re-elected.

Both Salisbury and Barber received 23 votes, leaving Chairman Porter with the power to cast the deciding vote; he chose Barber, the only non-incumbent to be nominated. Some in attendance questioned the purpose of a vote if one man is able to decide in the end, but Clyne assured them that this was the correct process.

Finally, incumbent Judge Jean Gagnon was nominated to run for another term, and the following committee to fill vacancies was appointed: Lee Martin, Barbara Porter, and Marie Viscio.