Primary season: Hilltowns


HILLTOWNS — In the Democrat-dominated Hilltowns, the central primary on Sept. 18 will be the challenge Berne Supervisor, Kevin Crosier, is mounting against incumbent Alexander "Sandy" Gordon to represent the 39th District in the Albany County Legislature.

But in the only Hilltown that has a politically split town board — Rensselaerville — the Conservative Party primary is being hotly contested.

Although only enrolled Conservatives will be able to vote in the primary, having the line may well attract Democrats, Republicans or the unenrolled on Election Day, Nov. 6.

Two candidates are listed on the Conservative Party’s primary ballot for town council — Myra Dorman and Allyn Wright, both Republicans running for the town board. Write-ins are offered for the two town council seats and the assessor seat because of opportunity-to-ballot petitions. Democrats Marie Dermody and incumbent Councilman Gary Chase are both hoping for enough write-ins to get the Conservative line.

Dorman, a Republican town councilwoman, is up for re-election. Wright is the chairman of the town’s planning board.

Town assessor Jeff Pine, a Democrat and husband of a town councilwoman, will seek re-election. Steven Wood, a Conservative, is contesting Pine for the seat. Wood ran unsuccessfully for highway superintendent in a close race in the last election.

Dermody and Chase are running for the two council seats. Dermody, a member of the board of assessment review, is making her first run for the town board. She has received the endorsements of the Working Families and Independence parties.
"Now that I’m retired, I have the time. I have the interest in making the town more responsive to people’s concerns, and I have the motivation to follow through on issues of concern with the general population," said Dermody, who has been outspoken this year at board meetings, criticizing GOP initiatives.

The Democratic Party’s chairman, Jack Kudlack, could not be reached for comment.
"It’s time to pay back a little bit, to give back," Dermody said. "I’ve lived in this town for just about 50 years, and I can’t keep letting the other guy do it."
Dermody said she feels that, once someone is elected, he or she should work collaboratively and cooperatively for the benefit of all. "We can’t keep bickering just because we’re of different parties. We have to do what’s best for the people of the town," she said.
Dermody said she would be "more than happy" to receive the endorsement of the Conservative Party.

With three Republicans and two Democrats on its town board, Rensselaerville is the only Hilltown with a Republican majority.
"We need to get the town back on track," said Chase. When Chase first ran for office, he was endorsed by the Conservatives, he said. Like Dermody, he is also endorsed by the Working Families and Independence parties.
Chase said he would like to try and save the town money and that the budget has gotten "out of sync." The town has some good people, he said, adding that he wants to keep it that way.
"We need to bring some unity back in the town. That’s what we need," said Chase.
"The town has made a lot of progress with Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg," said Pat Parker, the town’s Republican Party chair. Nickelsberg made his first run for public office two years ago, winning the supervisor’s post.
Parker said Wright, who is seeking his first term as a town councilman, is "well-thought of" and "well-liked."
"His running is long overdue," she said. Parker cited Wright’s many years of volunteering with the town. He has served on the planning board and also with the town’s fire department and emergency medical services. Earlier this year, Wright and Barry Cooke were the first to be inducted into the Rensselaerville Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Parker did not know if Wright would serve in any capacity on the planning board if he is elected.
"If you have kept track of my record, I’ve volunteered for over 50 years in this town," Wright said. "We’re trying to make a change here." Asked what he’d like to see change, he said, "A little more accountability for where the taxpayers’ money is going."
"Fiscally, I’m a conservative. Socially, I’m a moderate," said Wright. He said he believes in the Senior/Junior bus and that it falls under a quality-of-life issue for the town’s seniors. The recently-purchased bus, which has taken trips to New York City, the Rensselaerville Institute, and Washington Park in Albany, is being funded through private donations.
"It’s good for our kids. It’s good for our seniors," he said.

Dorman, a town councilwoman, is a past town supervisor. She has served on the Cass Residential Citizen Advisory Committee. She is also the president of the town’s library, located in the hamlet. She is also a professor, she said. Dorman said she is running because she believes in helping out if she can.
"I love this town, and I want it to succeed," she said.
Dorman said she’d like to see the town’s taxes lowered more and would also like to see the people happy with the land-use program. Dorman said she wants "all of our residents to have the best life they can."

The town’s citizens have chosen their rural environment, and town officials are responsible for keeping it that way, she said.
Parker said the party hopes to "keep up the sound fiscal spending."
Though Republicans’ numbers aren’t as great as Democrats, she said, the party receives support from Democrats and independents. She said taxes are high, and added, "We’re on the road now to lower taxes."