NEW SCOTLAND — Two female farmers are squaring off in the town’s only election. Laura Ten Eyck, co-owner of Indian Ladder Farms and senior New York project and outreach manager for the American Farmland Trust, is running to keep her appointed seat on the town board member. Ally Moreau, a manager at her family business Our Family Harvest and a student, is challenging her. Each is making her first run for elected office.

Ten Eyck is running on the Democrat, Conservative, and Independence party lines. Moreau is running on the Republican and Reform lines. Although on opposing party lines, both come from a background of local family farms and businesses.

About a third of the registered voters in New Scotland are Democrats, about a quarter are Republicans, and slightly more than a quarter are unaffiliated with a party. The rest of the voters are enrolled in smaller parties.

The issues

The Enterprise asked the candidates for their views on these issues:

— Emergency care: Voorheesville Area Ambulance Service, lacking volunteers, announced its closure, which will be this Saturday. There is some concern Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company’s emergency medical services could suffer the same fate, while its members say they are protected from this by using their fire department members as EMS volunteers. Do you think OVFC’s status needs to be evaluated?

With this local news, as well as national efforts to recruit and maintain fire and EMS volunteers, do you think the town needs to address volunteerism? How would you go about addressing that?

With Albany County EMS now covering the village 24/7 at an increased cost to the town and village, how would you compensate for that extra expense?

— Development: A development that includes residential apartments and retail spaces has recently been proposed to the planning board for the Routes 85 and 85A corridor. Some residents feel this planned development does not fit with the rural nature of the town, while others feel it would bring in new homes and businesses. Do you think this plan is appropriate? How would you address both concerns?

— Planning: A hamlet master plan has been in the works for several years, with its draft currently being reviewed by a town committee. The current draft proposes rezoning a section of the town as a hamlet to allow it to be developed as a business and community center. Would you back such zoning, or are there parts you support or oppose? Do you think such a plan meets the needs of the town?

— Tax cap: The state has an established levy limit of two percent or the cost of living adjustment, whichever is less, limiting the increase on property taxes. If, however, town services were not being met, would you vote to override the tax cap?

Read answers by Laura Ten Eyck and Ally Moreau.