BERNE — Ronald Shultes, a Democrat running on the Democratic line, is challenging one of the few Republicans in the town of Berne for the role of highway superintendent. A former town highway employee, Shultes said he would like to better the department in areas such as safety and road work.

Shultes, 54, works for JAT Construction in Coeymans, doing work such as running equipment. He is a Class A licensed commercial driver and equipment operator.

“It’s construction work,” Shultes said. “And I feel that’s what running the highway department is; it’s all construction work and building roads.”

He has lived in Berne his entire life, and worked for the town highway department as an equipment operator under the superintendent, Raymond Storm, for four years about 16 or 17 years ago, before leaving for “a better job that paid a lot more money.” His father, Raymond Shultes, also served as highway superintendent before Storm.

Shultes said he would like to improve the quality of the roads, help the townspeople, and work closer to home. He said he would like to bring the workers up to date on safety, such as using proper gear like safety vests and hard hats, as well as work alongside them.

“A lot more things could be done,” said Shultes. “Like brush being cut back and guardrails being fixed the right way … Do a little more paving and patching.”

Shultes said that he feels that the highway superintendent should maintain control of the highway garage, rather than decisions being made by the rest of the town government.

“He should take charge of everything at the highway garage to a certain extent…,” he said. “As far as spending the money, that’s the board.”

However, he said he would probably not use the highway department’s Facebook page, feeling that it is not necessary.

“People can see what we do when we’re driving around … I don’t think it should be posted every day,” he said.

He said that he does not mind the workers operating on a four-day, 10-hour work week, but that it should return to a five-day work week once the school year begins to ensure roads are maintained for school buses.

Regarding shared services, Shultes said he would have to wait until the study is completed on consolidating the town department with Albany County’s.

“A lot of that is still up in the air … ,” he said. “In the end, it’s going to be up to the residents,” he added, referring to the referendum vote that is to take place on whether to consolidate the departments.

He said he’d prefer not to comment on the possibility of sharing a facility until he had more information on it.

“If I get elected, I’m going to try to do my best ... ,” Shultes concluded. “I’m going to work hard everyday … make sure things are done correctly, to my specifications.”