WESTERLO — In this rural Helderberg Hilltown, dominated by Democrats for decades, a Republican newcomer to politics, Richard Filkins, has ousted a longtime Democratic councilman, William Bichteman. Democratic incumbent Joseph Boone was the top vote-getter.

Robert Loucks is unfazed by complaints lodged against the Invents Company, which he believes will help him realize his dream of bringing the ladder stabilizer he invented to market.

Police have pictures of two women they say stole a dog from a store at Crossgates Mall; the dog is back but the suspects are at large.

Christopher McManus, vice president of the Guilderland School Board, resigned from the board, effective Wednesday, he said.

RENSSELAERVILLE — David Bowdish says he was surprised on Thursday night to hear from a neighbor that he was on the ballot, running on the Republican line to be town supervisor.

Democrat Victoria Plotsky says her experience as a lawyer will help her in drafting legislation for the Albany County Legislature. Democrat Timothy Stanton says the legislature has too many lawyers and public servants; it needs a large landowner and farmer like himself.

Knox Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis, faced with accusations about his dealings as a stockbroker two decades ago, says he has nothing to hide and that he learned lessons that make him a good supervisor.

The contested races in Rensselaerville include four candidates running for two town board seats, and four more vying for two assessor posts. The Democratic candidate for supervisor, Steve Pfleging, is unopposed.

RENSSELAERVILLE — “A small town is like a family,” says Steve Pfleging. A Democrat, he is unopposed in his run for supervisor.

It is Pfleging’s first run for political office and he’d like to keep the town on an “even keel,” he said. “I’m not a politician,” Pfleging said, “so running is new for me.”

RENSSELAERVILLE — Marion Cooke, a member of the Conservative Party, has served on the town board for eight years and is making her third run on the Republican line.

What she is most proud of during her tenure on the board is the town’s sound financial condition.