RENSSELAERVILLE — The Rensselaerville Republican Committee has chosen candidates and developed a four-point platform for this November’s town election. The town supervisor, Republican J. Robert Lansing, will run for a seat on the town board, while party Chairman Jost Nickelsberg, of Medusa, will try to become supervisor in his first run for public office.
"At age 62, I figure I could probably help out, and it’s my town," Nickelsberg said.

Nickelsberg is an energy investment banker. He has worked in the financial field for over 40 years, he said. He intends to use his financial skills to manage the town budget as supervisor, he said.

Rensselaerville is the only Hilltown whose government is not dominated by Democrats. Currently, the town board has three Republicans and two Democrats.

Among registered voters in Rensselaerville, Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 1.

Lansing is stepping down against the wishes of his party, Nickelsberg said.
"We tried very hard to get Bob in because he’s done such a stellar job," he said.

Lansing, a retired school business official, has been supervisor for just one four-year term.

Lansing wants more time to spend with his family, Nickelsberg said.

Two town board seats will be contested in the election.

Republican Councilman Kenneth Decker has chosen not to run after 2 four-year terms in office.
"He does a tremendous amount of charitable work in the community," Nickelsberg said. "He just thought he needed a break. We’ll miss him."

In addition to Lansing, Timothy Becker, of Medusa, will run for a seat on the board. Democrat Councilman Steven Ryder’s term ends this year.

For highway superintendent, the Republicans are sponsoring Stephen Wood, of Preston Hollow. Wood has run for superintendent in the past, but lost to Democrat G. Jon Chase, who has held the position for over a decade.
"He has run before, but this will be the first time he’ll win," Nickelsberg said.

In May, Republican Eric Sutton was appointed by the Rensselaerville Town Board to replace Democrat Sean McCormick, who was unable to complete the required training courses for the job. The vote was split 3 to 2 along party lines.

In November, the Republicans will sponsor Sutton’s run for a full term. The Republicans have chosen Donna Kropp to run for the other open position on the three-member board of assessors, Nickelsberg said.

Although there are a few more open town-government positions for next year, including town clerk, the Republicans will not contest them, Nickelsberg said.

Platform

The Rensselaerville Republican Committee has four goals for 2006, Nickelsberg said.

The first goal is to continue Lansing’s legacy.
"He was a master of the budget and paid lots of attention to that," Nickelsberg said. Lansing strove to keep tax increases to a minimum, Nickelsberg said.
"Since he’s obviously going to continue to be with us on the board, we will be able to draw on his expertise to keep that policy," he said.
The second goal is related: to restrain tax hikes with common sense and "good solid hard work" in an effort to offset school and county taxes, Nickelsberg said.
Third, the Republicans want to preserve the rural character of Rensselaerville, which Nickelsberg said, residents want "overwhelmingly."
"We’ll work very hard to maintain that," he said, through, "enforcing current zoning and being intelligently opportunistic in relation to events that may unfold."

Finally, Nickelsberg said, the Republicans want to seek state funding—if it exists—for revitalization projects in the hamlets of Rensselaerville, Medusa, and Preston Hollow.