GUILDERLAND — Jason Wright, a Republican who currently works for the Albany County Board of Elections, and formerly worked for the Schenectady Boys and Girls Club, will challenge Democrat Jean Cataldo, the current receiver of taxes, for the position of town clerk.

Denise Randall, the Democratic incumbent up for re-election, said Stephen DeNigris’s assertions “betray a lack of understanding of what the job entails.”
Randall owns her own law practice in Guilderland, and said she has reduced her hours there in order to fulfill her obligations to the town court.

Stephen DeNigris, a Democrat running on the Republican ticket, said he doesn’t believe that the court crowding can be solely attributed to the fact that there are currently only two town justices.
“To simply believe just hiring a third judge will solve the problem is unacceptable,” he said.

In the past, just one slot for town judge has been open, but this year two are up for election. The third post is already filled by Democrat John Bailey, whose term runs for another two years.

GUILDERLAND — Open town positions for 2014 include the supervisor and two town board seats. Democratic incumbents will face Republican opponents for each of these posts.

Candidates for town board and town clerk/tax collector have been endorsed by all four major parties.

RENSSELAERVILLE — This is the second consecutive unopposed election for Valerie Lounsbury. She wants to finish what she’s started, two years into the job.

RENSSELAERVILLE — After retiring from a career in the state’s Department of Transportation, Randall Bates sought an elective office in Rensselaerville to remain productive, in the thick of ice and snow coming down on the town’s long, rural roads.

RENSSELAERVILLE — Now in her first term as a town board member, Marion Cooke wants to continue for another four years.

“I’m running because I think the town is running on an even keel and I’d like to see it stay that way,” said Cooke, who is also deputy supervisor.

RENSSELAERVILLE — To be and remain a rural community requires pro-active work, according to Jeannette Rice. The Democratic candidate for town council sees a board role for supporting farms and small businesses.