Just a few weeks after Republican town council incumbent Harold Townley announced his candidacy for town supervisor in the November elections, another Republican is stepping up to challenge him.
J.D. Wood, a longtime regular attendee at town board meetings and member of the town planning board from 2000-2005, announced Friday he has filed paperwork with the Saratoga County Board of Elections to begin his campaign. Wood holds a master’s degree in regional planning.
In a lengthy press packet, which includes an eight-page campaign statement, Wood said he is aware he is the long shot in an already contentious race to replace retiring town supervisor and Republican Ray Callanan.
I am the one candidate running without any big bucks or political endorsement, said Wood. `I answer to a higher authority; not a political affiliation or philosophy nor motivated by a pot of gold, but rather driven and focused on the most basic and simplest factors that we all share and are concerned about: quality of life in Ballston.`
Wood takes issue with some decisions and directions in which the current board is leading the town.
`Political arrogance has had a chokehold on our community’s ability to be better prepared for the changing world around us,` said Wood. `Once elected, I vow this grip will cease, allowing breathing room, fresh air, fresh ideas and an unobstructed flow of all peoples’ input into shaping their community.`
Among his campaign platforms are attracting builders for affordable housing, providing services for youths and the elderly, promoting `buy it in Ballston,` planning for recreational places and open space, organizing a walkable community, and promoting open government.
Wood also took issue with the board’s recent decision to purchase town water from the county water system being built.
`Safe, affordable drinking water is simply that, but when forced upon us without given choice or facts, the plan the present town board offers us is a bit cloudy with both sediment and sentiment, murky with suspicion at the tap,` wrote Wood in his statement.
Harold Townley fired back in statements about Wood’s candidacy, questioning Wood’s employment background and experience.
`He doesn’t have any experience, and I don’t know where he’s coming from to think he’s qualified to run a town,` said Townley.
`He’s never even run a business. Where is he working right now?`
According to Wood’s resume, submitted to the press with his campaign packet, he is currently a retail associate with Burnt Hills Hardware.
Townley said his reactions to Wood are not personal.
`I don’t dislike anyone, but I don’t like what he’s written, and I think at board meetings he has been disrespectful to the board,` said Townley. `But he has a right to force a primary if that’s what he feels he needs to do.`
Meanwhile, in the Democrat’s corner, party chairman Pat Southworth announced two weeks ago that his wife, Patti Southworth, will run for supervisor on their ticket. Patti Southworth also announced she had received the Independence Party endorsement last week.
Pat Southworth said he knows Wood well, and welcomes his participation in the long campaigning process ahead.
`It will be a good, fair race,` said Pat Southworth. `The people have a right to a choice in elected officials.`
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