Guilderland’s town board will look different come January. Now, Mark Grimm and Warren Redlich hope to have as big a splash on town business as they did in their successful campaigns.
With 3,980 and 3,788 votes, respectively, the Republican challengers unseated Democratic incumbents David Bosworth and Michael Ricard, who received 3,581 and 3,577 votes, respectively.
We took out two entrenched incumbents, said Grimm.
Not only are their faces new, but so is their political backing. `We’ve reinvigorated the party,` said Grimm, who noted that 10 years have passed since a Republican sat on the town board.
The win means a mandate for change, said Redlich.
Redlich said his primary goal is to make tax assessment process fair.
`That will be my focus for the first six months,` he said.
Redlich said he plans to do some research before his term starts in January. He’ll study the assessment process in detail and seek advice from town and state assessors.
`I’m not going to propose sweeping changes without knowing what’s going on,` he said.
`We know that there’s a problem,` said Redlich.
Too many properties are assessed far too low for their true value, he said, and many of them are vacant lots or commercial properties. `Once we take a better look and get some of these properties assessed fairly, it will relieve the tax burden on homeowners,` Redlich said.
Grimm talked about upholding his campaign promise of opening up government.
`I want to bring more clarity to what’s going on. It’s what I do for a living,` Grimm said. He said a lack of clarity is the reason most people don’t follow government.
Greater public airing of issues at town board meetings is one forum for this. Grimm also said he will bring ideas for improving the town’s Web site.
A second item that Redlich said he would focus on is economic development.
`I’m not going to call it suburban blight,` he said, implying that the phrase is too harsh. And yet, it describes what Redlich means: formerly developed properties sitting vacant.
`What can the town do to motivate the property owner to develop that property ` without causing new problems?` he asked.
The two missions are related, said Redlich. Underassessment of vacant properties may motivate owners not to develop. But if they’re assessed properly, then the owner needs income from commercial development to offset tax costs.
As someone who’s lost elections, Redlich said, `I’m very appreciative of the confidence of the voters.`
Redlich is ready to work with the town board, after a contentious campaign season. Not that there won’t be conflict on some things, he admitted, `but 95 percent of town business is not is not politically charged.`
Grimm agreed: `There’s nothing wrong with friction, as long as we make Guilderland better.`
As for the remaining 5 percent?
`Mark and I know how to frame it in a way that’s hard to oppose,` said Redlich.
New Scotland results
Tom Dolin won a close race to become New Scotland’s next supervisor, 1,394 to1,368 over Doug LaGrange.
The results for town board were not as close, but came up the same color ` Democratic blue.
Incumbents Rich Reilly and Deborah Baron held onto their seats with 1,551 and1,475 votes, respectively. Republican challengers (and LaGrange’s ticket mates, who called themselves Team New Scotland) went down in defeat — Gary Schultz received1,188 votes and Chuck Voss, 1,105.
Similarly, the town clerk will continue to be Diane Deschenes who prevailed over Penny Barone, 1,754 to 953.
Town justice seats were also held by the current incumbents, Margaret Adkins and David Wutkitsch, who received 1510 and 1322 votes respectively. Challengers Brendan O’Shea and John Keenan III lost with 1,293 and 1,201 votes, respectively. “
