Guilderland Town Supervisor Ken Runion said he will seek re-election despite previous apprehensions he expressed about running for another term.
Runion has said he is tired of bickering with Republican board members Warren Redlich and Mark Grimm, but told The Spotlight on Tuesday, May 5, after the board’s regular meeting that he will seek reelection after all.
He commented on the strained relationship he and the Republican board members have had over the past year.
Since these members were installed in January 2008, they have continued the relentless barrage of negativity, focused so narrowly on attacking everyone and everything that stand in their way, that they made it extremely difficult to conduct even the most routine elements of town business in a civil and professional manner, Runion wrote in a letter stating his intent to run for re-election.
Runion went on to state that board members Paul Pastor and Patricia Slavick have `been there to work with me as a team on every important matter,` and expressed their importance to the town.
Runion, who has been involved in Guilderland politics since the 1980s, wrote in the letter that with the difficult economic climate, there is `no time to waste on name-calling and unsubstantiated allegation.`
Runion emphasized the need to bring `government services in a responsive and cost-efficient manner and to improve the quality of life of all our town residents.`
He also said that support from Guilderland residents has fed into his decision to run for re-election.
The town’s Democratic committee held a meeting Monday, May 5, which Runion attended. The town’s chair, David Bosworth, expressed support for Runion prior to the meeting in an interview last week, as did Albany County Chairman Daniel McCoy.
Grimm announced his candidacy for supervisor on Friday, May 1, and has been critical of Runion during his tenure on the board. Grimm said he is not surprised about Runion’s decision, but he said he was disappointed by the negative message in Runion’s announcement.
`His announcement is all about attacking the challenger,` Grimm said. `My announcement was about positive and fair government.`
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