Guilderland incumbents staved off Republican challengers as Supervisor Ken Runion won his sixth term in office on Election Day.
Paul Pastore and Patricia Slavick kept their seats on the board and beat out former embattled high school teacher Matt Nelligan and David Fraterrigo, a CM Fox Real Estate employee. Runion beat author and business owner Peter Golden, who served a term on the Guilderland School Board.
Unofficial counts from the Albany County Board of Elections, not accounting for absentee ballots, shows Runion with 4,647 votes and Golden with 3,629.
Slavick and Pastore pulled 4,665 and 4,605 votes respectively. Nelligan reeled in 3,571 and Fraterrigo 3,165.
Runion thanked everyone who put in time to help with his campaign, as well as the voters.
We’re going to stay the course, he said. `I want to thank the voters for trusting me to manage the town for the next two years.`
Barb Frey, a district resident of 30 years, said she voted for Runion because she did not want things to return to the way they were in prior administrations.
She said although there are difficulties in town, the entire country is facing them, and its unfair to point fingers at the incumbent board.
`We’re just on hard times,` she said. `The whole world is on hard times.`
Runion said keeping taxes low and storm water issues are priorities for him as the next two years progress. The town is also working on fine tuning its zoning, and has commissioned a committee to study a number of items in town. Runion said implementing those suggestions will be something he and the rest of the board will have grapple with over the next term.
As the economy and development have been issues this election season, he noted that the Denny’s on Western Ave. across from Stuyvesant Plaza has been sold. The building he said, was one named by opponents evidence of the need for more development in town.
Runion said the new owners applied for a building permit on Wednesday, and a Five Guys restaurant will be the new occupant.
`I think they’re very popular,` Runion said. `That would be a good addition to the town.`
Slavick, who sought and won her third term, also thanked the Democratic Committee as well as those that volunteered on the campaign and her supporters who helped get her elected.
`It’s really one big team effort to get elected,` she said.
Slavick said the opportunity to meet constituents and walk around town was something she enjoyed during the campaign season.
`You need to get out there, visit all your residents, and see what they have to say,` Slavick said. `We got a lot of feed back.`
Her priorities going forward, like her running mate, will be a balanced budget, as well as flooding issues in McKownville and Blackberry. She also said maintaining services and public safety are important as well.
`It’s an honor to be an elected official in the Town of Guilderland,` she said.
Pastore, elected to his second term in office, said he was `deeply honored and privileged` to have been entrusted with another term on the board.
`I appreciate their [the voters] trust and and confidence in reelecting me,` he said. `I take pride in living in Guilderland and I take pride in being a public servant,` he said.
Pastore said with the trying economic times, `towing the line on taxes,` is a priority.
He also said that balancing growth and development with traffic and infrastructure is something the board will need to address.
Pastore cited the municipal golf course as an area where recreation and open space were utilized to provide a valuable service to residents, as opposed to selling and developing the land. He noted that extending water to the west end of town is an accomplishment he is happy to have been a part of.
While the incumbents remained in power in Guilderland, some said they were ready for change.
A district voter who asked to remain anonymous said she threw her support in all of the elections, town and county, behind those who did not have office.
She said change would be good for the town.
`Very few people are happy with what’s going on these days,` she said.
Golden, Runion’s challenger, said he too wanted change, and asked that those reelected be sure to address those who did not vote for them.
`[Runion] won, but I hope he pay’s attention to those who don’t agree with him,` Golden said. `Fourty-four percent of the people disagree with you.`
Golden said sidewalks and the `blight` on Western Avenue are items he hopes are addressed in the coming term.
He also said that he appreciated the opportunity to meet with so many residents and hear their concerns.
Nelligan, who also serves as the town’s Republican vice-chiarmen said he is going to work toward organizing the party and building a strong structure for future elections.
He said he was really proud of the campaign he ran and stuck to the issues, rather than getting sidetracked with a `personal back and forth.` He also said he was proud of the votes he garnered, and said two years ago he likely would have been elected.
`The Democrats did a better job pushing out their vote,` he said.
He said Chairmen Ted Danz did a great job, and the overall experience was a positive one.
Nelligan said that he learned some residents are unhappy with the conduct of the board during meetings, and that `people tended to blame our guys more than their guys, fair or not.` He also said that while many associate remarks made at town board meetings as the stance of the party, ultimately the party chairman, not the elected officials, speaks on the party’s behalf.
Fraterrigo, a first time runner said even though he did not win, he is hoping to work toward some initiatives to benefit the whole town.
He said he is hoping to help set up a tax deductible charity trust for the town’s parks and raise money to keep people outdoors and healthy. He also said he wants to set up a `county-fit program` that would foster a community environment while working out to help people stay motivated by others.
`It’s important to get away from the video games and television,` Fraterrigo said.
He said he is unsure of if will run again, but is proud of the 20 percent of the
vote he got, noting it was his first time running for office.
`I’m certainly not disappointed,` he said.“