The Bethlehem Democratic Committee has made its endorsements for the November local elections.
The committee met on Thursday, May 9, at Cyprus Shrine in Glenmont, to select its picks for the six town positions up for election this year. Among them continues to be the position of highway superintendent, after voters recently turned down a referendum to abolish the office and place its responsibilities with the commissioner of public works.
“I’m very excited about our slate of candidates this year,” said Bethlehem Democratic Committee Chairman Jeffrey Kuhn. “We have a really qualified group of individuals who are excited about running for office and about contributing to the continued progress of our town.”
Only one person stepped forward to be interviewed by the Executive Committee for the positions of supervisor and town clerk. Those positions also only had one nomination brought forward, and were endorsed by nearly the whole committee.
Supervisor John Clarkson was tapped for reelection, a decision followed by a round of applause, as was sitting Town Clerk Nanci Moquin.
“To me, being a Democrat is really about good government,” said Clarkson. “I know that can mean different things to different people, even among us Democrats, but I’m of the opinion that as long as we address those differences openly and honestly, and discuss them with one another, I think our party is in the right place.”
The supervisor spoke of his commitment to consolidation and finding savings within the town, even if those choices seem controversial. He mentioned last year’s decision to end the funding of Colonial Acres Golf Course and its existence under a private operator. He also spoke of the recent highway referendum vote, an issue that divided some party members.
“We have to take chances and we have to do things differently,” Clarkson said.
The party chose committee member Frank Zeoli as its candidate for highway superintendent, after interviewing four people for the position. Zeoli said he felt confident in his ability to do the job after spending 15 years with the Department of General Services for the City of Albany, which he described as similar to the town’s Highway Department, but much larger. He is now the city’s director of recycling.
Two people were nominated for the position of town justice. Matthew Kelly of Roemer, Wallens, Gold and Mineaux was nominated, along with Andrew Kirby of Conway and Kirby. The endorsement was given to Kirby, who has served as a Bethlehem prosecutor since 2004.
In February, the Town Board appointed Michael Katzer to the position after the sudden death of former Justice Mark Jordan. The Town Board had previously asked that those applying to fill the position not seek the office in the fall.
For the two seats on the Town Board, three people were interviewed. Councilman Kyle Kotary said in March he planned to step down at the end of his term after eight years on the board. The committee’s endorsements eventually went to current board member Bill Reinhart, who was not present at the meeting because of a family matter, and Julie Sasso of McSharry and Associates Realty.
“My decision to run came from the fact I’m a parent, a business owner and property owner in the town,” Sasso said in a later interview. “I have a vested interest to help town grow and thrive, and I think I have talents that can add to the current board configuration.”
Sasso said she feels residents might be looking for a voice on the board that is a bit younger, and that people might be happy to see another woman serve. Her broad goals are to work to maintain the town’s services at a reasonable cost and she would like to see more sustainable development occur throughout town.
“I’d like to hear what residents have to say before I get more specific,” she said.
Democrat Dan Cunningham was also interviewed for the Town Board endorsements, with George Harder not interviewing but gaining a nomination.
At the meeting, Kuhn asked each person nominated if they would seek or accept the Republican line. Each person said they would not.
“I asked those questions because I’m committed to the two-party system and I cannot agree with the prospect of one candidate for any elected office having every line on the ballot and thereby robbing the people of this town the right to choose their elected officials,” Kuhn later said.
When Kotary ran for town supervisor in 2011, he secured both the Democratic and Republican endorsements, which rankled some members in both parties. Clarkson cited it as his primary reason for waging a primary challenge on the Democratic line.
“I wanted people on the record unambiguously,” said Kuhn. “I have no objection to a primary for anyone, but I don’t want someone to get all the lines or trying to run on both of the two major party lines. To me, that is not a democratic election.”