COLONIE–Colonie Democratic and Republican committees have begun announcing their endorsements for the open spots in the Town of Colonie elected offices.
Three positions on the all-Democratic Town Board are up for grabs, as well as the offices of town supervisor, town clerk, receiver of taxes and two town justice postings. All of the positions will be decided in the upcoming November election.
Colonie Democratic Committee Chairman Richard Jacobson said the committee endorsed incumbent Supervisor Paula Mahan, who will run for her fourth two-year term.
“I appreciate the ongoing support from our town chairman and our committee members,” Mahan said.
Republicans did not immediately announce a supervisor candidate along with their slate, but several days later Colonie Republican Chairman Brian Hogan said the party chose to endorse Latham businessman Todd Drake to take on Mahan.
“He has a good feel for what happens in the community,” Hogan said.
Two incumbent Town Board members, Linda Murphy and David Rowley, were endorsed by the Democratic Committee. Murphy will finish up her first four-year term this year. Rowley, an attorney who won last year’s special election to finish the final year left in former Republican board member Dan Dustin’s term, is running to fill his first full four-year term.
Newcomer Susan Milstein is the Democrats’ third choice for Town Board. Milstein, an Albany attorney, currently serves on the Colonie Planning Board and will seek the seat now available after Democrat Daniel Hornick announced he would not seek a second term on the board.
“Susan is an attorney with a lot of experience,” Jacobson said. “She’ll make a good candidate for Town Board.”
Hogan said the Republican Committee is backing Allan Rea, Paula Fusco Ragaini and David Green for the Town Board seats. Fusco Ragaini is the director of research at the Albany County Legislature. Green will rerun for a seat on the board after he was defeated by Democrat Brian Haak last year to fill the three years left in Democrat Nancy Hernandez’s term. Hernandez retired from the board to work in the state Comptroller’s Office.
“The three Town Board members are new, fresh faces,” Hogan said. “They’ve got independent ideas. They’re young, energetic, vibrant. They have ideas to leading the town forward.”
As for town clerk, incumbent Liz DelTorto has been endorsed by the Republican Committee and the Democrats did not endorse any candidate.
“Liz’s always done the job. She runs a good office. The people that go into the town clerk’s office get good service and I think they’re happy with the service she provides the residents,” Hogan said.
DelTorto will be seeking her ninth term for the job she has said is “the best job in America.”
“I was very gratified to be given the endorsement. To have that … overwhelming support is quite an honor. I intend to work very hard to continue to make sure they’re proud of me,” DelTorto said.
Hogan said the committe also endorsed incumbent C. Michele Zilgme for receiver of taxes. She will face Democrat Kyle Simmons.
Brendan Baynes has been announced as the sole Democratic judicial candidate. Republicans endorsed incumbents Andrew Sommers and Norman Massry, whose seats are both up for reelection.
