Guilderland Republicans have struggled over the years in the heavily Democratic community, but this year’s slate of candidates has the party’s chairman optimistic it’s time for the tides to change.
The Guilderland Republican Committee endorsed candidates on Wednesday, May 29, and selected a mix of fresh faces and familiar names. Mark Grimm was selected to run for supervisor, after he’d already announced his candidacy in April.
For Town Board, the committee choose newcomer Mark Livingston and current Albany County 29th District Legislator Lee Carman. Rounding out the ticket is Jason Wright for town clerk, Bryan Best for receiver of taxes, along with Chris Aldrich and Stephen DeNigris for town justice seats.
Town Republican Committee Chairman Matthew Nelligan said the party hasn’t run a full slate of candidates since 2001. At least two potential candidates were interviewed for each position, according to Nelligan.
“I think it is going to be a very interesting election season … and I am looking forward to the campaign,” Nelligan said. “The Republican party is gaining a lot of strength in Guilderland.”
Grimm had committed to knocking on 10,000 doors. Nelligan said he has no reason to doubt Grimm’s door-to-door campaign pledge.
“On all scores, I think (Grimm) is the right person for this particular campaign, because I think it is going to be bruiser,” Nelligan said.
Grimm thanked Nelligan and the committee for supporting his candidacy and said his campaign is already well underway.
“I have been to more than 1,000 homes already and the enthusiasm for bringing fresh air to Guilderland Town Hall is quite exciting. It’s wonderful to see Republicans are so united behind this message,” Grimm said in a statement.
Grimm previously served one four-year term on the Town Board. In 2011, he decided not to seek a second term because he wanted to focus on his public relations business and other projects, along with spending more time with his family.
During Grimm’s second year in office he announced he would challenge incumbent Democrat Supervisor Ken Runion, but he withdrew his candidacy shortly after announcing. Grimm and fellow Republican Warren Redlich had often clashed with Democratic board members and Runion.
Grimm and Redlich previously knocked two Democratic incumbents off the Town Board and Grimm believes he has a genuine shot at the supervisor’s office.
“I am really passionate about speaking up for people in Guilderland and people get that when they meet me at the doors,” Grimm said. “I think have an appeal to Democrats and Independents and I have to in this town to win.”
Carman, who is serving his third term as an Albany County legislator for the 29th District, has sat on the county’s Audit and Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Health Committee, Law Committee and its new Special Tax Committee. He is a lifelong resident of Guilderland and lives with his wife, Becky and two daughters, Kara and Taylor. Carman works as senior vice president of Lending for Kinderhook Bank. He has more than 20 years experience in commercial financing and business banking.
Livingston has lived in Guilderland for more than 50 years and is married with four children. He has been a member of the Guilderland Elks Club for more than 30 years and is a board member of the Jack Falvo III Foundation. He is “semi-retired” and a project manager for G W Martin.
“I think these are two of the best qualified candidates we have had in long time,” Nelligan said. “These are really solid citizens with great records in the community.”
Wright has worked as a computer information specialist for the Albany County Board of Elections since 2007. Previously, Wright was program director of the Mont Pleasant Unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady. He has served as secretary for the town Republican Committee since 2008.
Best is assistant legislative director for state Senator Mike Nozzolio.
“As a lifelong resident of the Town of Guilderland, I have continuously sought ways to improve the town and community I grew up in, and have always looked for ways to give back,” Best said in a statement.
DeNigris is a registered Democrat. Nelligan said DeNigris is “well qualified and supports our positions on issues important to law enforcement, and town residents.”
Republican candidates in Guilderland face an uphill battle when it comes to demographics. There are approximately 3,000 more active registered Democratic voters (9,850) than active registered Republicans in Guilderland.
“It is always changeling,” Nelligan said. “People in Guilderland have shown in the past they will vote Republican.”
Approximately 1,330 Guilderland residents are active registered Independents. Within the town there are just over 24,900 registered voters.
Calls to Runion and Guilderland Democratic Committee Chairman David Bosworth were not returned before The Spotlight went to press.
Town Democrats appeared to be making endorsements the night of Monday, June 3, according to the committee’s website. As of late April, Runion had not made a decision on whether to run for an eighth two-year term.