Neil Gardner To Run For Stephentown Highway Supt.

Eckhardt For Town Supervisor
by Kieron Kramer
The Stephentown Republicans who caucused Friday, September 11, had to make some hard choices for four of the seven offices to be voted on this November 3. The most controversial nominees were Neil Gardner for Highway Superintendent, defeating Aldy Goodermote 89 to 75, and Town Councilman Larry Eckhardt besting incumbent Tom Sherman for the Town Supervisor nomination, 99 to 68. Incumbent Town Clerk Patricia Gallup turned back a challenge by Lorri Parisi, 101 to 62, and incumbent Tax Collector Ruth Rieger defeated Robert Parisi 117 to 47. The contested positions were voted on by paper ballot. Nominated without opposition were Joseph Champion for Town Justice and John Meekins and Donald Burdick for Town Council
Tammy Madden, Chair of the Caucus, said that Friday’s turnout of 170 registered Republicans was one of the highest caucus turnouts in recent memory.  She was prepared, though, and had paper ballots ready for 200.  “I thought it was going to be a tough caucus with a lot going on, but everyone behaved in a civil, businesslike manner,” she said, although one woman asked how the caucus could nominate a convicted felon for Highway Superintendent. Madden said in a telephone interview, “My understanding is that because of the conviction Neil had to leave [his position as Highway Superintendent] but because the sentence was probation and he served no time in jail, he is not stopped from running for office.” Judge Jacon gave him a light sentence because of the support for Gardner from the community, she added. Gardner was sentenced on December 23, 2008, to serve five years probation after having been convicted of 24 felony counts of possession and filing of forged documents related to illegal gravel mining. Gardner had left the post of Highway Superintendent in October, 2008, before the sentencing, and Aldy Goodermote had been appointed to replace him at that time. There are still some hard feelings about the relationship between some members of the Town Board and Gardner during this period.
In another surprise, the Republicans turned out incumbent Town Supervisor Tom Sherman. Some thought that he had been a fine Town Councilman but being Supervisor had “gone to his head.” Madden said that Sherman had requested that two NYS Troopers attend the caucus, something which is unheard of in Stephentown, she said. The troopers stood around overseeing the caucus until Madden gave them some coffee and cookies and asked them to wait in the parking lot. Sherman has served one term as Supervisor. Apparently, long-serving Town Clerk Patty Gallup was challenged because many are complaining about her being out of the Clerk’s office and often being unavailable.
Madden said that because the turnout was so large the caucus was convened at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall as advertised and, because of occupancy restrictions, voted to move to the Fire Hall where it was reconvened at 7:48. The caucus ended at 9 pm. The Stephentown Democrats will caucus on Friday, September 18, at 7 pm at the Fire Hall on Grange Hall Road.