A Profile Of The Democratic Candidates In Grafton

submitted by John Darling, Grafton Democratic Party Chairman
Sarah B. (Davies) Longacker is a new comer running for Town Council. She is a long-time resident of Grafton. She moved to Grafton when she was five years old. Sarah participated in Grafton’s Summer Swim Program and Youth activities as a counselor. She graduated from Berlin Central High School in 1994 and from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1998 with a Major in Environmental Science and a minor in Recreation. Sarah is married to Kevin Longacker, and they have two children, Ryan age 5, who attends kindergarten at Berlin elementary, and Fiona age 2. They feel it is important to be close to family, and they like the small, close-knit community that exists in Grafton. Sarah currently works as an Environmental Educator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation working with the DEC’s Environmental Education Summer Camps program. She is a former Trustee of the Grafton Community Library and is currently Vice President of the Berlin Elementary PTO. She attends St. John Francis Regis Church.
Patricia A. Busch grew up in the City of Albany and graduated from Vincentian Institute in 1970. She is married to Mark Busch, and they have two children, Tracie Heinrichs and Tina Graber, and five grandchildren.  Their daughter, Tracie, is a teacher at Grafton Elementary School. Patricia and her husband moved to Grafton in 2006. She worked for St. Peter’s from 1970 until 1973 and then again from 1978 to 1980. For the last 28 years she has worked for the Albany County Real Property Tax Service Agency. Patricia has long been an advocate of open and responsible government and as council person will be available to all the people of Grafton and will listen to them and try to help them whenever possible.
Running unopposed for Assessor is Julie E. Darling, who was raised in Middletown, NY, and educated at SUNY Oneonta. Julie has spent her married life living in Troy and then Grafton. She has lived in Grafton since 1976 when her husband John Darling and she moved back to the Feathers Farm to raise their children.  She has four children, Kathleen Benoit, Jennifer Hess, John Darling Jr. and Kierstin Spain; and she has ten grandchildren spanning from the ages of 18 to new born. Throughout these 35 years Julie has been involved in various volunteer activities and committees through the Town, and local Church.  She has been an advocate for those less represented. Julie views public service as a noble opportunity to serve others. As a retired teacher, she is patient and compassionate, two qualities that might be helpful in her capacity as Assessor.
Republicans
Long-time Council Members Mike Crandall and Marie Claus are running for re-election on the Republican ticket.