Four Seats Contested In Grafton Election

by Alex Brooks
It’s been a very active political season in Grafton this year. Four positions in Town government are being contested – Town Supervisor, two Council seats and the Town Justice post.
The Supervisor’s race pits current Republican Supervisor Tyler Sawyer (appointed by the Town Board after Allison Kirchner resigned last spring) against Democratic nominee Ray Darling.
Town Council seats held by incumbent Democrat Barbara Messenger and incumbent Republican Ed Fredricks are up for election. Both incumbents are running for re-election, and each party has a candidate challenging the incumbent. These nominees are Rick Ungaro for the Democrats and Pete Gundrum for the Republicans.
Each party has offered a nominee for the Town Justice post currently held by Dennis McGurn. Ken Bruno is the Republican, and Frank Higgins the Democrat.
Town Clerk Suzanne Putnam, Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck and Tax Collector Mary Gentner are running for re-election unopposed.
The Eastwick Press asked each candidate to address three questions for these profiles. The first asked what the most important issues are in this year’s campaign, the second asked what would be the candidate’s top priorities if elected and the third asked for some background information about the candidate.
Tyler Sawyer – Town Supervisor (R,C,I)
Most important issue: I believe the most important issue this election is the fiscal stability of the Town. With everyone facing tough economic times, I believe we need an experienced financial leader to take on this issue.
Top Priority if elected: If elected, my top priority will be to keep Grafton going in the right direction fiscally. With limited resources available via economic growth because of the lack of infrastructure, I believe we need to continue our direction of smart residential growth. This kind of smart growth has and will continue to increase our property values and will enable us to keep the property taxes down like we have over the last fourteen years for our residents.
Background: I Served on active duty in the United States Navy for 23 years. I was elected and re-elected as Grafton’s Town Supervisor from 1998 through 2007. I was appointed as the current Town Supervisor. I served as the Comptroller for the Town of North Greenbush, and I am currently employed as the Auditor for Rensselaer County.
Ray Darling – Town Supervisor (D,GCP)
Most Important Issues: I think the most important issue is the change to an appointed assessor. I think a referendum should be held to let the people decide. I also believe there should be term limits for policy making positions in the Town government – a maximum of two terms.
Top Priority: If elected my top priority would be to hold a referendum about the assessor position. I am committed to open government, and I think I could help to unify the people of Grafton. I would also like to set up a committee to look into our school district affiliation, to see if there is a possibility of re-opening our local school or of joining the Brunswick School District.
Background: I have run my own construction business for 29 years, which I believe is helpful in preparing me for running the Town. I believe I have a good rapport with many people in town, and I am a good listener. Grafton is my home town, and I have lived here since 1992. I worked for several years on the bicentennial celebration for our Town.
Ed Fredricks – Town Council (R,C,I)
Most important issue: I think the most important issue is stabilizing the equalization rate in our town, to stabilize the tax structure and make sure everyone pays their fair share.
Top Priority: To keep the Town moving forward. I’d like to see more youth programs and maybe a truck fund or highway equipment fund to avoid borrowing in the future and thereby keep taxes down.
Background: I have been elected Fire Commissioner for 15 years, and this is my eighth year as Town Councilman. I am retired from the Averill Park School District, and I am currently employed by Rensselaer County. I am married, and I have three kids.
Barbara Messenger – Town Council (D,GCP)
Most important issues: Perhaps the two most important issues of this campaign have been preserving Home Rule and promoting fiscal responsibility. The people of Grafton have always been steadfast in their voting rights. Over the past 18 months the citizens of Grafton had this opportunity taken away from them on two separate occasions. Initially in 2010 when the Town Council voted to change from a three person elected assessor team to a single appointed assessor and following the resignation of former Supervisor Kirchner by appointing Tyler Sawyer (a non-elected official) as interim Supervisor. To this end, I am committed to oppose any local law or legislation that abolishes or restricts these liberties without a referendum or appropriate time frame for the public to consider the impacts.
In these difficult economic times smart budgeting and fiscal responsibility are critical. The budget for any community must be fair and equitable. That is why I voted against a poorly designed 2011 budget that tripled the cost in the Assessor’s Office and eliminated regular upkeep for Town cemeteries or Post Office siding. I am pleased the funding for these projects was restored but not until after some harsh criticism by the public.
Top Priorities: If elected my top priorities would include: supporting a referendum to permit public input on how the Assessors are selected and advocating for the education of our children.
Background: As a member of the community for nearly 30 years, I presently serve as a member of the Town Council. To this position I bring many years of community service including 12 years on the Grafton Planning Board, serving as Chairman for two years. I am a strong advocate of Home Rule and preserving our Quality of Life. Grafton faces many challenges, including preserving our country setting, promoting fiscal responsibility, advocating for our children and providing for our senior citizens. It is my belief my background as a community advocate and experience in management, gerontology and nutrition have prepared me to continue as your public servant.
Rick Ungaro – Town Council (D,GCP)
Most important issue: I believe the most important issue is a commitment to following the will of the people. A member of the Town Board should consult with the voters as much as is practical, and, on major issues, there should be a referendum. Without that the people have no say. We all have a vested interest in this town, and we should be able to make our voices heard in how it is run.
Top priority: Working for a more responsive, transparent Town government that invites citizen input.
Background: I worked for many years in the food industry, and I now run, with my wife Sara, a business called AAA Rubbish Man. We live on a homestead on Madonna Lake Road where we grow produce, have a few chickens and heat with wood from our property.
Pete Gundrum – Town Council (R,C,I)
Most important issue: Keeping the taxes down. That’s what it’s all about. We have another year of no tax increase, and I’d like to keep it that way. Also, we need the Sole Assessor – he’s been to school for this, and he has a lot of experience and expertise.
Top Priority: Keep the roads in great shape. Continue to grow our tax base.
Background: I’ve lived in Grafton for 63 years. I served in the Marine Corps in the Vietnam era. I worked for 25 years as a truck driver for Rifenburgh Construction. I’m retired now and can give my full attention to the Town.
Ken Bruno – Town Justice (R,C,I)
Most important Issue: I believe the most important issue in this campaign is experience. I have been practicing law for over twenty years and have handled all types of cases ranging from civil litigation to criminal matters. I have been a criminal prosecutor working as Rensselaer County District Attorney, and I have represented individuals with matters in both town and county courts. I am seeking to bring this knowledge and experience to the people of Grafton as their Town Judge.
Top Priority: My top priority as Grafton Town Judge will be to ensure that everyone appearing in court will be treated respectfully and given fair and impartial consideration of their matter.
Background: I have been a part of this community for most of my life, raising a family and striving to make a difference in Rensselaer County. This is our home.
Frank Higgins – Town Justice (D,GCP)
Most important issue: Who sits in the Town Justice office. I feel that we need someone who is dedicated to the Town and wishes to provide fair and honest services to its residents, someone without a personal agenda or self-serving reasons for attaining the office.
Top Priority: To serve the residents fairly using the law tempered with common sense and compassion whenever possible.
Background: Town resident 42+ years, Graduate of LaSalle Institute, Troy, NY, Siena College, Loudonville, NY. 25 + years with Grafton Fire District as Treasurer and Commissioner. Retired with 30+ years of service from GE’s Management and Leadership team and a member of their charitable Elfun Society. 25 year member of Brunswick Elks, currently Treasurer and House Committee Chairman.
Suzanne Putnam – Town Clerk (R,C,I)
Most important issue: I believe that the most important issue of this campaign is experience. This is no time to have people without knowledge of municipal matters running the Town. It is way more complex than many people believe. In my 25 years as Town Clerk I have seen many changes with more and more responsibility being passed to the town level. I feel that both past Supervisors, Sawyer and Kirchner, have held spending down along with taxes and made many important improvements to the Town.
Goals & Background: I have been Town Clerk for 25 years and have always given the best I could to all residents within the Town. I have had some serious health issues during the past year and am on the mend now and am looking forward to another term as Town Clerk.
I had over ten years of clerical experience before running for Town Clerk the first time in 1985. I also had several jobs relating to serving people, and that is one of the most important parts of this job, I believe, loving people and helping them in any way that you can. I have drawn great strength from the people of Grafton, and it has helped me through many difficult times.
Herb Hasbrouck – Highway Superintendent (R,C,I)
Most Important issue: Continued progress for the Town of Grafton. There’s no room for political infighting. We should work with the State Park and the local businesses to build our tax base.
Top Priority: I will seek ways to go beyond just maintaining the roads and improve them to a better standard.
Background: I am a full-time Highway Superintendent. I have held this post for over 28 years. I have attended seminars at Ithaca College on Road Improvement, and I have worked with Rensselaer County to develop the shared services program between the County and the towns. I am the President of the Rensselaer County Highway Superintendents Assn.
Mary Gentner – Tax Collector (R,C,I,D)
Genter, running unopposed, did not respond to inquiries by press time.