Three Incumbents, One Newcomer On Town Of Hoosick Ballot
by Deb Alter
There is an election in the Town of Hoosick on Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open from 6 am to 9 pm. Three candidates are familiar, one is new.
The newcomer running for Town Council is Eric Sheffer. [private]Sheffer started getting involved in the community not long after returning home from college. He has helped at both the town and county level with multiple organizations. He was a member of the Town of Hoosick Agriculture and Farmland Protection Committee, where he worked with other volunteers to create a Town of Hoosick agricultural plan, which was adopted in 2011. He said he decided to run for Town Council because “I’m at an age and place in business where I can put in the time and desire to serve the Town officially.”
He said, “I think Hoosick is in a great location and has a vibrant future.” He is committed to finding the balance between maintaining taxes at an affordable level while keeping it an attractive place to live. He describes himself as “open minded and a good listener” and looks forward to helping the Town succeed. Sheffer is a dairy farmer. His family has been running Sheffer’s Grassland Dairy in Hoosick since the property was purchased from the King of England in 1774.
Mark Surdam is running for reelection as Town of Hoosick Supervisor. Harold McClellan is running for Town Justice. He was appointed to that position to fill out the remainder of Judge Richard Whalen’s term after his untimely death last year. Before he became a judge, McClellan was the Assistant Police Chief in Hoosick Falls.
Jenn Hyde is on the ballot for Town Council. Hyde is completing the final year of a four year term left vacant when former Councilman Surdam was elected Supervisor and has been serving ever since. Surdam had completed two years of his term. Before Hyde took office, the seat had remained vacant as the result of a two-two vote to appoint someone to fill the spot.
Councilman Bruce Patire is not running for reelection. He has served one four-year term on the Town Council.[/private]