What to expect on the ballot in Rosendale, New Paltz, Gardiner and Lloyd

On Election Day 2019, Rosendale voters have no surprises in store: All of the incumbents whose terms are up are running without opposition this year. These include town supervisor Jeanne Walsh, seeking a fifth term on the Democratic line; three town councilmen: John Hughes (Democrat), Ernest Klepeis (Democrat, Republican, Working Families) and Chris Pryslopski (Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independence); superintendent of highways Bob Gallagher (Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Independence); and town justice Carl Hornbeck. The town’s voice in the Ulster County Legislature, District 19 representative Manna Jo Greene, also seeks reelection (Democrat, Working Families).

The sole exception on this November’s ballot, in terms of novelty, is a referendum on the following proposal: “Should the terms for office for the Town of Rosendale supervisor and the Town of Rosendale superintendent of highways be increased from two years to four years, effective for terms commencing January 1, 2020?”

Lloyd

In the Town of Lloyd, two born-and-raised Lloyd boys, Jeff Paladino (R) and Fred Pizzuto (D), are hitting the campaign trail in a bid to win the position of town supervisor. Paladino has served as a town councilman under veteran Highland supervisor Paul Hansut (R), who announced that he will not be seeking another term last spring. Pizzuto is currently the chairman of the Planning Board, so both gentlemen are well-versed in the machinations of local government.

There is no lack of local candidates vying for a seat on the Lloyd Town Board. Democratic incumbents Mike Guerriero and Joe Mazzetti are being challenged by Republicans Bud Walker and John Fraino.

Several other positions remain uncontested. A longtime member of the town bench, Eugene Rizzo has been serving as a local magistrate for the past 34 years in Lloyd. Wendy Rosinski is running unopposed for the position of Lloyd town clerk and Highway Superintendent, Richard Klotz is also running unopposed.

The town’s voice in the Ulster County Legislature, District 9 representative Herbert Litts is seeking reelection (Democrat, Working Families). And it’s poised to be another close election between Mary Beth Maio, the Republican incumbent and Democratic challenger, Russell Gilmore, for a seat on the Ulster County Legislature to represent District 10. This legislative district covers a large portion of the Town of Lloyd and Marlborough in southern Ulster County.

New Paltz

Although the political climate continues to heat up throughout the region and the globe, in New Paltz, there are two candidates running unopposed on the ballot for two available seats on the New Paltz Town Board. One of these is Democratic incumbent Julie Seyfert-Lillis and the other is Alexandria Baer.

In the race for town justice, Kevin Kelly, a rare book dealer, has decided to run against veteran town justice James Bacon.

Educator and researcher, Eve Walters is one of two new candidates vying for a seat on the Ulster County Legislature District 20 that was held for a long time by Hector Rodriguez (D-New Paltz), who will not seek another term.

Walters will run on the Democratic and Working Families line while her challenger, Village of New Paltz resident Donna Smith, also a former employee of the Town of New Paltz and the Town of Gardiner, will run on the GOP, Conservative and Independence lines. Democratic incumbent, James Delaune is running to keep his seat on the Ulster County Legislature representing District 17, which covers primarily the town of New Paltz and Esopus.

Gardiner

On Election Day, Town of Gardiner voters will see only two points of contention on their ballots: Republican newcomer Jordan Manley is challenging Democratic incumbent Tracey Bartels for her seat as District 16 representative on the Ulster County Legislature. And the town is seeking voters’ blessing for a proposal to increase the Gardiner Library’s budget for the first time since the opening of its new building in 2008. The referendum question reads: “Shall the annual contribution of the Town of Gardiner for the operating budget of the Gardiner Library be increased by $46,846 to the sum of $276,076.00 annually?”

Incumbent municipal officials seeking reelection — all of them Democrats — face no opposition this time around. Marybeth Majestic is running for a third term as town supervisor.

Deputy supervisor Laura Walls and Franco Carucci, recently appointed to fill out Mike Reynolds’ unexpired term, are on the ballot for the two open Town Board seats. And longtime town justice Bruce Blatchly is also running for reelection unopposed.

To learn more about all the candidates in New Paltz, Gardiner, Rosendale and Lloyd running for election on November 5, visit www.hudsonvalleyone.com.