fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Holiday Gift Subscription
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Three vie for two Dem nods for Woodstock Town Board

by Nick Henderson
June 16, 2021
in Politics & Government
0

Woodstock voters will choose two among three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Town Board in the June 22 Primary.

Running for two seats with four-year terms are Maria-Elena Conte, Howard Harris and Bennet Radcliff. The Woodstock Democratic Committee has endorsed Conte and Ratcliff.

Maria-Elena Conte

Maria-Elena Conte is the deputy supervisor, a position that is non-voting but participates in Town Board discussions, sits on committees and conducts town business. The deputy supervisor also chairs meetings in the supervisor’s absence. It is considered a stepping stone for those who aspire to run for elected office. Councilman Reggie Earls held the position before he was first appointed, then elected to the Town Board.

Conte is co-founder and organizer of the Woodstock Women’s March.

During the pandemic, she started Woodstock S.O.S., or Senior Outreach Services, a program where volunteers check in with seniors and help them get meal and grocery deliveries.

She is the Town Board liaison to the Housing Committee, where she is working on the planning of a home stare program to keep seniors in their houses by having someone look after them in exchange for a reduced rent.

She has a Master’s in Music Therapy from Montclair University and has performed jazz at Lincoln Center. Conte has used her music therapy experience to help infants who are behind in their developmental milestones. Her passion for music motivated her to join Secret City, a nonprofit arts organization where she produces the annual Art Revival Festival.

Conte moved to Woodstock in 2015 along with her three cats, Xena, Gabby and Bowie.

Howard Harris

Howard Harris is a retired NYPD detective and has lived in Woodstock for 30 years.

He was a member and chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“Transparency, facts and truth to me are not just words but rather requirements,” said Harris, who often writes letters to the editor in this publication that are critical of Supervisor Bill McKenna’s administration.

Harris’ issues of concern include housing, local employment and the environment, but a big hit-button topic for him is a $2.5 million renovation of the Comeau offices.

He has criticized McKenna for skipping the bidding process for an architect and awarding a $160,000 contract to Walker Architecture, a Woodstock firm that has designed many town projects. McKenna has said no one else had expressed interest.

Harris touts his time on the ZBA, which made decisions leading to construction of a town-owned tower allowing cell service which was non-existent, construction of a new town highway garage, the KTD monastery additions and the start of the farmers’ market.

Harris’ tenure on the ZBA abruptly ended in January 2014, when the Town Board voted 4-1 against granting him a new term. That action prompted a mass exodus when four members and an alternate resigned in protest, leaving the ZBA with one member, Dustin Wilber, who had been appointed to replace Harris. At the time, supervisor Jeremy Wilber (no relation to Dustin) said recent challenges to ZBA decisions forced the town to hire attorneys at great expense.

Harris and other ZBA members at the time accused the Town Board of engaging in political intrusion into its cases.

Bennet Ratcliff

Bennet Ratcliff, who is finishing a stint on the Onteora Board of Education, said he is running to “help create a community in Woodstock that values the environment, the arts, social and economic justice.”

Ratcliff, a former political consultant, moved to Woodstock in 2014.

He wants every voice to be heard whether it be longtime residents or newcomers. He wants to encourage Woodstock to reduce carbon emissions and become a model for other towns.

Radcliff wants to create a community that supports artists’ contributions and writers and find ways for them to live affordably.

He wants to work with the town to take down racial, gender and economic barriers.

Ratcliff said he can use his experience from the school board and as chairman of the Woodstock Democratic Committee to affect change. He said he understands multimillion-dollar budgets and how competing interests can work together.

“Our town should celebrate the historic contributions of indigenous people, Down Rent activists, emancipation advocates, suffragists, environmentalists and utopian artists who have contributed generously to Woodstock’s history,’ Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff lives in Bearsville with his partner, Jackie Kellachan, co-owner of the Golden Notebook bookstore along with his “blended family” of three boys, three girls, two dogs and a cat. In addition to chairing the Democratic Committee, he is secretary of the Secret City arts organization. He enjoys hiking and fishing in Mink Hollow.

Supervisor Bill McKenna is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for another term. Scott Bonestell, who was recently appointed interim highway superintendent, is running unopposed for his first elected term.

The Republicans hold a caucus at a later date instead of a primary, but have had to skip it in recent years due to a lack of candidates.

Woodstock Town Board candidate forum June 11

The Woodstock Democratic Committee will hold a Town Board candidate forum on June 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. Bennet Ratcliff, Maria-Elena Conte and Howard Harris will answer questions that have been sent in from the registrants. To register for the Zoom link, go to the Woodstock Democratic Committee Facebook page and sign up on the Forum Event page.

Tags: members
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Dems Wiegand, Richman, Baker vie for two Gardiner Town Board seats

Next Post

Police: Ulster County man damaged businesses, stole flags, threatened cops

Nick Henderson

Nick Henderson was raised in Woodstock starting at the age of three and attended Onteora schools, then SUNY New Paltz after spending a year at SUNY Potsdam under the misguided belief he would become a music teacher. He became the news director at college radio station WFNP, where he caught the journalism bug and the rest is history. He spent four years as City Hall reporter for Foster’s Daily Democrat in Dover, NH, then moved back to Woodstock in 2003 and worked on the Daily Freeman copy desk until 2013. He has covered Woodstock for Ulster Publishing since early 2014.

Related Posts

Congressman Pat Ryan calls for Central Hudson president to resign
Politics & Government

Congressman Pat Ryan calls for Central Hudson president to resign

February 2, 2023
Uproar in New Paltz over plan to abandon green electricity
Politics & Government

Village of Saugerties mulls joining CCA this spring

February 2, 2023
At Saugerties sewer plant, water disposal isn’t as simple as you might think
Politics & Government

Saugerties sewer plant in need of mechanical upgrade

February 2, 2023
Saugerties contractor works towards correcting previous building violations
Politics & Government

New Paltz discusses proposed zoning code update

February 1, 2023
Woodstock Library feels it can move ahead without exemption to zoning law
Politics & Government

Councilman Bennet Ratcliff challenges McKenna for Woodstock supervisor

January 31, 2023
County executive announces plans to combat climate change  
Environment

County executive announces plans to combat climate change  

February 1, 2023
Next Post
Jail CO who’s suing sheriff charged with assault

Police: Ulster County man damaged businesses, stole flags, threatened cops

Trending News

  • One-man crime spree comes to end after Kingston man runs out of luck 3.6k views
  • Saugerties to host inaugural Snow Moon Festival February 3 to 5 1.9k views
  • The Bruynswyck Inn Oyster & Clam Bar offers fresh seafood and Shawangunk views 1.5k views
  • 20-foot, 10-wheel big rig overturns in Saugerties, injuring driver 1.2k views
  • Visit Kingston’s 12,240-square-foot squat, centrally located with wood-burning fireplace 1k views
  • Three-story, mixed-use building proposed for Agway property in New Paltz 1k views

Weather

Kingston
◉
1°
Sunny
7:05 am5:14 pm EST
Feels like: 1°F
Wind: 1mph SW
Humidity: 42%
Pressure: 30.63"Hg
UV index: 1
SunMonTue
48/30°F
46/25°F
45/34°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
You have free article(s) remaining. Subscribe for unlimited access.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Holiday Gift Subscription

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing