In Hurley, Mike Boms is running unopposed for a second term as supervisor, and highway superintendent Mike Shultis is unchallenged, while three vie for two town board seats and town board member Diana Cline challenges Lynne Bailey for town clerk.
Supervisor
Mike Boms is finishing his first term as supervisor after narrowly defeating Melinda McKnight in 2023. He defeated former deputy supervisor Peter Humphries in the June Democratic primary. He is also running on the Keep Hurley Hurley ballot line.
Boms taught high school chemistry, biology and computer science and coached varsity track at Onteora High School for 28 years. Aside from his town supervisor duties, he teaches biology at Marist College and SUNY Ulster.
Boms’ recent concerns involve a proposed battery energy storage system, or BESS, plant at the former Coleman High School on the Hurley–Ulster town line in a heavily populated residential area, and traffic safety on Route 209.
“New York City BESS sites average around 9 megawatts, whereas the proposed Coleman site is significantly larger at 250 MW. The residents in the immediate vicinity are genuinely frightened, and their concerns, whether real or perceived, must be taken seriously,” he said.
“The Town of Ulster has ample open land, away from residential zones, with suitable power line access that would be far better suited for a project of this scale.”
In the wake of a recent fatal traffic accident on U.S. Route 209, Boms has sought the support of state elected officials in lowering the speed limit. Recently, the state Department of Transportation denied the request, stating 85% of motorists exceed the current speed limit.
Boms is also working on the planning stages for a new highway garage to replace the one on Dug Hill Road next to the transfer station that was condemned for safety reasons. The Highway Department has been renting space on Basin Road in the town of Kingston.
Other key priorities for Boms are addressing the leachate at the former town landfill, which the DEC designated as a state Superfund site because of PFAS levels, and establishing a town ambulance district.
Town Council
Debbie Dougherty (incumbent) has been a resident of Hurley for more than 60 years and lives in Old Hurley with her husband, Gary. She was a member of the Hurley Zoning Board of Appeals and is a member of the Hurley Fire Department.
As a member of the safety committee, Dougherty has worked on the establishment of an ambulance district, which will allow paid EMTs to serve town residents.
She led the Town Board effort to oppose the BESS project and drafted and introduced Hurley’s recently adopted six-month moratorium on such plants within town limits.
She also drafted the resolution in support of reducing the speed limit on Route 209, and though the DOT rejected it, she continues to work with state lawmakers.
As Building Department liaison, Dougherty supports updates to zoning to encourage accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a way to ease the housing crisis. She advocates thoughtful development that respects the town’s rural character while meeting housing needs.
Tim Kelly was defeated in the June Democratic primary and is now running on the Keep Hurley Hurley ballot line.
He was raised locally and graduated from Kingston High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management from Penn State.
Kelly said the 250-megawatt BESS plant in the town of Ulster is the “wrong project in the wrong place.”
The largest such facility in the state, it would be located only a few hundred feet from homes, schools and churches, Kelly noted.
Kelly said local and state officials need to address longstanding safety issues at Route 209 and Wynkoop Road.
“Traffic speeds there are dangerous, and it should not take another serious accident before action is taken,” he said.
Completing the town’s comprehensive plan and long-overdue updates to the town’s zoning code are priorities, Kelly said. He would also like to see good-paying jobs return to the area.
Griff Liewa, a longtime Hurley resident and small-business owner, now serves on the Planning Board. He believes good, effective governance happens when local residents get involved.
Liewa believes in the urgent need for a paid ambulance service because the volunteers can’t do it alone.
He also vows to ensure adequate funding and manpower are available to the Highway Department to address and fix recurring issues.
Liewa said parks and recreation “needs a shot in the arm” to provide services to both the youth and seniors of the town.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Lynne Bailey (incumbent), a native New Yorker, is finishing out her first term. She previously served as deputy clerk to Annie Reed. She was a Mount Vernon public school teacher for many years and was involved in web design and computer graphics. Bailey is an original and active member of the Hurley Climate Smart Task Force.
Since taking office, Bailey has worked to improve office workflow and provide more opportunities for online services, including tax payment.
Diana Cline was defeated by Bailey in the June Democratic primary and is now running on the Keep Hurley Hurley ballot line.
She was elected to the town board in 2024 and has been a Hurley Library trustee since 2015. She retired from the Postal Service in 2022 after 35 years.
Cline’s top priority is communication with residents. During the primary season, she noted residents complained they had no knowledge of the proposed ambulance district.
She proposes better checks and balances for town spending and wants a return to monthly spending reports, which used to be compiled by the clerk’s office.
Cline views the clerk’s office as an extension of community service and said she will restore notary public services if elected, in addition to adding evening and Saturday hours.
Highway Superintendent
Mike Shultis (incumbent) defeated John Wiacek in the June Democratic primary and is also running on the Keep Hurley Hurley ballot line.
Shultis grew up on Morgan Hill and graduated from Onteora High School. He has run a forest products business since the age of 19. He also ran a business installing ignition interlock systems.
Shultis’ priority is a future-ready highway garage that will serve the town’s needs for 75-plus years. He said the new facility should accommodate future truck technologies, whether electric, hydrogen or ammonia. It can also operate as a warming/cooling center when needed, he said.
Shultis said he will continue to collaborate with the Cornell Local Roads Program to do more with less as costs rise.
Shultis touts staying within budget for the past seven years.
Town Justice
Tracy Kellogg is running unopposed for town justice. She was appointed in July to fill the position left vacant by the passing of Justice Roy Hochberg.
Voters to decide on highway superintendent term
Also on the Hurley ballot is a proposition to increase the term of the highway superintendent.
“Shall the term of office of the Town Highway Superintendent of the Town of Hurley be increased from two (2) years to four (4) years commencing with and continuing after the term to begin on January 1, 2026,” states the proposition.
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