Republicans Win Key Races

By Michael Ryan

MOUNTAINTOP - Clear mandates were delivered in the town supervisor races in Jewett and Windham where the Republican Party continues to dominate the political scene.

Otherwise, only one of the other six mountaintop towns, Prattsville, had any suspense while all candidates in Ashland, Hunter and Lexington were unopposed.

      JEWETT

“The people have spoken,” said Jewett town supervisor Greg Kroyer after handily defeating write-in hopeful John Pumilia despite an unusual and sudden October surprise.

Kroyer garnered 188 votes with 71 write-ins listed by the Greene County Board of Elections (with no specific recipient named).

In what turned out to be a battle of two Republicans, Kroyer was running unopposed for a second 4-year term until mid-October when Pumilia announced his candidacy.

Sparks had flown between Kroyer and Pumilia in town council meetings leading up to the announcement by Pumilia, a current town councilman.

Pumilia will retain his seat for the next two years while Kroyer commences his second term as supervisor, having already served four years.

“I would like to say thank you very much to the people who supported us,” Kroyer said, also referring to incumbent councilmen James Pellitteri and John Giordano who likewise were challenged.

Two spots were available on the council among four candidates. Pellitteri (173 votes) and Giordano (179), both Republicans, emerged victorious over  Democrats William Rod (121) and Renee Blinkwolt (100) with 28 write-in votes. Tammy Vanucchi ran as a write-in.

“We will continue to do what’s best for the residents of the town of Jewett. Hopefully now we can all start pulling in the same direction again like we used to,” Kroyer said.

Kroyer noted several infrastructure projects that have been accomplished in his administration, vowing to continue those efforts while seeking and finding grant dollars to limit the burden on local taxpayers.

“I accept the results,” Pumilia said. “Of course, I wanted to win but it was an obvious long shot, having only three weeks to campaign.

“I’m not happy about a lot of things going on [within the town council] and I will not give up my fight. I feel I made a statement and got a lot of support from people,” Pumilia said.

      WINDHAM

Thomas Hoyt was effusively appreciative to the voters after winning a fourth term as town supervisor in Windham.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Hoyt, an incumbent Republican, securing victory over Democratic Party challenger Connor Exum, 373 to 166, in unofficial Board of Elections results.

“I am deeply appreciative of the support from the community. It shows that we, as a town board, are doing the right thing for the town.

“Windham residents had the confidence to put us back in office. This shows overwhelming appreciation from the people we work for,” Hoyt said.

Joining Hoyt on the GOP ticket and successfully seeking re-election were incumbents Wayne Van Valin (338 votes) and Ian Peters (328), topping Democratic Party challenger Debra Daily (235).

Two spots were open on the council among the trio of candidates. The only other race was for town justice where current judge Marilyn Carreras, a Republican (304 votes), won over Democrat Ann Marie Rabin (244). 

Two other Republicans, incumbent tax collector Katherine Murray (433 votes) and highway superintendent candidate Robert Murray (422) were unopposed. Murray will replace retiring roads chief Gary Thorington.

Exum, a political newcomer, said, “I would like to thank all the other Democratic candidates who ran in this incredibly difficult race.

“We attempted to do something in our community that hasn’t been done in nearly a decade. It is important to remember that no matter the outcome of this election, we came out and we made our ideas known to the public. 

“I would also like to congratulate Mr. Hoyt on a well-run campaign.  His campaign was well executed and very impressive,” Exum said.

“Unfortunately, this time we failed to persuade enough of the general public to win the day.  But that will not deter the Democratic Committee in Windham from mounting a future campaign,” Exum said.

Hoyt will serve a one-year term before needing to run again due to new State election rules, for the normal 2-year term. Exum said a second campaign is much more than likely.

ASHLAND

There was no mystery in Ashland where Republicans maintained their mastery, all running unopposed, led by incoming town supervisor Chris Hamilton (120 votes), succeeding legendary supervisor Richard Tompkins.

Richard Tompkins isn’t going far, being elected highway superintendent (128 votes), replacing Larry Tompkins, who is retiring.

Incumbent town clerk Dawn Thorp (136 votes) and incumbent town councilmen Scott Tuttle (119) and Jeff Gonzalez (128) were re-elected. Garth Aull (128) was newly elected town justice.

PRATTSVILLE

There were seven positions open in Prattsville with several familiar names on the ballot, resulting in a clean Republican Party sweep.

Incumbent town supervisor Greg Cross, running unopposed, was returned to office (187 votes), where he will be joined on the town council by fellow GOPers Eli Martin and Heidi Ruehlmann.

Martin (155 votes) and Ruehlmann (151), both incumbents, staved off Democratic Party hopefuls Stephanie Braswell (87) and Darcy Jaeger-Brand (88).

Incumbent town clerk Theresa Whitworth (154 votes) was victorious over Democratic Party choice and former town councilwoman Bonita Chase (86), while Dewitt Olmstead will be the next highway superintendent.

Olmstead (142 votes) outlasted Democrat Jeremy Marsh (104) to replace William Sutton who is retiring after decades on the job.

Longtime tax collector Carole Cangelosi (186 votes) and incumbent town justice Daniel Peckham (235 votes) will be back, running unopposed.

LEXINGTON

Democrats and Republicans made the polling place easy breezy in the 2025 election, picking the same candidates for every open position.

Robert Riccardella (219 votes) was selected by Democrats and then cross-endorsed by Republicans, while incumbent town council members Bradley Jenkins (215) and Michael Barcone (221), Republican and Democrat, respectively, ran unopposed for two open council chairs.

Maureen Anshanslin (223) represented both parties for town clerk/tax collector, replacing popular Charlotte Jaeger who is retiring after a long and very successful career.

Incumbent highway superintendent Kevin Simmons Jr. (224) was unchallenged and ran on both the Democratic and Republican Party tickets, as did incumbent town justice Steven Rossignol (221).

While saying hello to Riccardella, the community will also be bidding an unwanted adieu to his predecessor, Jo Ellen Schermerhorn.

Schermerhorn, previously a town councilwoman, has earned the highest trust in her years as a public servant, wishing to spend more minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years with her grandchildren.

HUNTER 

Republicans and Democrats made everything simple as pie in the town of Hunter where everyone ran unopposed, including incumbent town supervisor Sean Mahoney (409 votes), who was endorsed by the two major parties and the important Conservative Party.

Following suit with the political triumvirate were incumbent town councilman Dolph Semenza (407) and current town justice Kimberly Prince Walsh (414) . 

Tabbed by both Democrats and the GOP were incumbents Ernest Reale (400) for town council and Robert Blain (423) for highway superintendent.

Source: The Schoharie News