by Bea Peterson
[private]Democrats
Jacqueline Elacqua
Jacqueline Elacqua believes she lives in the most beautiful part of Rensselaer County. She said she is proud to be running for Rensselaer County Legislator in part because she is concerned about what good is being done for the taxpayers in “our area with our money.” She advocates honesty, integrity and transparency in County government, with more shared services to save tax dollars and greater fiscal oversight and accountability. “It is important for the County Legislature to work as a team,” she said. “However, District 5 Legislators should not merely agree to legislation created by others. They should introduce and gain support for legislation that would directly address the unique needs of our communities. District 5 is very different from the urban and suburban areas of Troy, Rensselaer City and East Greenbush,” she said. “The County Legislature must develop long term goals for all of the County. We must develop creative ways of spending public funds to achieve more.” With other Legislators she would like to work on a plan that results in a healthy, educated, employed electorate that provides more opportunities for the next generation. “I believe we can enhance what we have in our beautiful area by creating a greener Rensselaer County with more job growth and more cultural and recreational activities. We need to grow our tax base to accomplish this,” she said.
Safe Act
Elacqua said, “We live in an area where the use of firearms provides food as well as sport. Most of our citizens are responsible gun owners and users. However, County Legislators do not have authority to alter the Safe Act. To discuss this as a campaign issue seems like we are implying to our constituents that we have the authority to change this law. Such an assertion is dishonest. I will fight hard for our residents, but I will never make believe I can do what is not in my jurisdiction. I will be busy working on issues that I can change.”
Elacqua has lived in Berlin and then Stephentown for 30 years. She was a Teacher in the Berlin Central School District for 27 years. She is now retired. She was President and Vice President of the Berlin Teachers Association for 20 years. She has been Youth Committee Chairperson of the Berlin Mountain Fish and Game Club, volunteer Girl Scout Troop Assistant Leader and softball and soccer coach. She was a charter member of “The Rural School’s Coalition,” where she was trained to train school staff members throughout the Capital Region in dealing with sexual harassment. She has also had extensive training in negotiations and grievance resolution. Elacqua is married with two children and five grandchildren.
Ben Patten
Ben Patten, a Hoosick Falls Village Trustee, was asked to run for County Legislator by the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee in June. He accepted the opportunity to run against well established incumbents because he felt the one party rule now in place needs to change.”I am running to see that the County level acts more like the way our Village Board runs, in that we work for the betterment of the Village of Hoosick Falls.” Patten was appointed to the Village Board in March. “At the County level I would like to be able to reach across the aisle and get things done for the betterment of Rensselaer County and, in specific, District 5.” Patten said he feels the job of a Legislator should be that of a liaison between the Town Boards and the County. “And that is why I am pledging to make at least two Board meetings per year per town, with a ‘County on Your Corner’ concept, where the Boards and individuals can come and talk about their concerns and feel that their Legislators are working for them and not just for themselves or special interests. We need to bring back integrity and openness to government so people can feel confident in their leaders and not be frustrated in a process where they feel their voice is not being heard.”
Safe Act
“The issue of the repeal of the NYS Safe Act by Rensselaer County Legislators is not what the ‘majority’ should be spending their time on,” said Patten. “The NYS Safe Act is a law that was passed by the State Legislature and is a law that should be administered on the local level. How I personally feel about the Safe Act is not an issue. Multiple proclamations and resolutions by the County Legislature to repeal it is overkill, and they are simply trying to hide behind what they perceive as an unpopular issue using it during a political campaign.” Patten said there are plenty of issues for the “majority” to focus their time on at the County level. “For example,” he said, “the mismanagement at the County Jail, the millions of dollars in lawsuits for HIPPA violations that our insurance companies won’t pay and the County payroll that is bloated from political patronage that increase taxes each and every year. The County Legislature should spend time focusing on items they can control, not on items they cannot control.”
Ben Patten has lived in Hoosick Falls since 1988. “My family decided to move here because of the excellent school system,” he said. Patten graduated Valedictorian with a degree in Communications Management from Southern Vermont College in 1984. He is the Morning Co-Host of the Jay & Ben Magic in the Morning Show on Magic 590AM. He is also an Administrative Assistant in the CEOs office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. He and his wife Laurie have been married for 30 years. Their daughter Amanda is a first grade teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls and their son Brett lives and works in Duluth, Georgia. “Both children are products of the Hoosick Falls education system,” he said. “Brett at St. Mary’s and HFCS and Amanda at HFCS, and both furthered their education at New York State Colleges.”
Republicans
Stan Brownell
Stan Brownell has been a member of the Rensselaer County Legislature for 16 years. In that time he has only missed two of 192 meetings and that was due to family commitments. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Legislature.
He is seeking election to his fifth term. He was a Town of Hoosick Councilman prior to his election to the Legislature. Brownell has been active in numerous community organizations in Hoosick and is a County Representative to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. He is employed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. He and his wife Robin and grandson Tyler live in Hoosick Falls.
Lester Goodermote
Lester Goodermote is seeking his third term as County Legislator. In the past he has served as Hoosick Town Justice and Hoosick Falls Village Justice. He owns and operates an accounting and income tax service that handles over 2,000 tax returns annually, and he is the owner of Potter Hill Barn on Route 7. He lives in the Town of Hoosick.
Last year Goodermote had heart surgery. “I’m coming back very well,” he said. “I certainly feel up to the job of Legislator, and I am looking forward to serving District 5 again.”
Brownell and Goodermote always work as a team, keeping in mind what is in the best interest of the people they serve. They are adamant supporters of the Second Amendment and, with the County Legislature, voted for a repeal of the NYS Safe Act. “I have been a hunter all my life, and I am real passionate about the right to bear arms,” said Goodermote.
Over the years they feel they have listened to and acted on constituent concerns. They have joined in the effort to attract a new bank to the Route 22 corridor and are working to improve highway safety on Route 7 and road conditions on Route 22. Recently they supported a shared services agreement which allows Towns to save money by using County health insurance. The two agree they have worked to maintain services to residents and to provide an affordable and safe environment in which to live.[/private]