by Bea Peterson
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, and Hoosick voters are very fortunate to have a choice between two well qualified candidates running for Town Council this year. There hasn’t been a women councilperson in Hoosick in 14 years, though Marilyn Douglas was Town Supervisor for 10 of those years.
[private]Joyce Brewer, a Republican, and Jenn Hyde, a Hoosick First candidate, are seeking to fill the council seat that was left vacant by Mark Surdam when he was elected Town Supervisor. At the beginning of this year Surdam wanted to appoint Michael Hickey, the candidate with the third most votes in last November’s election, to the Council. Newly elected Councilman Dave Sutton seconded the appointment, but re-elected Deputy Mayor Jeff Wysocki and Councilman Bruce Patire voted no. The seat has remained vacant all year. And, it must be said, the Board has operated very smoothly with just four members.
Joyce Brewer
Joyce and her husband Todd live in West Hoosick. They have two daughters. Samantha is a sophomore at Sage College, and Anna is a sophomore at Hoosick Falls Central School.
Brewer is a 1984 graduate of HFCS and a 1987 graduate of Schenectady Community College. She majored in culinary arts and hotel management. She is financial administrator for the Troy Area United Ministries. Part of her job includes grant writing for various organizations. Besides her countless volunteer activities, which include HACA, Girl Scouts, Veterans and HFCS, she has been an Avon representative for 20 years.
Brewer believes, at the Town level, councilmembers are more independent thinkers than politically motivated. Though, she admits, the funding and support from a party is necessary to run a successful campaign. “I have no alliance with the previous Town of Hoosick administration,” she said.
Brewer sees many positive things happening in the community. “The Liberty flag,” she said, “has people across the country hearing stories about us, and that’s good.” She is impressed with the recent growth in arts and history in the community and wants to see that continue. “Fixing the pool and maintaining service for the older folks are important,” she said.
Brewer can be found on the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Working Family lines.
Jenn Hyde
Jenn is the daughter of Art and Joanne Hyde. She has five siblings and “a lot of extended family.” She lives at 2 Bussey Lane in Hoosick Falls. Hyde is a 1988 graduate of HFCS. She earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Plattsburgh State College in 1993 and a Masters in organizational management from Sage Graduate School in 2006/2007. She is Executive Director for Catholic Charities with programs in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties.
Hyde doesn’t feel there is room for party politics at the Town level. She feels collaboration is important, and she would like to see more time spent on planning what can be accomplished in the next year, the next two years and five years. She knows it can be predicted when some items will need general maintenance and that should be fiscally planned for. “All the fuss over a lawn mower a couple of years ago was what inspired me to get involved,” she said. Hyde feels she has a great deal to offer. “I’m a good listener, and I can analyze information before making a decision,” she said. “And I believe in a collaborative approach to getting things done.”
There is plenty of material on both candidates in ads in the Eastwick and in their handouts and mailings to help voters in their selection of a Councilwoman for a one year term.
Hyde can be found on the Democrat and Hoosick First party lines.[/private]