It will be up to the new Hoosick Town Board to decide who is the town’s Highway Superintendent, at least according to Rensselaer County Democratic Board of elections Commissioner Ed McDonough. Speaking with The Eastwick Press, he says “it’s out of our hands now.” The problem lies in the fact that nominating paperwork sent in by the Town of Hoosick Democratic Party listed Bill Shiland Jr. as its candidate. It should have read Bill Shiland III, the current Highway Superintendent, as the person nominated for the job. The Hoosick Republicans did not contest the position.
Mr. McDonough says that, as he understands it, after speaking with the New York State Board of Elections, the new Town Board that takes office on January 1 will have two choices.
They can certify it was a clerical error, the public believed they were voting for Bill Shiland III, have the Town Clerk administer the oath of office to him and he can serve his full term. Or they can wait until January 30 to see if Bill Shiland Jr. declines to serve, and then make an appointment to serve through 2018. That would mean a special election for the position next year. Town Supervisor Mark Surdam says they are still weighing all their options before making any decisions on how to proceed.