The four villages in the Columbia County will hold elections for village trustees and mayors on Tuesday, March 19. There are candidates for all the open positions but the only competitive races are in Chatham and Philmont.

In Chatham three people are running for two open trustee seats with 2-year terms, and two people are running for a 1-year trustee seat. In Philmont, a former town supervisor is challenging the incumbent mayor; the village also has three people running for two trustee seats.

In the Villages of Kinderhook and Valatie incumbents are running unopposed. The ballots have space for write-in candidates.

Village elections are non-partisan. Candidates do not run on national party lines but instead are listed on ballot lines with local names.

The polls are open from noon until 9 p.m. in all four villages. You must be a resident of the Village in order to vote in Village elections.

Chatham
John Howe is the only candidate on the ballot for mayor.
For the Village Board, current trustee Peter Minahan, who was appointed to his seat to fill a vacancy, is running for one of the two 2-year seats; Jaimee Boehme and Jodie Russell each are also seeking 2-year terms. Melony Spock and Joseph Cerami will both be on the ballot for the available 1-year term as trustee.

Elections will be held at the Tracy Memorial Building, 77 Main Street, Chatham, from noon to 9 p.m.

Kinderhook
Current Village Board members David Flaherty and Dale R. Leiser are running for the two trustee seats. Both seats are 2-year terms.
The polls will be open between the hours of noon and 9 p.m. in the Village Hall, 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook.

Philmont
Current Mayor Clarence “Skip” Speed is running against former Town Supervisor Robin Andrews for a 2-year term as mayor.
There are three candidates on the ballot for two trustee seats: incumbents Douglas Cropper and Larry Ostrander, and Heath Iverson. Both of the seats are for 2-year terms.
The polls will be open noon to 9 p.m. in the Village Hall, 124 Main Street, Philmont.

Valatie
Current Mayor Diane Argyle and incumbent trustees Frank Bevens and Larry Eleby are all running for reelection for 2-year terms in the positions they now hold.
Polls will be open noon to 9 p.m. in the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building, Church Street, Valatie.

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