SCHODACK – Schodack Republican Committee chairman Richard Crist announced last week the party’s endorsements for town races, saying in a press release that the candidates will "continue with the fiscally conservative policies that produced an upgrade in the town’s bond rating and protected the town’s quality of life."
Town Supervisor Dennis Dowds, Councilman Frank Curtis, Councilman Mike Kenney, Town Clerk Donna Conlin, Receiver of Taxes Kathy Lubbers and Town Justice Paul Peter, all incumbents, have been endorsed for reelection. All six candidates have also received endorsements from the conservative and independence parties.
Crist said this current GOP group has ushered in the aforementioned Moody’s bond rating upgrade, from A1 to Aa3, as well as stabilized taxes, maintained town services and helped work to keep the Schodack Island State Park open after a planned state closure. If reelected, the leadership will work to expand the town’s tax base through marketing the Exit 12 area and participating with the governor’s Regional Economic Development Council, Crist said.
In addition to endorsements for town races, the Schodack Republicans also announced their support for the reelection of Surrogate Court Judge Chris Hummel and Rensselaer County Sheriff Jack Mahar, as well as the election of Joel Abelove for Rensselaer County District Attorney.

-- Katie Nowak Roberts

TROY - Last week, former councilman and registered Democrat Keith Rogers announced that he would be running for the City Council this fall on the Republican ballot.

“Frankly, the current Democratic Party in Troy is not the one that I remember as an elected City Councilman almost 10 years ago,” said Rogers in a prepared statement. “I have found that my beliefs, as to the direction that the city of Troy needs to take in order to be competitive and to move forward, are much more in line with the Troy GOP.”

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