Kinderhook Democrats

2011 Election Returns for Kinderhook

2011-11-08T19:17:00.002-05:00

Senator Gillibrand Endorses Peter Bujanow for Kinderhook Town Board

2011-11-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand hasendorsed Councilman Peter Bujanow in his bid for re-election to theKinderhook Town Board. Senator Gillibrand cited Bujanow’sadvocacy for the people of the Town of Kinderhook as well as hiscommitment to fair and effective government.

“Iam pleased to give my endorsement to Peter Bujanow in the race forTown Council in the Town of Kinderhook”, Gillibrand said. “Peter is a dedicated, competent and objective leader who is deeplyinvolved in his community and interested in its overall welfare. Open and accessible government is crucial and I am enthused byPeter’s efforts to make Kinderhook’s Town Hall more transparent. I know that Peter will continue to advocate for the people ofKinderhook as Town Councilman and that is why I believe he is thebest candidate for the job.”

“Ishare Senator Gillibrand’s strong commitment to fair and effectivegovernment, and I am deeply honored to receive her endorsement forre-election”, Bujanow said. “Senator Gillibrand is one of ournation’s most hardworking and effective senators and her record ofpublic service is a model for all elected officials to emulate,”said Bujanow. “She understands that government needs to be sound,strong and work for the people it represents in these fiscallydifficult times to create jobs, promote economic development andimprove the quality of life for our residents."

Aboutthe endorsement Cyndy Hall, Columbia County Democratic CommitteeChair said, "Senator Gillibrand’s endorsement of Peter Bujanowemphasizes that he is the most qualified and experienced candidatefor Kinderhook Town Council. Mr. Bujanow will continue to be anoutspoken and passionate leader working in the best interest of allresidents of the Town of Kinderhook. We are honored thatSenator Gillibrand has endorsed Councilman Bujanow and we thank theSenator for her support."

PeterBujanow has served as a Kinderhook Town Councilman for a total ofeleven years, from 1995 to 2001 and from 2008 to present. Amonghis many activities during his tenure on the Town Board, he wasDeputy Town Supervisor from 2000 to 2001, and has chaired numerousTown Committees including Comprehensive Plan Implementation,Comprehensive Plan Review, Energy, Local Law and Code Review. In 2006, Councilman Bujanow also volunteered his time as ProjectCoordinator to manage the construction of the New Town Highway GarageBuilding.

Kinderhook Democratic Team

2011-11-01T08:08:00.000-04:00

2011 Kinderhook Candidates

2011-09-29T13:58:00.002-04:00

David Dellehunt

Kinderhook Town Justice

Judge David Dellehunt is completing his fourth year as the presiding Kinderhook village justice, after having served as the acting village justice for eight years. He has also served as the acting City Court judge in both the Hudson and Troy. Since 2008, Dave has been employed by the New York State Unified Court System, Third District Administrative Office, as Special Counsel to the Town and Village Courts in the Third Judicial District.

Dave previously worked two years as a Court Attorney in the Office of Third District Administrative Judge George B. Ceresia, Jr. and nine years as the Principal Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice John G. Connor. Prior to that time he was engaged in the private practice of law for 10 years and also served as the Corporation Counsel for the City of Rensselaer.

Dave is a graduate of Union College and Albany Law School and has resided in the Village of Kinderhook with his wife Laura, daughter Rachel, and son Matt for the past 15 years.

Over the past 15 years, Dave has been involved in numerous community activities including St. John’s CYO, Crane Youth Soccer, Kinderhook Soccer, Northern Columbia Little League, Ichabod Crane Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball, Uncle Sam AAU Basketball, Hudson Rotary Club, the Columbia County Bar Association, and both the Kinderhook Town and Village Recreation Commissions.

He is a member of the Town of Kinderhook Recreation Commission, Village of Kinderhook Recreation Commission, the New York State Magistrate’s Association, the Columbia County Magistrate’s Association and St. Luke’s Church. Dave also presently serves as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of both the Northern Columbia Little League and Uncle Sam Lady Hoopsters, and is the Assistant Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at Ichabod Crane.

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Wendy Bopp

Kinderhook Town Board

Wendy Bopp has been involved and active in the Kinderhook community since first moving here in 1966, and over the years she has developed a deep sense of community as well as an understanding of local residents. After living elsewhere for a time, she returned to Columbia County in 1985 and to Kinderhook in 2001.

Wendy has been a member of the Kinderhook Democratic Committee for many years, and currently serves as its co-chair. She is the past president of the Kinderhook Democratic Social Club and a 20-year member of the Columbia County Democratic Committee. Wendy served on the Kinderhook Zoning Board of Appeals from 2002 through 2006.

Wendy is a graduate of Russell Sage College with a B.A in European History/Secondary Education, and earned an M.S. in Special Education from College of St. Rose. After raising her two children, Wendy returned to St. Rose where she finished her education with a M.S. in Educational Administration. She is currently employed as an educational supervisor at Greene Correctional Facility.

Wendy has also served on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Church in Kinderhook and participated in numerous other volunteer activities. Her husband, Daniel is a volunteer fireman and a member of the Kinderhook Elks. Her children, Jeanne and Montgomery, are both graduates of Ichabod Crane schools. In 1998, she was acknowledged for outstanding service to the Stuyvesant Recreation Committee.

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Peter Bujanow

Kinderhook Town Board

Peter Bujanow has served as a Kinderhook town councilman for a total of eleven years, from 2008 to present and from 1995 to 2001. Among his many activities during his tenure on the board, he was deputy town supervisor from 2000 to 2001, and he has chaired the energy, local law and code review, comprehensive plan implementation and comprehensive plan review committees and was project coordinator for the construction of the new town highway garage and salt storage building.

Peter has been employed as a purchasing coordinator for the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York for the past 16 years and is professionally certified as a fraud examiner, government financial manager and mediator.

He is a graduate of Siena College and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Sage Graduate School. He also earned certificates in labor relations studies for both collective bargaining and contract administration from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and is a graduate of the Leadership Columbia County program of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Peter has also served on the Ichabod Crane School Board and the Town Board of Assessment Review, as well as on the boards of directors of the Mid-Hudson Library System, Columbia County Libraries Association, Valatie Free Library, Columbia County School Boards Association, Friends of Lindenwald, Northern Columbia County Pop Warner Football Association and O.K. Kids, a not-for-profit child care organization.

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Kimberly Pinkowski

Kinderhook Town Clerk

Kimberly Pinkowski has been town clerk for the Town of Kinderhook since 2001. She concurrently serves as public relations officer, recording secretary, records management officer, filing officer, licensing officer and registrar of vital statistics. She has received and implemented five Local Government Records Improvement grants for records management, totaling over $82,000.

Kimberly is also the Meals on Wheels coordinator for the Town of Kinderhook, scheduling drivers for the delivery of lunches to the senior residents of Valatie, Niverville and the Village of Kinderhook. Prior to becoming clerk, she worked for a number of years as secretary for several town government boards.

A registered municipal clerk since 2006, Kimberly was recently appointed district director for District 3 of the New York State Town Clerks Association. This leadership position mentors other clerks and acts as a liaison between the Association and the counties of Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie and Otsego. She is past president of the Columbia-Greene Town Clerks Association.

Kimberly and her husband of 30 years, Ron, live in Valatie, where they raised four sons -- Ronald Jr., Chad, Dillon and Zachary. She is the proud grandmother of three, with a fourth grandchild on the way.

Kimberly enjoys working for and with the people of Kinderhook, and would be honored to continue to serve as town clerk for an additional term.

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Gary Simpkins

Kinderhook Town Tax Collector

Gary Simpkins believes regular change is needed to be sure our tax dollars are being handled correctly. We have recently made progress in that direction, but more needs to be done. Gary is running to offer a clearer view of the town's tax collections and better service to the people that pay them.

Gary retired from New York State service after 30 years in the audit and administration areas. He has served on the Town of Kinderhook Board of Assessment Review, and is a former Certified Government Financial Manager and past member of the Association of Government Accountants and Internal Control Association.

Gary lives in the Village of Kinderhook, where he and his wife Bonnie and raised their two children, Audrey and Aaron. An avid car enthusiast and sportsman, he has been treasurer of the Glencadia Rod & Gun Club and the Kinderhook Youth Runners Club, the “Glencadia Bullets”, for many years.

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2011 - The Year of Competency

2011-09-23T02:37:00.000-04:00

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This year in Columbia County, voters are going to have a real choice. They can choose whether to support the same old bunch of people, who don't seem to get much done. Or they can chose the incredibly qualified Democrats who are running Countywide this year.

Competency!

(l-r) Richard Koweek, Peter Stoll, Eugene Keeler, Dr George Davis

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Judge Richard Koweek for County Judge

Richard Koweek grew up and has lived is entire life in Columbia County. He raised great kids here too.

He's practiced most every kind of law that is handled at County Court. He was also elected City Judge in 2009 and currently sits in Hudson City Court. That experience will serve him well on the bench. It will also serve the people of Columbia County well. His opponent is sorely lacking the broad based experience that Judge Koweek brings to the bench.

County Court jurisdiction is broad and diverse, and the position of County Court Judge is multifaceted. It requires a person who can deal with emotional family issues with sensitivity and understanding yet is firm and forthright when dealing with people who have harmed others. He also understands the legal complexities of estate and civil practice. But most of all, he is fair and respects all who come before the Court.

Judge Koweek’s background, temperament, and experience uniquely qualify him to be the next Columbia County Court judge

Visit Judge Koweek's website.

Judge Koweek has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee, Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

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Peter Stoll CPA for County Treasurer

Peter Stoll is a Certified Public Accountant licensed and registered in New York State with extensive audit and income tax experience. He also has an extensive knowledge of information technology, financial systems, and internal controls. Skills that have been sorely lacking, as our county has thrashed back and forth from one unthought out scheme after another.
Peter Stoll has managed the finances for several mid-size businesses for the past 35 years. In this way he has developed the skills required to manage, monitor, and control the way public money is spent in Columbia County. He has a record of implementing major cost savings. Something that the next few years are going to require. He is eager to put his skills to work for the benefit of all of us, and to help reduce the cost of managing the County’s government.

These times require that we seek out and hire only the best people we can find to help solve our financial situation. That is what elections are supposed to be about, hiring the best person for the job at hand. We have found the best person for the job. He is Peter Stoll, the only CPA in the race.

Learn more about Peter on his website.

Peter Stoll has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee, Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

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Eugene Keeler for District Attorney

Gene Keeler is an institution in Columbia County. He is a former elected district attorney and has heldthe positions of public defender, conflict public defender, and,currently, director of legal and advocacy services at COARC. Geneholds a J.D. degree from the University of Memphis and a master’sdegree from the University of Tennessee. He is an attorney with 30years of general practice that includes criminal law and elder law,and is a licensed master’s-level social worker.Gene Keeler knows what is wrong with the system, because he has seen it from every side.

He has been telling the people of this county that the system is rotten and broken for years. Everyone knows about the cronyism, favoritism and shoddy work at the DA's office. But only one person was willing to stand up and call it out for what it was. That man is Gene Keeler. Lots of people have no problem with what goes on there. Because they figure that if they ever need to get off of a DWI or a domestic assault, that there familial, business or political connections, will get them off. When they have issues with the police or the DA's office, everything is just taken care of, with easy sentences if it even goes to court and rarely does anyone read about it in the paper.

But the regular Jane or Joe, who work hard, pay their taxes try to be good citizens, get the book thrown at them, in order to keep the conviction rate high at the DA's office. Political connections should not buy you a "get out of jail free card". Gene has promised to end the “get out of jail free” program for the well-connected. Instead he will give all citizens equal treatment under the law. Isn't that what we should all expect?

He cares about justice, not statistics. While at the same time, he will make sure that all evidence gets to court and will ooperate fully with the police and community agencies. He will work full time to save the taxpayers money, and will work especially hard to assist victims and to lock up hard-core criminals.

It's time to clean up the mess at the District Attorney's office and stop playing political games with people's lives. Gene will make it a place where all of the citizens of Columbia County will feel that they have an impartial and fair person sitting in the prosecutors chair. Eugene Keeler is the right person for District Attorney.

Eugene Keeler has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

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Dr. George Davis for County Coroner

Dr. Davis has served one four year term as County Coroner. He is also the only doctor in recent memory to serve as Coroner. Shockingly, the Coroner's position does not require any medical training at all. All that is required is getting the most votes on Election Day.

Not many people understand what a corner does. Most people think that the coroner pronounces people "dead". In fact the coroner often gets to the scene quite a while after a person has died. What the coroner mostly does, is investigate why or how the person died. In essence the coroner is the advocate for the deceased.

Dr. Davis has four years experience as County Coroner. He has 30 years’ experience in family practice medicine in Columbia County. He has done extensive training in death investigation. He has a detailed knowledge of the legal system and ethics, and holds a Master’s Degree in bioethics, along with extensive experience in grief work.

He is the advocate for those who have no voices. He is the compassionate doctor who tends to the grieving families. He is the only candidate in the race for coroner with the education, experience and medical training to do the job properly.

He has earned the thanks and apprecaition from so many people in Columbia County, because he was there for them at one of the worst times in their life. He's earned their respect and he should have your vote. Keep the doctor at the corner's office.

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Kinderhook 2009 Election Returns

2009-12-07T06:56:00.000-05:00

Complete Kinderhook 2009 Election Returns

2008 Election Results From Kinderhook and Columbia County

2008-11-07T23:02:00.001-05:00

For Election Returns from Kinderhook and all of Columbia County Click Here