ELECTION 2023
By EMILIA TEASDALE
KINDERHOOK—Two town justice candidates are on the ballot for one open justice position this November. Ken Golden is running on the Democratic ballot line and David W. Kolb is running on the Republican line.
There are two town justices. Current Town Justice David Dellehunt is not running for reelection this year. The other town justice, Lisa Mills, was reelected in 2021. The town justice term is 4 years.
The two candidates were sent questionnaires to fill out for the profiles:
Ken Golden
Mr. Golden, a registered Democrat, was a Columbia County Assistant District Attorney and Third Department Judicial Delegate to the state Supreme Court. He was also a senior attorney with the state Department of Labor and senior attorney with the NY Department of State. In 2015 he ran for county District Attorney.
Mr. Golden has a B.A. from Union College; an M.A. from the College of St. Rose; and J.D. (juris doctor) from Albany Law School.
He is a member of the ABA (American Bar Association) and on the committees for Health and Criminal Law. He is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accredited attorney.
According to his questionnaire, he said he has been involved with military pro bono projects; and worked with ABA Veterans’ Claims Assistance Network. He was selected to be part of the ABA Clemency Project from 2014 to 2016, to review the sentences of inmates serving long federal terms to determine if they met certain conditions for a revised or reduced period of incarceration.
The Kinderhook Democrats website (www.khookdems.org/elections) says Mr. Golden continues to serve as an accredited counsel with the Veterans’ Administration and is currently an adjunct instructor in Healthcare Law and Ethics at Maria College in Albany.
His candidate statement said, “Having lived in our town for almost 30 years, I have witnessed the growth and changes that have shaped our community. Throughout my professional career as an attorney, I have developed a thorough understanding of the legal system and have been actively engaged in litigation, trials and administrative hearings for more than three decades. Those years of experience have equipped me with a deep appreciation for fairness, integrity, and the importance of upholding the rule of law.
“I look forward to this opportunity to contribute to the well-being of our town by serving as its Town Justice. I am dedicated to fostering an environment where justice prevails, and all residents are treated equitably. Together, we can continue to make our town a place we are all proud to call home.”
David W. Kolb
Mr. Kolb, a registered Republican, worked for the New York State Police, stationed as a Trooper in Troop K (1993-1998, 2000) and the Executive Services Detail (1998-2000). He was promoted to Sergeant in 2001 and he was stationed in Troop F and Troop K. From 2005-2014, he was the Troop G Emergency Management Sergeant. He deployed to Louisiana in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and to Long Island in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy.
In 2014, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to Troop F, Internal Affairs, and Troop K, to include the Assistant Zone Commander in Livingston. In 2018, he was promoted to Captain and held assignments as Troop K Executive Officer and Zone Commander. In April 2020, he was temporarily assigned to New York City to run one of the NYS Covid test sites. In September 2021, he was promoted to Major and assigned the NYSP Director of Aviation where he remained until his retirement in May 2023. He is an Adjunct Professor at Empire State University and American Public University.
Mr. Kolb is a 1984 graduate of Ichabod Crane High School, has an associate degree in Human Resources from the Community College of the Air Force; a bachelor’s in Community and Human Services from SUNY-Empire State University, and a master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management from American Public University.
Mr. Kolb was in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 1988, serving on active duty as an Aircrew Life Support Specialist with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, where he worked on aircrew survival equipment and taught aircrew survival training. From 1988 to 2009 he was in the New York Air National Guard, serving with the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base, in Scotia, as an Aircrew Life Support Technician, Human Resources Advisor, and a First Sergeant. He was reactivated back to active duty twice during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and deployed overseas to several locations during his military career.
Mr. Kolb was a volunteer firefighter and Assistant Fire Chief with the Niverville Fire Department, and former public safety diver with the Greenport Rescue Squad Dive Team. He volunteered as a coach and president of the Northern Columbia Little League, and a coach and league coordinator for the St. John’s CYO Basketball program. Currently he is a board member and volunteer with the Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail, and a member of the Kinderhook Elks Lodge 2530.
He said in his candidate statement, “When I was in the military one of my commanders told me to remember that the reason a person is successful in life is due to the people around him. I was lucky to have excellent mentors during my amazing military and New York State Police careers. Both careers gave me a front row seat to humanity, both the good and the bad, and provided me with a strong sense of fairness and perspective. I truly believe the greatest gift a person can give to another is their time. I have dedicated my life to public service through the military, law enforcement, and volunteer community organizations and consider it an honor to help others. It is an honor and privilege for me to run for Kinderhook town justice and I look forward to continuing my lifetime of public service to the residents of Kinderhook in this capacity. Thank you!”
More information is on his Facebook page at David Kolb for Kinderhook Town Justice
