By EMILIA TEASDALE
VALATIE—After the County Board of Elections completed a manual recount of the ballots for the Kinderhook Town Board, it was confirmed that Sally Naramore was the winner of that very close race. With over 3,000 votes cast, Ms. Naramore edged out current board member George Jason Graham by 7 votes.
According to a press release from the Kinderhook Democratic Committee, this is the first time a Democrat has been elected to the Kinderhook Town Board (either supervisor or Town Board seat) in 16 years.
The final results for the 2023 general election held on November 7 were posted on the Board of Elections website (www.columbiacountyny.com) on December 1.
Ms. Naramore ran on the Democratic and the Kinderhook Community Party ballot lines. She is a registered Democrat, who lives in the Village of Kinderhook, and is a retired social studies teacher/department chair from Hudson High School.
Mr. Graham ran on the Republican and Conservative lines. He was appointed to the board to finish the term of current Supervisor Tim Ooms, when he was first elected supervisor in 2021. Mr. Graham then ran for the board unopposed in 2022, winning a one year term. Before joining the board, Mr. Graham was a member and chair of the town Planning Board.
At their regular board meeting Monday, December 4, the last meeting of 2023, board member Debbie Devine said she was “sad to see Jason go” and that he’s been “easy to work with.” She praised Mr. Graham for the time he’s given to the town on the Town Board and the Planning Board.
Ms. Devine also welcomed Ms. Naramore to the board. Newly reelected board member Phil Bickerton, who was endorsed by both the Democratic Committee and the Republicans, also congratulated Ms. Naramore.
Supervisor Ooms was also on the ballot, running unopposed for a second term. And Town Clerk April Pinkowski was elected after being appointed to the position in early 2023.
David Kolb was elected Town Justice.
In a statement to the Columbia Paper, Ms. Naramore wrote, “I am very grateful for all the support I received in this race. It was a very close decision and my opponent is obviously well received by many in the town. I hope to bring new insight into the challenges facing the town. As a 40 year resident, I have seen change and know it must be addressed proactively. Working with the other members of the council I hope to move forward on a public/private partnership for a community center and to broaden the town’s outreach.”
The board will hold its organizational meeting and first meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Martin H. Glynn Building. Most board meetings are the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com
