By DIANE VALDEN
ANCRAM—This “off-year” political season has been anything but a snoozer in this southeastern Columbia County town with a population of 1,440 as determined by the 2020 census.
With each daily visit to the mailbox, voters are delivered another installment of contentious accusations and rebuttals in the form of glossy over-sized political postcards sent from candidates on opposing sides of the ballot.
In contested races, Ancram voters will cast their ballots for a new town supervisor, and two town councilmembers, Tuesday, November 7.
Two incumbent town officials are unchallenged for their positions this year: Republican Monica Cleveland is running for the town clerk/tax collector seat she has held for 20 years and Republican James Miller wants to retain the highway superintendent position he has occupied for 8 years.
Current Town Supervisor Democrat Art Bassin, who has filled that job for the past 14 years, chose not to run again. Likewise, 11-year Councilmember Hugh Clark, who has no party affiliation, did not throw his hat in the ring.
The candidates for town supervisor are current Councilmember Bonnie Hundt, a Democrat, versus former longtime highway superintendent James MacArthur, a Republican. The term of supervisor is two years.
The four candidates vying for two open town council seats are: Republican David Boice running to retain the board seat he had held for eight years; Republican John Ingram; Republican Colleen Lutz and Democrat Robert Roche.
Mr. Boice and Mr. Ingram are running on the Republican line and Ms. Lutz and Mr. Roche on the Democratic line. The term of councilmember is four years.
What follows are profiles of the supervisor and Town Board candidates in alphabetical order based on information they provided to The Columbia Paper in a questionnaire.
Town Supervisor
Democrat Bonnie Hundt, 69, a councilmember for the past six years, seeks her first term as town supervisor. Running on the Democratic line, she lists under endorsements: Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Eleanor’s Legacy, Copake Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler, Columbia County Democratic Committee Chair Sam Hodge and New Lebanon Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling.
Ms. Hundt previously served as the supervisor of the Dutchess County Town of Amenia, 2003 to 2005.
She was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and educated at Bangor High School, Bangor, WI; University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse, WI, and the Deloux Academy of Cosmetology, San Diego, CA.
She is co-owner and stylist at the Hylton Hundt Salon in Millerton.
She serves on the Roe Jan Housing Task Force, multiple town committees and the Roe Jan Library Advisory Board.
She lives with her wife, Mary Murfitt, and their two cats, on Pats Road, Ancramdale.
In her statement of issues, Ms. Hundt wrote:
“I am running for town supervisor to continue the good work our Town Board has been doing while I have been serving for the last 6 years. I have the experience to tackle the issues we are facing. I believe in proactive, inclusive and transparent government. We face a housing crisis, climate change, farms that are disappearing and new development that can change our rural open spaces. As a successful business owner of 27 years, I have learned how to manage a budget and people. Having grown up in a rural community I understand the difficult changes we are facing.”
After 20 years as town highway superintendent, 1996 to 2015, Republican James MacArthur, 73, of County Route 7, Ancram is running for his first term as town supervisor. He has his party’s endorsement.
Born in Great Barrington, MA, he is a high school graduate. He is a 40-year member of Ancram Fire Company and current president; member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and president of the council; past president of the Columbia County Firefighters Association; and past president of the Columbia County Town Highway Superintendents Association for 18 years.
He is a United States Army veteran, having served eight and a half years; a member of Cadby Shutts VFW Post 7552 since 1977 and currently the junior vice commander of the Department of New York Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has also held the positions of adjutant and quartermaster at the post for more than 10 years.
He is not married, has one adult daughter and four grandchildren.
In his statement of issues, Mr. MacArthur wrote: “As quartermaster of our VFW Post I am responsible for all funds and property of the Post. I have the confidence of all of our members and their trust. I am inspected every year by the district and department of New York and have never failed an inspection. I can assure the residents of Ancram that I will be a supervisor that they can rely on to be a good custodian of all the assets of the town. I will work with all of the town board members for the betterment of Ancram and its residents. I promise to be transparent and fiscally responsible. I grew up in this town and I believe it is one of the most beautiful places in New York to live. I pledge to its residents to do my best to keep it that way.”
Town Council candidates:
David Boice, 59, is running for his third four-year term on the Town Board. He ran for his first two terms as a Democrat, but is now a registered Republican running on the Republican line with his new party’s endorsement.
Mr. Boice’s community activities include: the fire company, the Ancram Youth Commission, St. John’s Lutheran Church Council, Ancram Union Cemetery, and 15 years on the Democratic Committee.
He is married to his wife, Jennifer.
In his statement of issues, he wrote: “For those who know me, I am the same person with the same values, perspectives, ideas and morals. Unfortunately, now you have to vote for me on a different line. I will still work for Ancram as hard as anyone. After 15 years on the Democratic Committee, I was told to leave. I was told to leave because I would not drink the Kool-Aid and sing the same songs as the rest of the board. Unbelievable in today’s world! I will work everyday for all of the people in Ancram.”
Republican John R. Ingram, 72, of East Ancram Road, Ancramdale is in the running for his first term as a Town Board member.
He is a registered Republican endorsed by his party.
He has previously served as a school board trustee in the Westbury School District 1978 to 1989. He has been an Ancram Fire commissioner since 2013 to the present.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he is a graduate of Westbury High School and attended Farmingdale College, Farmingdale, New York.
Retired superintendent for the Westbury Water and Fire District, Westbury, he currently does part-time consultant work for the Westbury Water and Fire District and the City of Glen Cove.
Under community involvement he lists: more than 53 years of active service in the Westbury Fire Department (ex-captain); former member/ past president of the Westbury Rotary Club; more than 20 years with the Ancram Fire Company; 12 year member of the Ancram Planning Board with 10 years as chairman; member/ president of the Lakeville United Methodist Church and vice commander/ treasurer of the American Legion/ Sons of the American Legion, Millerton.
He is married to Linda Ingram. They have three grown, married children and nine grandchildren.
In his candidate statement, Mr. Ingram wrote: “I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the community that I have been part of for over 35 years. I have spent over 50 years in the public sector (46 in management). I have managed budgets of $10M with 25+ employees and construction projects in excess of $20M.
“I have a thorough understanding of the governmental process and the fiduciary responsibilities of the elected officials and broad knowledge of municipal law.
“My desire is to serve all of the residents of Ancram and not be swayed by special interest groups. Fiscal responsibility, transparency and fairness is most important.”
Colleen Lutz, 46, a registered Republican, endorsed by the Democratic party, seeks her first term as a town council member.
Born in Poughkeepsie, she was raised in the Town of Stanford, NY. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science at Marist College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in biodiversity and conservation biology at the University of Albany. She is an assistant biologist with the New York Natural Heritage Program.
Her community activities include: Ancram Fire Company member, Roe Jan Community Library Board of Trustees (secretary), Roe Jan Watershed Community board member, Town of Ancram representative to the Columbia County Environmental Management Council (EMC), co-chair Ancram Climate Smart Community Task Force (CSCTF), Ancram Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) member and Ancram Planning board member.
She has received the Columbia County EMC Good Earthkeeping Award, National Honor Society and the Ancram Firefighter of the Year Award (2022).
She and her husband, William Lutz, live on Maple Lane, Ancramdale. They have two adult children, ages 25 and 20.
In her statement of issues, Ms. Lutz wrote, “I am passionate about environmental health, conservation, and climate change issues. Ancram has prioritized the environment in our Comprehensive Plan and continues to strengthen zoning to protect natural resources. I support development that is environmentally sensitive, sustainable, and consistent with the surrounding landscape and community.
“I will continue to explore new ways to become a more resilient community and collaborate with local and regional partners with similar environmental and economic goals. Planning is the first step to preparedness and requires input from the entire community.”
Democrat Robert B. Roche, 69, wants to win a seat on the town council for the first time in the November election.
He is endorsed by Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106th) and the Columbia County Democratic Committee.
Born in Great Barrington, MA, Mr. Roche is a 1973 Taconic Hills High School graduate. He studied at the New England Fuel Institute, Springfield, MA, and the New Holland Technical School, New Holland, PA.
He is retired from the custom farming business and as service manager at Stanton Equipment, Canaan, CT, (farm equipment sales and service); and as a farm equipment mechanic at Pine Plains Ford Tractor.
Mr. Roche is a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ancram; served as an Ancram Planning Board member for many years, on the Ancram Zoning Revisions Committee for several years and on the Comprehensive Plan Committee.
He and his wife, Mary Ann, reside on Hall Hill Road, Ancram.
He has three daughters, 43, 40 and 27, and one step-son, 40.
In his candidate statement, Mr. Roche wrote: “If elected, I plan to work on affordable housing and work on changing some of the zoning laws to make affordable housing more available for folks with lower incomes.
“I hope to encourage bi-partisan politics in order to facilitate change in the way Ancram gets things done. I will always make time to listen to the town’s residents if they can make suggestions or point out changes that need to be made by town government in order to run things more smoothly.”
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
