By DIANE VALDEN
COPAKE—Copake Councilmember Jeffrey Judd resigned from the Town Board effective in January. Former Councilmember Linda Gabaccia has been appointed to fill the remainder of his term.
Mr. Judd told The Columbia Paper this week that he resigned from the board for personal reasons, saying he does “not have the time to dutifully fulfill my obligations to the town.” He added, “It has been my pleasure to serve the Town of Copake all these years. It is bittersweet to leave at this time.”
Mr. Judd, a Democrat, has served on the board since January 2020. He first successfully ran to fill a one-year vacancy on the board, then ran again for his first full four-year term, which began in January 2021. That term will expire at the end of this year. Prior to becoming a town councilmember, Mr. Judd, an attorney, served on the Copake Zoning Board of Appeals for several years.
The Town Board called a special meeting January 31 to consider filling the vacancy created by Mr. Judd’s resignation.
It was a unanimous vote in favor of Resolution #5 to “appoint Linda Gabaccia to fill the vacant seat on the Town Board, such term to end on December 31, 2025, and such seat to be subject to election in November, 2025.”
Town Supervisor Richard Wolf said Ms. Gabaccia brings with her eight years of experience serving on the Town Board and will be able “to hit the ground running.”
A familiar face on the board from 2006 to 2013, Ms. Gabaccia told The Columbia Paper by email this week, that since she left the board, she has “definitely missed serving. My Mom raised me to always try to give back to others when you are able.”
She said after her mother died in 2022, “I started serving as a poll-worker for Copake’s elections. It felt good to contribute in that way.”
Then “out of the blue, a few weeks ago, I was contacted and advised that there was an opportunity to complete Jeffrey Judd’s term of 11 months. I thought about it and it seemed like the perfect chance to serve again. I’m really pleased that my appointment was unanimous. I am very well-acquainted with most of the current [board] members and the idea of working with all of them in a much less contentious environment than I previously experienced was also enticing. It will be nice to just focus on getting things done for Copake and I hope I can bring my business experience from the last decade and my experience as a lifelong resident to the Board. It’s rewarding to be able to contribute to my community again and I’m looking forward to working with everyone. It really just comes down to wanting to serve.”
Since late 2012, Ms. Gabaccia, a Democrat, has held her current position as director of compliance with an emphasis on export regulations for Troy Industries.
She said she has done some successful grant-writing in connection with her work and is “now fully remote.” She is also actively involved with her partner in the Depot Deli in Copake Falls, which is going into its 42nd year.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
