The Ancram Democratic Committee
Four candidates — one Democrat, one incumbent NOP (no official party), and two Republicans, are in the race for seats on Ancram's Town Board. Two incumbent Town Justices are running unopposed so will not be included in the forum. This non-partisan forum will be moderated by The New Pine Plains Herald.
Residents are invited to submit questions for the candidates USING THIS FORM.
Submissions will help guide the discussion and ensure a wide range of community issues are considered.
All questions will be reviewed for inclusion. The Herald will make the final determination on which questions are asked during the forum. Thank you for helping foster an informed and respectful exchange of ideas.
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE.
ANCRAM DESERVES THE WHOLE STORY.
Campaign season brings a lot of claims. Some leave out important facts. Some make complicated issues sound simple. And some tell you what to be angry about without telling you what they would actually do.
Ancram residents deserve the whole story.
GRANTS WERE AWARDED.
State funding was awarded for both the Highway Department salt shed and the Blass Field Pavilion. The reimbursements have not yet been received. That does not mean the grants never existed.
It means the Town must continue working with the State until the money already awarded is paid.
DATA CENTERS AREN’T A DISTRACTION.
Joe Brown and Colleen Lutz oppose large-scale data centers in Ancram.
Planning for a problem before it reaches our doorstep is exactly what responsible local government should do.
Protect the farms. Protect the water. Protect Ancram’s rural character.
TOWN FINANCES DESERVE STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
Residents have every right to ask: what does it cost, who pays, what outside funding is available, and
what are we doing to control costs?
Those questions deserve clear answers-not slogans.
THE FACTS MATTER. SO DOES WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
FIGHT FOR EVERY DOLLAR ANCRAM IS OWED.
We will keep working with the State to secure the reimbursement for the salt shed and Blass Field grants
and pursue every funding opportunity for our town.
KEEP INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT OUT.
We will continue to oppose large-scale data centers and push for smart, commonsense planning that
protects our farmland, water, and rural character.
MAKE ANCRAM AFFORDABLE AND LIVABLE.
We will look for practical ways to support housing, local businesses, and the services that make Ancram
a great place to live.
PLAN AHEAD.
We will take a thoughtful, long-term approach to the challenges and opportunities facing Ancram.
STATE & LOCAL CANDIDATES FOR 2026
KATHY HOCHUL - Governor of New York
TOM DINAPOLI - New York Comptroller
LETITIA JAMES - NYS Attorney General
JOSH RILEY - U.S. Congress
MICHELLE HINCHEY - State Senate
DIDI BARRETT - State Assembly
COLLEEN LUTZ - Town of Ancram Supervisor
JOE BROWN - Ancram Town Council
CATHY REDLICH - Ancram Town Justice
SUZAN FLAMM - Ancram Town Justice
CLICK HERE for
more about our candidates
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLAN TO VOTE?
IF YOU APPLIED FOR & RECEIVED YOUR ABSENTEE OR EARLY MAIL BALLOT..COMPLETE IT & MAIL IT NOW!!
VOTE EARLY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!!
HERE ARE DATES/TIMES FOR EARLY VOTING:
The Ancram Democratic Committee is made up of your neighbors, friends, and colleagues, all working for Democratic values, candidates, and policies throughout Columbia County.
eWHAT WE DO
The Ancram Democratic Committee is committed to the advancement of progressive Democratic goals through efficient and effective government: economic equality and meaningful job development; quality public education; affordable healthcare, childcare, and housing; respect and inclusion for all.
We work with the CCDC (Columbia County Democratic Committee) to recruit and elect Democratic candidates to village, town, county, state, and federal offices, and provide volunteers and financial support for those elections. We also seek out individual Democrats to participate in local volunteer governance, including Zoning, Planning, and Historic Preservation Boards and Commissions.
JOIN US IN CREATING
A BRIGHTER FUTURE
FOR AMERICA & ANCRAM!
Democratic Candidate for Ancram Town Council, Joe Brown, responds to inaccurate and uninformed statements by his opponent about data centers and shares his knowledge about the negative effects they could have in our part of Columbia County.
THEY'RE HERE....AND READY FOR PICK UP!!
Show your support for our Town Board candidates. Email us and we'll deliver or you can pick up.
This guy's running for Supervisor again?
Why go backwards to the sad old days?
Feb. 2, 2025 Then Supervisor Jim MacArthur loses control of a Town Board meeting. Gets up and says "Somebody else run this meeting...I've had enough of this crap!".
He leaves the room and never returns.