The field for the upcoming village election is set and voters will chose from two incumbents, a former town councilman and a political newcomer.
The Whitehall Republican and Democratic parties held their respective caucuses last Saturday and each party chose two candidates to vie for two openings on the Village Board of Trustees.
The Republicans selected Ken Bartholomew and Ron “Boris” Rushia while the Democrats pegged Walt Sandford and Jim Putorti.
Sandford and Bartholomew are both incumbents and Putorti has been elected to political office in the past.
Sandford, who is chief of the Fort Edward Police Department, will be seeking his third term in office after being elected to the board in 2008 and again in 2010.
He said he was approached about running and was interested in continuing his service to the community.
“I’ve certainly been happy and wanted to move forward and continue with the projects on hand. I think the board has been working together smoothly and getting some things done,” said Sandford, who has overseen the police department and served as head of public safety during his time in office.
Bartholomew will also be seeking a return to office after spending the last four years on the village board. He was elected in 2008 and 2010, and finished second behind Peter Telisky in last year’s mayoral race.
During his tenure, Bartholomew has served as commissioner of the sewer district, an important role considering the infrastructure issues the village has had to deal with.
“I’ve been around awhile and know what’s going on. I have four years dealing with the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and I have a good rapport with them. I want to continue to comply with the DEC without causing the village to go broke,” Bartholomew said.
Also running for trustee on the GOP ticket is Rushia.
Rushia is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War and worked for more than three decades at Great Meadow and Washington County correctional facilities. Although this is his first foray into politics, he says his experience as an instructor in the military and his familiarity with Whitehall will aid him in politics.
“I’m a lifelong resident of Whitehall. I grew up here; my home is here so I’m interested in what Whitehall does in the future. I want to help the people of the community and help change the image of Whitehall.”
Filling out the Democratic ticket will be Putorti, who served on the town council for three years until his term came to an end at the end of last year.
Putorti, who was president of the Skenesborough Volunteer Fire Co. and a longtime member of that organization, was a central figure in the drive to get it to merge with Whitehall.
“I’ve lived in Whitehall my entire life and I though this was an opportunity to help the village out. I have experience from my time with the town and I’m hoping to get the two boards (village and town) working together to get some things done,” Putorti said, of his run for office.
Scott Martel, chairman of the Whitehall Democrats, was pleased his party found two experienced candidates to run for office.
“We hope to get them in there and have them work with the mayor and get some things done,” he said.
If both Sandford and Putorti were to be elected, the board would consist entirely of Democrats.
Mayor Telisky and trustees Marge Mohn and Michael LaChapelle swept into office last year on the Democratic ticket.
Elections will be held on Tuesday, March 20, at the former site of the Skenesborough Volunteer Fire Co.
Each term is for two years.
