Our Priorities for Ghent

We're Democrats who believe in finding innovative, effective ways to help people and communities thrive. While we aim to preserve our community's nature and character, the Republican leadership on our Town Board is focused on preserving a status quo approach to governance that isn't serving this community effectively. Our Supervisor is engaging in partisan power grabs that threaten fundamental rights across the country. We can do better. Much better.

Here are the core pillars of our approach to change:

Community

Ghent covers a large area, our kids attend four different schools, and we lack a centralized town hub. While neighboring towns have built playgrounds and pickleball courts, established farmers markets and revived main streets, our current leadership hasn't pursued opportunities to create genuine community cohesion in Ghent. We promise to establish a new paradigm: creating community infrastructure where families can gather (playgrounds, pavilions) and establishing weekly community events (markets, food trucks, performances, senior programming) that give residents regular opportunities to come together here in Ghent instead of traveling to neighboring towns.

Affordability

Ghent residents of all ages are being priced out of our community. Local graduates can't afford to live here, young families can't enter the housing market, and retirees who want to downsize must find homes in different towns. This undermines our ability to build and sustain a thriving community. Because affordability challenges aren't unique to Ghent, we can leverage generous state and private grants established to prioritize housing solutions in rural communities like ours. Our current leadership hasn't effectively pursued these opportunities. If elected, we would take every step possible to help Ghent residents stay in the community they've always called home.

Health & Safety

Our EMS system is chronically underfunded and understaffed, leading to unacceptably long response times for community members in need. This reflects government failure, not our excellent first responders. Our Town Supervisor hasn't brought necessary urgency to this issue or pressed the county for increased funding. We've also seen little progress on controlling driving speeds in Ghent. We need robust enforcement and accountability systems to keep our children and families safe. These are non-negotiable priorities – we must do more to protect Ghent residents' well-being.

Transparency

After campaigning on transparency, the current Board has continually limited public access to the governing process. The current Supervisor has openly resisted recording Board meetings, fearing it would require more detailed explanations of their deliberative processes. After four years in office, they're releasing a comprehensive plan (driven by the sole Democrat on the board) just before the election, allowing only a brief window for public comment. This isn't what community engagement should look like.

Cooperation

Ghent relies extensively on the County for resources and infrastructure support. Our current Supervisor participated in a blatant Republican power grab on the County Board of Supervisors that prevented establishing a County Executive – a role that would significantly ease Ghent's ability to secure what it needs from Columbia County. It's unconscionable that partisan maneuvering by our leaders should obstruct meaningful progress for our town. We would fight to reverse this decision and aggressively seek opportunities to collaborate with and receive support from our County and State.

A Vision for Ghent: Community, Accountability, and Our Future

Our government should be of the People, by the People and for the People. As your elected officials, every action we take will be guided by a simple question: How can we best serve our neighbors and our community? We believe it's time for a new focus at Town Hall—one that listens to residents, invests in our quality of life and ensures that Ghent remains a wonderful place to live for generations to come.

Here is our commitment to you:

Investing in Our Community & Quality of Life

A town is more than just a place on a map; it's where we build our lives. We will prioritize projects that bring neighbors together, make our town safer and protect the rural character we all cherish.

Safer Streets & Vibrant Public Spaces: The safety of our children is non-negotiable. We will work to lower speed limits, especially near the Ghent Recreational Field. We also see potential in our shared spaces and will explore creating:

• A walking path for seniors or a dedicated bike area for kids
• A pavilion and playground for regular community gathering
• A town dog park
• Weekend community events, like a seasonal Farmer's Market, to support local producers and bring our community together

Protecting Our Environment: We will be dedicated stewards of Ghent's natural beauty, ensuring our land and resources are protected for the future.

An Open, Honest and Fiscally Responsible Government

You deserve to know how and where your tax dollars are being spent. We are committed to a new standard of transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Total Transparency: All Town business will be conducted openly, with finances that are clear, honest and regularly audited. Your money will be treated with the respect and care it deserves.

Demanding Accountability: We will unapologetically demand the same level of transparency from the overlapping governmental entities that our taxes support, including school districts and the county. We will be your advocates, ensuring your tax dollars are used wisely at every level.

A Government That Listens: We will actively seek your input and make ourselves accessible. We want to build a town government that is responsive to your needs and ideas.

Building a Secure Future for Every Resident  A strong community ensures all its members have the opportunity to thrive. We will focus on the foundational pillars that allow individuals and families to flourish.

Housing for All Stages of Life: We will work to ensure that safe and affordable housing options exist for everyone, from young families starting out to seniors wishing to stay in the community they love. We will partner with organizations like Columbia-Greene Habitat for Humanity to explore innovative solutions.

Supporting Education & Economic Opportunity: We will be active partners in our children's education and our community's economic health. This means monitoring school district performance and collaborating with Columbia-Greene Community College and local business organizations to support workforce development and keep our local economy strong.

Ensuring Essential Services: We will proactively assess our community's healthcare and food security needs, working with county and state leaders to ensure that every Ghent resident has access to the care and resources they need to be safe and healthy.

Our Promise

This platform is not about replacing the essential work of our Highway Department, Town Clerk or other vital services. It is about adding a much-needed focus on planning and action to help our community reach its full potential. With your support, we can build a more connected, transparent and forward-looking Ghent for everyone.  For Ghent.  For You.