CONESVILLE — Contested elections aren't all that common in the towns and villages of Schoharie County, but there is one going on in the small Town of Conesville.
Republican Robert Giordano is facing off against Democrat Joanne Noone for the right to succeed Bill Federice as Town Supervisor. It's a two-year term in this year's election.
Federice is retiring from the job and also from his seat on the county Board of Supervisors after 13 years. Both Giordano and Noone provided detailed answers and comprehensive visions for Conesville in emails to this newspaper.
Giordano has been the town's Code Enforcement Officer the past two years. He purchased a house in Conesville in 2017 and moved to the town full time in 2022.
Giordano owned Giordano Contracting Inc. for 40 years before "closing the books" at the end of 2025. He also owns Giordano Agency Inc., an Allstate Insurance Agency, and Olivia's Wine and Spirits in Windham.
He wrote that he decided to run for Town Supervisor after, as Code Enforcement Officer, he "started to notice the increasing amount of phone calls from potential buyers to our area. Many if not all were inquiring about our zoning rules and land use restriction. As I was researching these questions I found we really don't have any.
"I think this is a problem we as a town should correct. To be clear I am not for zoning, but I am for change of use review by the Planning Board. As for the Planning Board, as soon as we have some rules in place, I will reinstitute the Planning Board."
The Conesville Planning Board was abolished by the Town Board in a vote several weeks ago. Noone also states that she will reinstate the Planning Board if elected.
Giordano continued that he was asked to run for Town Supervisor. "Since I'm stepping down from a few of my businesses and the Code Enforcement position, I will have the time to dedicate myself to the (Supervisor) position," he wrote.
"This position requires the skill set that I have and use every day in the operation of my businesses. I also believe if you are good at something you should do it or it's just a waste of talent. I believe I have had a very blessed life and giving back to the Town where I live would be an honor."
Noone wrote in her email "We have proudly called Conesville home for over 30 years, having moved here in November 1995. Over the past three decades, we have built deep, permanent roots here, and we care about protecting the families who make up the backbone of this community.
"I am running for Town Supervisor because of the need to protect our cherished rural character and safeguard individual property rights while ensuring future growth is orderly, fair and shaped directly by community input. We need a modernized Comprehensive Plan, not to restrict landowners or add red tape, but to provide a clear transparent roadmap that protects our rural character.
"This means creating clear ground rules so that everyday residents are legally protected, neighbor conflicts are minimized, and development happens with the community's consent and most importantly re-establishing an accountable, full-certified Planning Board."
Giordano stated his top priorities to work on if elected would be "implementing a land use ordinance that would protect the local charm of our town while providing some level of oversight to businesses and developers coming to our area."
Other priorities, Giordano noted, include "finding alternative revenue streams to handle the increasing energy, insurance and personnel costs to avoid raising property taxes. Creating a website or Facebook Page that is properly moderated to allow for Town information exchange without the personal commentary. Find a way to bring local and transplant residents together to work for the town's success."
Regarding her priorities and goals if elected, Noone stated "I will bring a supportive town government to Conesville that always feels clear, welcoming and fair to every resident. I believe our local codes and guidelines should protect property owners, not create unnecessary stress. By ensuring completely open processes and objective standards, we can ensure every neighbor is treated with equal respect, clarity and consistency."
She continued: "At the town level, managing property taxes, defending our agricultural land, and delivering ethics to the government aren't partisan issues— they are common sense issues. This is about neighbors putting Conesville first. Recognizing that the Town Supervisor does not just manage town affairs, they serve as our direct voice and vote on the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors. If you look closely at your annual property tax bill, you will find that the county-wide tax represents the highest layer of local taxation. I recognize the county representation as the single most important guardrail for Conesville taxpayers.
"I believe Conesville deserves a government that works openly, treats everyone equally and always puts our residents first. Our town is at a crossroads, and the choices we make today regarding our taxes, our land, and our leadership will shape our community for generations to come. I am ready to bring common sense, independent leadership to the town Hall and to be a fierce, protective voice for our taxpayers at the county level. I will work together with all residents to keep Conesville a beautiful, fair and affordable place to live, work and raise a family."
In other Conesville races, incumbent Republican Laurel Mattice is running against Democrat Martha Young for a two-year term as Tax Collector. Neither candidate responded to requests for comment from this newspaper.
Town Clerk Carrie Sutton, a Democrat, is running again unopposed for a two-year term. Town Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar is running unopposed for reelection, this year for a two-year term.
Apgar wrote in an email he has lived in Conesville for 11 years and been Highway Superintendent for a little more than two and a half years.
"I enjoy working with the crew that we have," Apgar stated. "The job is close to home and year round. I like the challenge of trying to maintain the roads and keep them in the best shape that we can.
"For the next term I would like to keep up improving the roads and to keep the equipment up to date to hopefully keep repair costs down."
Pictured: Noone and Giordano
