BETTER THAN HEARSAY - The Windham Town Supervisor Race

THOMAS HOYT

WINDHAM - Incumbent Republican town supervisor Thomas Hoyt has been unopposed the past two, 2-year terms, facing a challenge, this Election Day, from Democratic Party nominee Connor Exum.

Hoyt has been in office six years. “I have lived in Windham my entire life. My family settled here in the 1840’s. I love this town and serving the people of Windham which is why I am running again,” he says.

Exum, born and raised in Windham, seeks his first elected office. “I feel I can give the town a different, forward thinking perspective, developing strong community programs to combat future problems before we feel their impacts.”

The candidates were asked the same questions regarding their platforms and issues facing the town, responding as follows:

MT. EAGLE: Identify 3 key issues in Windham and your view on them.

EXUM: (1) “Lack of transparency in local government, based on a lot of personal experiences. There have been issues for me, asking for and receiving public documents that should be available to all citizens. Documents should be easily accessible.

(2) “Zoning. I am opposed to the current zoning law [being considered by the town] for several reasons. As I read the proposal, [I believe] it segregates the community economically. We need a more organic method [of land use regulations], one that doesn’t push costs down to our Main Street business owners and our residents.”

(3)  “Multi-generational growth. Windham has seen a 4.2-year increase in our median age per decade since the 2000 Census, an extraordinary rate of aging. At this rate, by 2050, our community’s median age will be 65.3

years.

“We need policies in our community that will retain and attract young people and families who want to make this wonderful community their home. This means creating jobs that develop into a middle-class community with a housing market that is supported by these

jobs.”

HOYT: (1) “Ambulance service and how to continue providing the [paramedic level of care] the town currently provides for its citizenship. This means working within sustainable budgetary costs and working closely with our peers in neighboring communities.

“I am in favor of consolidating our best resources for all of Greene County, putting everything under one roof [within a unified county ambulance system being considered by the county], getting standardization of operations and materials to provide the best care for the entire county.”

(2) New York City Department of Environmental Protection. “Dealing with DEP and the New York City watershed is a big deal. If we don’t keep a finger on the pulse of DEP, we can’t keep a finger on the pulse of continuity and good growth in our own communities” [linked to ongoing DEP land acquisitions that stop those tracts from future development].

(3) “Keeping Windham affordable, doing whatever local government can do, and knowing what government cannot do, to give our people the ability to afford their taxes while not overly regulating on our end.”

MT EAGLE: “What has prepared you to serve as Windham town supervisor?

EXUM: “My business career [in a family enterprise] and education [at Louisville University] offer a solid base. I have worked with State entities and understand the underpinnings of local government.

“During my 12-year tenure as the Operations Manager of my family corporation, I was able to grow the business by more than 350% before the pandemic. 

“During this period of expansion, we moved our primary business from smaller single-owner establishments to large Fortune 500

corporations, medical facilities, Universities and State Institutions. 

“I oversaw all aspects of the business, from strategic planning to marketing and finances. In addition, I negotiated multi-million dollar contracts.”

“I am very interested in developing new approaches to solving problems, looking at what other people and communities have done that works in their community, and how we can make that work for Windham.”

HOYT: “I started at a young age with real responsibilities. I was sixteen years old when [the late Windham town supervisor] Pat Meehan had faith in me to be manager of the town park, overseeing daily operations.

“He had confidence in me, starting simple, being where I needed to be on time and working with a set budget. I then took the next step, working for the Slutzky family in Hunter. I started as a laborer and at the ripe age of twenty, moved up to job foreman on major [infrastructure] projects.

“I brought that sense of responsibility and work ethic to the job when I was elected highway superintendent in Windham, and I have been a public servant for twenty-seven years.

“When I was highway superintendent, Mr. Meehan made sure I was closely involved in the building of our wastewater treatment system and the reconstruction of Main Street. I was there every step of the way.

“As supervisor, I have been able to continue that commitment with the modernization of the water system, and linking the Windham and Hensonville water lines.”

MT. EAGLE: Why should voters give you their support?

EXUM: “I am semi-retired and can be dedicated completely to the job.

We are losing generational families and families that came to Windham over the years because of what we offer.

“Their kids can’t find jobs, they can’t find that niche with the proper amount of employment to allow for proper growth and rural space to keep the character of Windham

“This means creating jobs that develop into a middle-class community with a housing market that is supported by these jobs. “I have a strong desire and willingness to really build and work with the whole community on these issues, and not just if you are a Democrat or a Republican.”

HOYT:  “My proven track record and loyalty to the town as supervisor and highway superintendent [for eighteen years prior to being elected town supervisor].

“I have worked with elected officials in the Greene County Legislature and the New York Senate and Assembly, on both sides of the aisle, garnering financial support from those entities for needed projects in our town.

“I am extremely proud of our ambulance and senior citizen center [built under his administration] and working with the Windham Foundation for improvements to our town park and future endeavors, such as a new little league ballfield [on lands deeded to the town by the Foundation].

MT. EAGLE: What is your message to the residents of the community?

EXUM: “Let's Make Windham Local Again!. A vote for me is a vote for taking on the hard issues that face our community in the 21st century.

“It's a vote for the building of a community that will exist for another 100 generations with names we all know and recognize today.

“I stand for building Windham Stronger Together, no matter the political party because these aren’t political issues, these are community Issues.”

HOYT: “Go with a proven commodity. People know me. They know what I’ve done as their highway superintendent and town supervisor. 

“People know what I stand for and what we, as a town, have been able to accomplish. I stand on my record.”

Editor’s Note: Due to Election Law changes, the victor in the 2025 vote for Windham town supervisor will serve a one-year term, rather than two years, needing to run again in 2026 for a fresh 2-year term.