Kortright has Council, Highway Superintendents Race

KORTRIGHT - There is a three way race for two seats on the Kortright Town Council and a two-way race for town highway superintendent. Incumbent Town Supervisor George Haynes Jr., a Republican, is unopposed in his rebid for supervisor. Kristin Craft, the incumbent town clerk, is also unopposed in her re-election as town Clerk. She is a Republican.

Candidates running for the two open seats on the town council include incumbent, Chad Boest, a Republican. He is seeking a third term on the town council. Also running for council are Dianne Drake and Steven G. Smith. Chad Boest is a dairy farmer and believes things are running smoothly. "I think the town is going good and I am running to try to keep it doing good."

Steven G. Smith is a Republican candidate for the town council.  "I see some things that should be changed," he said. A member of the town council 12 years ago, he stepped down, but now his children are older and he believes he has the time to devote to the position. He would like to be the "voice of reason" for the town board and as a small business owner The Building Smith General Contracting, he sees some things that could be improved. Because it's a small town, he said everyone knows what is going on and there is the need for more transparency.

Dianne Drake, who is running under her own party, said she does want to see things change and does not like the way she sees things headed. She believes the town should become more involved in the community park and pay to maintain it, because the town owns it.. She said the highway department could sell off the surplus highway equipment that isn't being used and she would like the condition of the town roads improved. In some places, she said the roads are not fit to drive on. She would like to see the town cuts costs on things, such as trucks. She believes they should purchase trucks while they still have some warranty left on them to help save on repairs.. 

She said she and her husband, John Drake, who is running for the position of highway superintendent, have been going door to door and talking with people to find out what the issues are and what people would like to see get done.

John Drake is a 50-year truck driver who is seeking the position of highway superintendent. He believes the condition of the equipment and roads need to be improved. He believes they have deteriorated over the past two years. As a truck driver, he believes he knows about roads and how to maintain them. 

He said one of the sticking points he and his wife have found in traveling around the town is that people do not know who is on the ballot and that social media has taken away from people taking a more active role in their government.

Harry C. Craft is a member of the town highway crew and unfortunately we were unable to connect with him by press time for any information.