Woodstock Democratic candidates made their case for primary voter support Thursday evening in a moderated forum hosted by the Woodstock Democratic Committee. 

The June 4 forum featured contested Democratic primaries for one town board seat, town clerk, and town justice. Early voting for the primary runs from June 13 through June 21, and Primary Day is June 23.

The election comes as New York shifts many local offices to even-year elections. Under state guidance, town offices including supervisor, town board, town clerk, and highway superintendent are affected by the new schedule, though town justice is not. For two-year offices elected in 2025, candidates run again in 2026 for a regular two-year term. Woodstock Supervisor Anula Courtis is also due to run again under the new schedule and is currently unopposed. 

Dan Gallant and Marcel Nagele for town board, Rebekah Brooks and Meghann Reimondo for town clerk, and Howard Harris and incumbent Jason Lesko for town justice. Lesko is endorsed by the committee.

Moderator Christine Dinsmore said the forum was not a debate, but a chance for candidates to explain their qualifications and understanding of the offices they are seeking.

Town Board

Dan Gallant, 50, said Woodstock is facing pressure from rising costs, aging infrastructure, environmental threats, and a shortage of affordable housing.

Gallant recently stepped down as deputy supervisor, and Hudson Valley One reported that he appears poised to take over Oriole 9, a local restaurant. At the forum, Gallant said his experience in town government, nonprofit management, and grant writing would help Woodstock plan for long-term needs.

He said his priorities include affordability, infrastructure, environmental protection, and support for small businesses and arts organizations.

“I’m running because I think the board needs an additional member who can see and integrate the finances, the infrastructure, housing concerns, environmental sustainability, and support for artists, arts organizations and small businesses,” Gallant said.

Marcel Nagele, 58, described himself as a “boots on the ground candidate” with a background in the trades, excavation, property management, and local infrastructure.

Nagele pointed to his work pressing town officials to revisit environmental testing at 10 Church Road in Shady, where construction and demolition debris was dumped near private wells, streams, and the town’s public water supply.

“I feel very fortunate that this community has been very good to me,” Nagele said. “I think it’s my turn to give something back.”

Nagele said his priorities include affordability, environmental protection, and accountability in town government. He said affordable housing is one of the town’s hardest challenges because of construction costs, land constraints, and the need to protect parking and business activity.

Town Clerk

Rebekah Brooks, 40, said she is running to expand what the town clerk’s office can do for residents.

Brooks said her priorities are to connect, communicate, and modernize. She said she wants the office to connect residents with resources, improve the summer recreation program, pursue grants for digitization, create a town newsletter, expand video access to meetings, and allow online and credit card payments.

“I want to help others understand what our town government does because the more we understand how our town works, the more engaged we can be,” Brooks said.

Brooks said she has spoken with clerks in other towns and wants Woodstock to follow examples of clerk’s offices that play a more active role in public communication and community services.

Meghann Reimondo, 45, said she is running on her experience already working in the clerk’s office. She has lived in Woodstock for 19 years and has served as first deputy clerk since September. After the retirement of former town clerk Jackie Earley, Reimondo was assigned the responsibilities of the office.

“Local government works best when it’s accessible, responsive, transparent, and centered on the people it serves,” Reimondo said.

Reimondo said her priorities include adding online payment options, improving the summer recreation program, updating forms and the clerk’s webpage, and strengthening records management. She said the town has been exploring payment systems and working with New York State Archives on how to inventory and preserve town records.

Town Justice

Harris, who is not a lawyer and did not disclose his age, said he would bring experience from 20 years as an NYPD detective and 15 years on Woodstock’s Zoning Board of Appeals, including as chair.

Harris said the ZBA gave him experience listening to residents, reviewing evidence, and making decisions in a quasi-judicial setting. He said town courts were designed to allow fair-minded community members, not only lawyers, to serve.

“I am running to bring that grounded, people-centered perspective back to the bench,” Harris said.

Harris said he would bring preparation, consistency, and respect to the court, adding that a local judge must be “neutral” and “steady.”

Jason Lesko, 59, said he is running for reelection after serving as Woodstock town justice since 2017. He was appointed that year, elected in 2018, and reelected in 2022.

Lesko said he has practiced law for 31 years, including 23 years in solo practice, and has represented clients in criminal, civil, vehicle and traffic, family court, custody, and abuse-related matters.

“I bring a unique perspective, not only as a judge sitting since 2017, but representing people who have had the impact of a court decision upon them,” Lesko said.

Lesko said impartiality is central to the job and that judges must know when to recuse themselves, including when a case could create the appearance of impropriety.

The Democratic primary is June 23. Early voting runs June 13 through June 21. No Republican candidates have been announced in the races. Voters can find their polling place, early voting locations and hours, sample ballots, and early mail or absentee ballot information through the Ulster County Board of Elections.

Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.