Elections in the Village of Walden are fast approaching. This year, village election day is Tuesday, March 16 – the day before St. Paddy’s Day. The Walden Fire House will be this year’s polling location.

Up for grabs are three seats on the Village Board. Trustees Roy Wynkoop, Deputy Mayor Susan Rumbold and newcomer Bernard Bowen, who was appointed to replace Marcus Millspaugh after he stepped down in late November, are up for election in this year’s race.
Trustee Susan Rumbold, who has served on the board for two years, said her first term had been “interesting and exciting.” When the board was able to work together to accomplish a goal, she said, it was a fulfilling job. She said she was looking forward to running again. “It really is an opportunity to spend more time out in the community,” she said.

It is expected that if Rumbold is elected for another term, she will be reappointed as deputy mayor in April.

Bernard Bowen has served on the Board of Trustees for just two months. His experience in the banking industry was considered to be his prime asset when he was appointed by the Mayor in November. With budget time approaching, his skills in banking and finance will most likely serve as an advantage during his campaign.

As a resident of Walden, Bowen said he had a vested interest in helping to keep the budget in check. “I’m looking to make sure that the budget is not raised,” he said, adding that he planned to be “proactive” about making sure that it wasn’t. “I’m looking to get out to meet more people and let them know about my background.”

Roy Wynkoop, who has served for seven consecutive terms on the board, spoke publicly about not running last year. In the months since, however, Wynkoop had a change of heart. “I feel very positive about the village right now,” he said. “I still feel good, I like the Board and I think we can accomplish a lot of things. I would like to have one more term.”

Wynkoop said that the budget, as well as a review of the comprehensive plan, would be sources of focus in his next term.

The three incumbent candidates are faced by two challengers, including twenty-nine-year-old Randi Penney, who hopes to be able to reach out to younger voters and encourage them to become more “involved” in local government. “I feel that I can bring some new ideas and a new perspective to the Village of Walden,” she said.

Jose De Jesus, who ran against Becky Pearson in the mayoral election of 2007, previously served for three terms on the Village Board and currently serves on the Village Planning Board. If De Jesus wins, he will have to relinquish his seat on the Planning Board before his term begins in March.

“I am running because there is a need to position Walden to emerge strong from the economic slump the nation is facing,” De Jesus wrote by e-mail. “This requires continuing and strengthening sound fiscal and programmatic policies, for which the Village Board has ultimate responsibility.”

De Jesus recommended a ten percent reduction in spending in the upcoming budget.
Village of Walden Mayor Brian Maher said that this year’s election would indeed center on taxes and government spending. “This campaign will be about keeping taxes low and having the courage to make necessary cuts in these tough economic times,” he said.

The Walden Community Council will be sponsoring a candidate’s night at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 11 in the Bradley Assembly Room on the third floor of Village Hall. For more information, contact WCC President John Revella at 778-2121, WCC Village Liaison Anita Vandermark at 845-778-7772, or visit the WCC Web site at www.waldencommunitycouncil.org.

As the date draws nearer, election information will also be posted to the village web site at www.villageofwalden.org.

By Shantal Parris Riley
sriley@tcnewspapers.com