Political Intimidation in Ghent

ICYMI, Patti Matheney and Koethi Zan, longtime members of the Ghent Town Board, abruptly resigned in November. The reason they gave was politically motivated sabotage and harassment on the part of Ghent's new Republican supervisor, Craig Simmons.

Prior to Simmons' election to town supervisor, Matheney and Zan noted that they had forged a good working relationship with former supervisor Mike Benvenuto. Significant bipartisan achievements included grants for renovation of the town's community center and historic Town Hall, as well as enhanced broadband access and protection of the rurual community from ill-conceived developments such as a hazardous waste facility and an unneeded airport expansion.

Matheney and Zan are both elected Democrats, and it appears from their letter of resignation that Simmons began engaging in partisan hijinks soon after his election. According to Matheney and Zan, Simmons removed them from commitees with no notice or explanation, failed to notify them of Town Board meetings and events, and lied to them repeatedly. In addition, they cite threats and intimidation by Simmons' supporters, although they don't offer specifics.

I have no taste for the national or local Democratic party leadership, who I think bumble their goals and message (at best) and stake a claim moral high ground with respect to politics that they don't deserve. But there is no excuse for the Rebublican practice over the past 15 years of blocking progress, preventing bipartisan actions at all costs, backing up their positions with falsehoods, and dragging civil discourse to the gutter. It appears that the national Republican playbook of lying, denying, name-calling, and even inciting violence has come to Ghent, the little town that borders my little town to the northeast here in Columbia County.

The Town Board in Claverack seems so far to have escaped these shenanigans. While controlled by Republicans, who may sometimes leave Dems out of discussions - particularly in election years - Board members of both parties demonstrate civility and a desire to get things done.

How long will this last? The sole Democrat on the Board, Katy Cashen, is ending her term in 2023 and has said that she is unlikely to run again, having given 12 years of effort to the Board. George Dunst, a Republican, is also up for re-election and has not spoken about his intent. If Simmons and his supporters represent the new model for small town politics in our purple county, we may see a shift in focus at the town level. Instead of protecting our history, resouces, and people; Town Board activities may become more about perpetuating party control, and excluding others who don't agree with them.