To the Editor:
Recently, this newspaper hosted an online forum to question the candidates for New Scotland’s town government. Though different from what I hear from residents, I was struck and a bit surprised by how much agreement there was among the contenders.

In contrast to the shrill and bitter debates of our national and statewide elections, the Enterprise forum was distinctly “New Scottish” — civil, intelligent, and seemingly genuine. It was humbling to be among neighbors who care so passionately about a place I’ve called home my whole life.

I’m running for re-election as New Scotland’s town supervisor. For the past six years, I’ve held firm to a commitment I made when I first ran for this office: that under my watch, New Scotland will be preserved.

Indeed, many of the concerns I’ve encountered during this campaign reveal signs of trauma lingering from the “Big Box” debate 15 years ago. It was that past assault on New Scotland’s traditions and identity that propelled me to continue in public office. Residents are still anxious that a big commercial developer could muscle its way into the town and pave over our forests and pastures.

Yet thanks to the diligence of my fellow “Team New Scotland” members — including town board candidates Adam Greenberg and Dan Leinung — those fears can be laid to rest! Our work in enacting the “New Scotland Hamlet Development District Zoning” plan, along with updating the town’s comprehensive plan, has succeeded in encouraging commercial development consistent with our community’s character.

(Please see a recent letter to the Enterprise editor from Ron Kay [“A common vision of local, sustainable small business,” Oct. 15, 2021]). Today, our local business community is second to none, and only getting better.

As my fellow candidate Adam Greenberg noted during the forum, town officials shouldn’t endeavor to restrict development or trample over an individual’s property rights. What’s needed are zoning parameters that guide development in a manner that enhances our small-town sensibilities. Adam, Dan, and I have a track record that proves our commitment to this approach.

Friday’s forum showed that nearly all the candidates agree on core principles: that New Scotland’s historic landmarks and open spaces should be protected, that our small business owners are the foundation of a rich and colorful community, and that enhancing our quality of life must be balanced with the need for fiscal restraint.

But for that reason, keep Team New Scotland’s record in mind when you cast your vote on Nov. 2.  Because we saved the historic Hilton Barn at little cost to the taxpayer — securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal grants — and established the “Captain Joseph Hilton Park.” We worked hand-in-hand with a local nonprofit to safeguard the Bender Melon Farm from development, and established a beautiful new nature preserve alongside the Albany County Rail Trail.

And while pursuing these and other ambitious projects, we remained focused on the nuts-and-bolts of town government, including no-cost garbage and recycling pickup despite rising costs.

For me, town leadership is a solemn mantle of responsibility. It entails seeing my neighbors’ needs as my own — to not have a dog in the fight, but to be the dog in the fight. I’ve worked hard to balance competing interests and advocate a path that’s best for all parties. I’ve run for office on many different political lines over the course of my lifetime, but first and foremost I’m a New Scot.

As a farmer and businessman, I was the beneficiary of New Scotland’s abundant resources and neighborly support. Now, as a public servant, it’s my hope you’ll look at my time in office and see that I committed myself to giving back. I ask for another term to serve the needs of the constituents I sit next to in church, chat with at the grocery store, and welcome to our town board meetings.

Notwithstanding our disagreements, my opponent has injected life and energy into this race. Whereas I previously ran unopposed, this campaign cycle has invigorated discussions about what New Scotland is, what it will be years from now, and what Team New Scotland has done to facilitate both.

For me, New Scotland is not just a home for families. It’s a home for generations. As town supervisor and an eighth-generation resident, I see myself as a steward of a community that my great-grandfather would recognize, and that my great-grandson will someday enjoy.

If I win re-election as your town supervisor, I hope my opponent will work with me in addressing the needs of our community. If he wins, I hope he’ll be receptive to the ideas and energy I’m still eager to dedicate in the service of my hometown.

Because this is the land that I love. And I’ll never stop fighting for New Scotland.

Doug LaGrange

New Scotland