To the Editor:

Let 1,168 voices be heard.

According to the Albany County Board of Elections, the recent race for the vacant town of New Scotland board seat between Adam Greenberg and Craig Shufelt was extremely close.  Mr. Greenberg emerged victorious by some 54 votes out of nearly 2,400 cast.

While Mr. Greenberg is to be congratulated for a fine race, Craig Shufelt, the Republican candidate, also garnered 1,168 votes townwide — almost 49 percent of the total.  Close by any measure and indicative that Mr. Shufelt was also a popular candidate.

The unopposed candidate for New Scotland town supervisor, Doug LaGrange, leaves behind his town board seat as he assumes his new duties.  The new administration will soon appoint a person to fill that seat for the remainder of the term.  We ask: Who better for that appointment than the runner-up in the close election — Craig Shufelt?

The LaGrange administration has a golden opportunity to allow a voice for the 1,168 New Scotlanders who chose Craig Shufelt.  Do they not deserve representation?

All town board seats are now occupied by Democrat-endorsed candidates, which is fair enough; the votes were counted and seats were won.  However, we believe that a single party presence on the board does not serve the interests of all of New Scotland’s voters and residents.

We call upon Mr. LaGrange to offer evidence that everyone in the town of New Scotland matters by appointing Craig Shufelt.  To do otherwise is to operate in a solely political manner.  Let those 1,168 voters have a voice too.

Deane Fish, chairwoman

Town of New Scotland Republican Committee

Editor’s note: See related story.