This year’s Nelson town board race will be a contested election for two seats between three candidates: two incumbents – one Democrat, one Republican – and a Democrat newcomer. In addition, there will be uncontested elections for town supervisor, town clerk and town highway superintendent.
The Town of Nelson Democratic Caucus was held last week, during which the party nominated its candidates for the offices of supervisor and town board. Roger Bradstreet was nominated to run for a fourth term as Nelson town supervisor, while Councilor John LaGorga was nominated to serve a second term and newcomer Tammy Hayes was nominated to run for the second seat on the board.
LaGorga and Hayes will face off against incumbent Councilor John Laubscher, who is seeking his second term on the board, and is running on both the Republican and Reform/Liberty party lines.
LaGorga has lived in Nelson for 15 years. He and his wife Susan have two children, a son attending Tufts University and a daughter attending Cazenovia Central High School. He is a graduate from Paul Smith’s College and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry; he holds a B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering. LaGorga is a New York State licensed professional engineer and is currently an associate at GHD Consulting Services Inc. (formally Stearns and Wheler) where he helps Central New York municipalities with drinking water and wastewater systems. He has been active in many community organizations, including scouting, youth sports, economic development, charities and church.
Hayes has lived in the Town of Nelson for the past 15 years with her husband Mike and four children: Amanda, Allyson, Meghan and Zachary. Hayes has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College, and years of experience professionally in the food industry, manufacturing and retail, plus 22 years in local government as an employee of Madison County. She is active in the community as a board of director for the Madison County Community Action Program for the past six years and a member of the Cazenovia League of Women Voters for the past five years.
Laubscher was elected to the town board in 2011, and previously served on the town planning board. He currently owns three businesses: A.J.’s Archery, The Gun Shop and Cedar View Farms. Laubscher has a bachelor’s degree in wood products engineering from SUNY ESF and a master’s degree in environmental resource engineering. He has lived in Nelson since 1991 with his wife, Anne Marie and three children, Allison, Adam and Emily.
In addition to Bradstreet running unopposed for town supervisor, incumbent Town Clerk Debbie Costello and incumbent Highway Superintendent Jack Sevier, both on the Republican line, are also running unopposed for reelection.
