Advertiser North Meet The Candidates

PULL OUT AND SAVE FOR ELECTION DAY

RICH MAHAR ty Sheriff

GARY GORDON

for Rensselaer County

CHUCK HAYNES

for Rensselaer Co

Sheriff

for Brunswick Superv isor

-Betzinger Kathy KodelaTown Council for Brunswick

un

GELKE AMANDA ENwn Council

for Brunswick To

Attorney

JOEL ABELOVE

for Renss. Co. District

Attorney

PHIL HERRINGTON

for Brunswick Superv isor

MEET GARY GORDON CANDIDATE FOR RENSSELAER COUNTY SHERIFF

MEET JACK MAHAR, RENSSELAER COUNTY SHERIFF AND CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION Sheriff Jack Mahar is currently serving his seventh year as Rensselaer County Sheriff. After serving 4 years in the United States Marine Corps, Sheriff Mahar served the Troy Police Department for nearly 28 years where he achieved the rank of Captain and commanded all units within the Department. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.

Early in his career, Sheriff Mahar was selected by the FBI to serve an Executive Fellowship at FBI Headquarters, Safe Streets Unit.

Sheriff Mahar has received numerous commendations and awards including the Champion for Children Award from the anti-crime group, “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids” and the Project Child Safe and Project Safe Neighborhoods award in recognition of his work on behalf of young people.

In 2011, Sheriff Mahar was elected President of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association. In this role, he serves as the top liaison between local sheriffs and the State Legislature on issues such as counter-terrorism, drug crimes, jails, EMS and 9-1-1 to name a few.

A member of the Lansingburgh Veterans, the United States Marine Corps League and the Rensselaer County Veterans’ Coalition, the Sheriff’s efforts on behalf of local veterans have been recognized by the Veterans of Stephentown and the United States Air Force.

Sheriff Mahar is a member of TRIAD, a partnership between area senior citizens, law enforcement agencies and community groups that work together to reduce the criminal victimization of senior citizens.

Sheriff Mahar has also been honored by the Rensselaer County Legislature for creating a program which has certified all thirty-one of his Sheriff’s Deputies as Emergency Medical Technicians, making the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office the only law enforcement agency in the State where all deputies are certified EMT’s.

A native of Troy, New York, Sheriff Mahar currently resides in Pittstown with his wife, Selina, and has three children and one grandchild. He enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle as well as aviation and possesses his private pilot’s license.

Page 10 October 6, 2011 The Advertiser’s Pennysaver (North)

RICHARD MC NALLY

for Renss. Co. District

www.crwnewspapers.net

Gary Gordon was born and raised in the North Central Neighborhood of Troy, New York. Gordon spent a great deal of his childhood at the Troy Boy’s and Girl’s Club and was elected into their Hall of Fame in 2003. After attending St. Patrick’s School, Gordon transferred to the Troy Public School System where he graduated in 1977 from Troy High School. Following graduation, Gordon attended Hudson Valley Community College until 1979 and, during this time, worked in the Public Safety Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he trained and became certified as an emergency medical technician. Gordon began his career with the Troy Police Department and graduated from the Municipal Police Training Council (Police Academy) in 1985. He began his career as an evidence technician in the patrol division.

Throughout his career, Gordon worked in various divisions in the police department including traffic safety, street crimes unit (narcotics); he also was the first Troy Police Officer assigned to the Community Police Unit. Notably, in 1998, Gordon was promoted to Sergeant and received the Silver Shield Award for bravery. Upon being assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2001, Gordon investigated crimes as a Detective Sergeant and was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit shortly thereafter. Gordon remained in that unit until his retirement in 2006.

During his tenure in the Troy Police Department, Gordon received 31 prestigious commendations, but also trained in numerous areas of law enforcement. Gordon is a certified Police Instructor and has, among other places taught at the Zone 5 Police Academy. In 2003, Gordon was an associate of the New York State Police Colonel Williams Homicide Seminar - A very prestigious seminar attended by Investigators throughout the world and presented by the top forensics personnel in the Country.

In 2006, Gordon was appointed as a Confidential Investigator for the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office where he continues to conduct high profile criminal investigations and assures that each individual case is trial ready.

Gary Gordon lives in Brunswick, New York and is married to the former Linda Badolato.

Together they have two children- Michael and Nicole- and two grandchildren: Britney and Mackenzie.

MEET PHIL HERRINGTON, BRUNSWICK TOWN SUPERVISOR, CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION With a proven record of cutting taxes, improving services and providing a transparent and open government for Brunswick residents, Supervisor Phil Herrington seeks re-election this November.

Herrington has served as Brunswick Town Supervisor for 14 years and in that time his administration has secured 11 budgets without a tax increase.

“During the past four years we have worked hard to keep taxes down while not only providing the same services, but in many cases better and more efficient services,” said Herrington. “Just as many of our residents have tightened their budgets during this economic downturn, so too has the town. Over the past four years, my administration has worked tirelessly to identify cost-cutting measures while still providing top-notch services.”

In recent years the town has improved its bond rating from BAA to A2, a sign of Brunswick’s increasing fiscal health. In addition, capital investments have saved taxpayer dollars, such as the purchase of a paver currently operated by town employees who pave roads at a significantly reduced cost compared to outside paving companies.

“My administration has worked aggressively to secure grant money to offset the tax burden,” added Herrington. “Grants helped provide solar panels for Town Hall, construct a new bridge and purchase new equipment.”

The Town received a $30,000 grant to provide a power study, which helped lead to a $187,000 grant to purchase solar panels for Town Hall. Once installed, the solar panels will cut the Town’s energy bill by 20% annually, saving taxpayer $4,000/per year. The Town also secured a federal grant for $1.5 million to install a new bridge on White Church Road.

The Herrington Administration has both literally and figuratively opened the doors to government. Town Hall opened in 2005 and measures such as a new personnel employee handbook and an updated comprehensive plan opened the governmental process to residents.

As Brunswick Town Supervisor, Herrington has put forward 11 budgets without raising taxes. “I am proud of my record and I want to continue my fiscally conservative efforts for the residents of Brunswick as we continue to provide new services, like the Farmer’s Market, while keeping taxes low.”

MEET RICH MCNALLY CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION RENSSELAER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY When I decided to seek the position of District Attorney for Rensselaer County a little over four years ago, my wife and I thought long and hard about why we were committing the time and energy to the task. Our two daughters were 10 and 7. There would be a lot of time away from family.

The magnitude of the impact of the office of the District Attorney however cannot be understated.

The job is not about box scores and bluster. The job is a lawyer’s job. Follow the rule of law, seek justice for those whose lives have been disrupted by those who prey upon our children, parents, and loved ones and do justice to the worst of the worst.

The office I lead as your District Attorney has won convictions in some of the most complex criminal cases I have seen in practicing criminal law in the Capital District for over twenty years: Infant Homicides; Serial Sex Offenders; Domestic Violence Homicides and Random Gang Assaults .

I was personally about to begin selecting jurors in an eight year old double homicide case where two men were accused of brutally murdering two people in Troy in 2002, when DNA matched a new suspect. There were countless hours and volumes of work put into that case. We did not rush in. I made the call to dismiss the charges against the wrongfully accused. I directed the investigation that eventually convicted Michael Mosley of the killings that had haunted the parents of two murdered children and this community for nearly a decade. Mosley is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the meantime I’ve led a team of dedicated attorneys and investigators that have made the criminal justice system in this county work the way it is supposed to. I take pride in our work and our record is proof of our professionalism and effectiveness. I ask for your support and look forward to serving as your District Attorney for the next four years.

MEET JOEL ABELOVE CANDIDATE FOR RENSSELAER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Joel Abelove is an Afghanistan war veteran, serving our county with the U.S. Army. A former prosecutor under three District Attorneys in Rensselaer County, Joel Abelove has the experience to enforce our laws. But more than anything, Joel Abelove is a father, a husband, a friend and a protector– someone we need to keep us safe.

Vote for change. Send criminals to prison. Cleanup our neighborhoods. Vote for Joel Abelove.

As District Attorney, Joel Abelove will provide the leadership necessary for a better quality of life for our children, for our families, for our friends and for our communities. Our safety is far too important to put at risk.

Trusted to Serve • Proudly serves with the U.S. Army, including the war in Afghanistan and 16 years with the New York Army National Guard • Rensselaer County Assistant District Attorney with three administrations • Selected as Judge Advocate General and Trial Counsel for the U.S. Army Protecting Our Community • Successfully obtained several murder convictions in Rensselaer County • Prosecuted numerous child sex abuse cases in Rensselaer County • Won first prosecution in New York State for animal abuse case under Buster’s Law • Strong advocate for victims and their rights Rensselaer County needs strong law enforcement. Rensselaer County needs an experienced prosecutor. Rensselaer County needs Joel Abelove.

Vote for Joel Abelove, Rensselaer County District Attorney For more information, please go to www.joelabelove.com

The Advertiser’s Pennysaver (North) October 6, 2011 Page 11