Local Government Basics

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Structure of Town Government

Towns in New York State are governed in accordance with State Law. The voters of every town elect a supervisor, town justice, town clerk, and town board (council) members, and a highway superintendent. Some towns elect tax assessors, others appoint them.

Town officials are usually elected every two years, with supervisors usually elected on odd - numbered years. This is not always true: the Chatham town supervisor, for example, serves for four years.

Town boards appoint members of various boards, such as zoning and planning boards, for terms of various length.

Each town is divided into one or more voting districts. The voting districts of each town are listed on the town information pages on this website.

To run for town office, the local town political party committees present a list of candidates to the County Board of Elections. These candidates are chosen by a caucus of the town committee.

You can learn more about town Democratic committee by contacting your town Democratic Commitee Chair by following the link to your town here.

Structure of Village Government

Villages in New York State are governed in accordance with State Law. The four villages in Columbia County are Chatham, Kinderhook Village, Philmont, and Valatie.

Each village has a board of trustees, a village justice, and a mayor. These offices are elected every two years, with half the trustees elected every cycle.

Village Elections are held in March. Nomination for office is by petition, and petitions need to be submitted in late January. Unlike town, state, and federal elections, which are managed by the County Board of Elections, village elections are managed by the village clerk.