John-Paul Sliva: Candidate for Town Supervisor

Why are you running for office?

I am looking to solve a number of management issues and fill vacancies that exist in the Town of Kingston. I hope to bring a new energy that will translate into excellent services to the Town’s residents. I will work hard to provide new and exciting opportunities for development, while maintaining a conservation-focused approach. Our Town’s greatest asset is our forests and all functions that they provide. Ulster County and the surrounding communities are thriving, making improvements, planning for the future, and increasing the quality of living in our area; we must not fall behind and put our cherished small town in a position to lose out in future opportunities.

What is your background?

I have 12 years of organic farming experience, including eight years of work (founding, designing, managing and operating) a college farm at Bard College. Since 2018, I have owned and operated a construction company working on a wide array of residential projects. I have a BA from SUNY Oneonta in Music Business, construction training from Hudson Valley Community College, and a certification in Photovoltaic Installation from SUNY Ulster.

What is your public service experience?

Since 2022, I have served on the Town of Kingston Planning Board. I am a New York State Code Enforcement Certified Official, have built and help expand a number of community gardens, and have been an active member in the local food community in a number of areas and capacities.

What are your five most important priorities you would pursue if elected?

  • Improving communication in and between departments of local government

  • Setting up efficient and helpful structures that allow our town officials to do their jobs well

  • Creating a new comprehensive plan for our town—one that best reflects the voices of our town’s residents

  • Going through the town’s budget and make changes that best serve our residents

  • Looking into the assessed values of individual properties and create a fair taxing structure for all residents, while keeping taxes affordable for residents

Hunter Freyer: Candidate for Town Council

Why are you running for office?

I am interested in serving my community, and I am grateful to be in a position where I have sufficient flexibility and time to devote to it. It’s important to me to ask questions and challenge the status quo when it doesn’t make sense to me. I have a strong professional background in data science and project management, and I believe I can bring those skills to bear in helping our town function more efficiently and better serve the needs of its citizens.

What is your background?

I have worked as a software engineer at Google since 2009, and have a BA from NYU.

What is your public service experience?

I have worked with the Evangel Food Pantry in Queens, NY and am currently volunteering with the Sawkill Fire Department.

What are your five most important priorities you would pursue if elected?

  • Gaining an understanding of the services provided to the people of the town, the expenses paid to provide those services, and the revenue streams available to cover those expenses

  • Improve feedback mechanisms by increasing engagement of townspeople with town hall (e.g., improving board meeting attendance)

  • Make sure the town is getting their money’s worth when it comes to services provided by third parties

  • Pursue relationships with county and state representatives to ensure the town is taking advantage of the resources they provide

  • Building strong community bonds, and bringing a sense of fun and joy to public service

Samantha Yost: Candidate for Town Council

Why are you running for office?

I am seeking to be a civil servant in order to strengthen our ties to our community, nature, and each other. I consider myself to have good problem-solving abilities, be fair, be a good listener, and be able to change my mind when challenged with new information. I believe that an injection of fresh talent and energy can help invigorate our town—helping to build strong community bonds and meet the needs of our residents. Additionally, I believe it’s important for local governance to recognize that our beautiful and vibrant forests and wildlife are also a constituency to be valued and looked after.

What is your background?

I have worked in communications for non-profit organizations since 2015, and for the past eight years have worked for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Incidentally, standards development is all about building consensus between several different parties who have different needs and goals—a value that strongly translates to government. I hold a masters degree in Environmental Studies.

What is your public service experience?

I served a full two-year term in the Peace Corps in Ukraine (2008–2010). My professional experience has been almost exclusively in organizations that promote the public good, such as affordable housing, green building, and standards development. I currently serve as the Secretary for the Town of Kingston Democratic Committee.

What are your five most important priorities you would pursue if elected?

  • Protecting and building respect for our environment

  • Building strong community bonds among its residents

  • Getting feedback from the community about what they want to see in the town, and incorporating that into the Board’s legislative priorities

  • Solving problems pragmatically and building consensus around issues people disagree on—engaging with opposing viewpoints with respect and good faith

  • Working with other elected officials to secure grant funding from the state and federal levels

Robert Long: Candidate for Town Justice

Why are you running for office?

I am running for Town Justice because in my opinion the Town of Kingston is ready for a change, and I have the experience, energy, and managerial capability required to do the job. The current Town Justice has been in office for over 5 decades. We deserve a new set of eyes and ears; it is time to give someone else an opportunity.

What is your background?

Over the last four decades I have invested in and started several companies; not all were successful, but all were worthy efforts. Starting a company begins with an idea, followed by the need to organize, motivate a team, and adopt modern managerial tools for information, communications, marketing, and personnel.

What is your public service experience?

My past volunteer experience includes being the Green Market Volunteer Coordinator, serving on the Rhinebeck Tax Grievance Board, serving on the Church of the Messiah Vestry, and being involved with a local food bank. I currently serve on the Town of Kingston Planning Board, and the Rhinebeck Cemetery Board. I bring energy to every organization I’m involved with.

What values would you bring to the position of Town Justice?

I am from a family of six siblings and have a 40-year business entrepreneurial career. These foundational experiences provide the building blocks of how I will approach each legal case. Being from a large family helps teach one fairness, balance and discipline. Having founded and grown several companies has taught me that people are different, things take time, there is always a better way of doing things, to be open to suggestions, and most importantly—to listen.