There are more than 930 towns across New York state. Many big and small towns have important elections coming up this Election Day, including in Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster counties.
Chris Koetzle, Executive Director of the New York Association of Towns (NYAOT), says local elections can make a big difference in smaller, rural communities. The nonprofit organization educates and advocates for towns and local officials across New York state.
“[This] is the level of government that’s closest to folks in the community,” said Koetzle. “It is also the level of government that really impacts you every single day by the services that are delivered from your town.”
Town boards serve as the legislative body of a town. But what exactly do town supervisors do, and why does that matter to residents?
Here’s what voters should know about this critical elected official role.
What do town supervisors do?
According to a town official guide from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, town supervisors can wear many hats, such as carrying out decisions made during a town board, managing financial records, and more.
“It’s really a position that is viewed as the chief executive officer of a town,” said Koetzle. Still, there are limitations to what a town supervisor can do.
“A supervisor doesn’t have veto power like a mayor would,” Koetzle said. “They only get one vote.”
With hundreds of towns across the state, each town will have its own guardrails. That is often dictated by home rule, a state law that says local governments can govern themselves outside anything that’s a state purview.
READ: Radio Catskill’s Guide to 2025 Elections
How do town rules differ from one another?
There are two different classes of towns – first class and second class – based on population size, rural or urban area, and location. Most first class towns have a larger population of 10,000 residents, while second class towns have a smaller population of 10,000 residents.
These designations are part of New York state’s Town Law, state legislation which dictates how local bodies govern and are structured.
“You have some towns that have 400,000 [people] down to a 100,000 [people] and then you get down to towns that might have three, 400 people,” said Koetzle. “They’re very different in how they operate [and] the services they provide.”
Town supervisors also work closely with other elected officials, like a sheriff or highway superintendent. That can sometimes create challenges to run the town efficiently, says Koetzle, since departments can grow siloed.
“Supervisors do not have power over any other elected officials. Whoever is elected answers to the people and only to the people,” he said.
What issues are top of mind for New York towns?
Housing and land use are two issues Koetzle says New York towns are grappling with.
“Everyone’s struggling with not just affordable housing but any housing that is even within reach of some people who are trying to get a starter home,” said Koetzle. “These homes have gone crazy in their cost[s], and so we see housing as a big issue.”
Koetzle added that towns are struggling with land use issues and how they intersect with home rule. Some local codes may not allow for state mandates, he says, making enforcement challenging.
He encourages all residents to do their candidate research and get to their polling locations this November.
“Your local officials are so critically important to making sure your community is delivering the services that you require… and doing the job to make sure that your community remains livable and a great place to work, live and play.”
Find your polling place
Early voting kicks off on Oct. 25 and ends on Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. All Election Day poll sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sullivan County:
- Ulster County:
- Orange County:
Image: An oval-shaped ‘I Voted’ sticker (Photo Credit: Jill Wellington from Pixabay)