Independence Party candidate challenges supervisor
Town Supervisor John Valk is being challenged in his bid for re-election by Independence Party candidate Joseph Frangione.
The winner of the upcoming election will serve a two-year term starting Jan. 1, 2020.
Joseph Frangione
Frangione, 76, of 189 Third St., Wallkill, is a retired business owner who has lived in the town for 42 year and has two children.
Frangione said the town should work toward attracting commercial activity that takes advantage of town resources.
“The suggestion I make ... is possibly attracting agrabusinesses to the area,” he said. “We need to start getting farmers in here to start growing. Right now there’s a big demand for apples and grapes because of all these wineries that are opening up.”
Frangione is a neighbor activist with the Elsie Meadows Seniors group.
John Valk
Valk, 72, of 2014 Albany Post Road, Walden, will be on the Democratic and Republican lines on the ballot in his bid for a 12th term as the town’s leader.
He previously served on the Town Board for seven years.
Valk said one priority for his is filling vacant commercial space.
“We had two school bus companies that operated in the hamlet of Wallkill and they lost their contracts with schools,” he said. “So the properties are prime commercial property that sit empty. So we have to encourage them to market it and get something else there.”
Valk has lived in the town for 48 years and is married with two children.