Candidates file for school board elections

TRI-COUNTY AREA--Several area candidates have officially filed to run for school board following the Monday, April 18 petition deadline. Elections will be contested in both the Dundee and Penn Yan school districts, while only incumbents will be listed on the ballot in Hammondsport and Watkins Glen. Each district will hold their annual election and budget vote Tuesday, May 17 from noon to 8 p.m.
In Dundee, there are six candidates running for three available positions. Incumbents Kristen VanValkenburg and James Koehler will be running against challengers Kevin Crofoot, Nicholas Sorce, Laurie Richer and Robert Ford. The board will see at least one new member, as current board member Paul Brown is not running for reelection. The Dundee Central School District will also hold a Meet the Candidates Night and public budget hearing Tuesday, May 10 at 6 p.m. in the public meeting room.
In Penn Yan, there are four people running for three available seats. Challenger Leslie Elliott is seeking one of the positions currently held by incumbents Phyllis Record Bacher, Kathy Guenther and Jeff Morehouse. The Penn Yan Central School District will also hold a Meet the Candidates Night Wednesday, May 4 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the elementary school cafeteria. A public budget hearing will follow Meet the Candidates Night at 7 p.m. Community members are also invited to attend additional budget presentations Thursday, may 5 at 10 a.m. and noon at the academy auditorium, Monday, May 9 at 3 p.m. at the middle school auditorium and Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the academy auditorium.
In Hammondsport, incumbent Dennis Carlson is running unopposed for his seat. The district's public budget hearing will be held Tuesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. Watkins Glen will also see an uncontested school board race, with incumbents Kristin Hazlitt and Mark Franzese running for two available seats with no opposition on the ballot. Watkins Glen's public budget hearing is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 in the district's board of education room.