Democrat challenges Molinaro for Assembly seat in 103rd District

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA — Voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to decide who will lead the village for the next four years.

Two candidates are running for mayor in this year’s election — incumbent mayor Bill Misuraca, a Republican running on the Democratic ticket, and Republican candidate Dominic Ruggeri.

Three candidates are seeking the two open seats on the village board — incumbent Democrat Linda Muller, Republican Barbara Tanner and Republican Caitlin Appleby. Appleby has been cross endorsed and will be on the ballot on both the Republican and Democratic lines.

Democratic incumbent Mary Ellen Rosato opted not to run for re-election.

All voting takes place at the Village Municipal Building, located at 15 Mountain Road in Ravena.

Polls opened at noon and close at 9 p.m.

Results of the election are expected Tuesday night after the polls close and will be announced on theupstater.com as soon as they are available.

Brief profiles of the candidates are presented in alphabetical order.

MAYORAL RACE

Bill “Moose” Misuraca is a lifelong resident of Ravena who has run his family business, the Halfway House Tavern on Main Street, for nearly 30 years. The business has been in his family for 106 years.

Misuraca is completing his second four-year term as the village’s mayor and said the community has made great progress over the years.

“We are on a roll,” he said. “We have managed to secure well over $7 million in grants to improve our infrastructure, wastewater retention and disposal, and we have some of the best rates and marks for our water quality in the state, so I am very proud of that. More recently, we received a grant for nearly $200,000 to improve the park, and I think that is really important, especially since the kids have been through so much these past couple of years that having an improved park experience is key.”

If elected to a third term, Misuraca said he would seek additional funding for infrastructure improvements such as the water supply system. He would also continue economic development efforts, he said.

Dominic Ruggeri is making his first bid for mayor. He ran for village justice before the position and the court were dissolved by the village board.

He has worked in the Human Services field for over 30 years and is currently director of residential services for a non-profit organization, Equinox, Inc., based in Albany.

“I ran because what I have seen, living in the village the last 10 years, going on 11 years, is that things need to change,” Ruggeri said. “Taxes have gone up, and there is not much economic development that I have seen. I have seen little stuff here and there, but there is not a lot for the village residents. I want to get things back to where they were years ago. It’s not where it’s supposed to be.”

If elected, Ruggeri says he would look to secure funding to support small businesses and draw new businesses to the area. He also wants to create a community center in the village.

TRUSTEE RACE

Caitlin Appleby is a newcomer to local politics running for her first term in office. She grew up in Ravena and has lived in the village most of her life.

She has been involved in numerous community projects including organizing the Friendship Festival and the annual Christmas parade, among others.

If elected, Appleby said she would work on community issues such as food insecurity and preventing risky youth behavior by making young people feel more connected to their community. Her long-term goal is to develop a community center for recreational and afterschool programming.

Incumbent Trustee Linda Muller is seeking a second term on the village board. She has also served on the village’s planning/zoning board of appeals.

During her tenure, she has worked on recreational issues such as developing the community dog park and obtaining nearly $200,000 in grant money for renovations to Mosher Park. She also worked to install a new sign outside the Village Municipal Building.

If she wins a second term on the board, Muller would look to pursue more recreational projects, such as securing funding for a rail-to-trail bike path from Ravena to Coxsackie.

Barbara Tanner is making her first bid for village trustee. She was born and raised in the town of Coeymans, lived in New Baltimore when she got married and now lives in the village.

Tanner worked for the state for 21 years and as a reading aide in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district. She volunteers at the local food pantry and is a life member of the Cornell Hook and Ladder Auxiliary.

If she wins a seat on the board, Tanner would work on infrastructure improvement, lowering taxes and revitalizing Main Street, she said.

Polls close Tuesday at 9 p.m.