The upcoming Republican Primary Election for the Town of Montgomery is just around the corner with a set date of Tuesday, June 27. The election includes two seats on the Town of Montgomery Board and a town justice.

Candidates for town justice include incumbent Fredrick G. Gorss and new candidate Catherine I. Lee. There are three candidates running for the two council spots, including incumbents Kristen Brown and Cindy Voss, and Mark Hoyt, a former councilman.

Town Justice
Catherine I. Lee
Established attorney Catherine I. Lee was born and raised in Dutchess County, but soon found a home in Orange County after landing her first job after graduating from St. John’s University School of Law. The job was Assistant District Attorney, which required her to live in Orange County, so in 2000 she made the move to Walden. After seven years with the District Attorney’s office, she opened her own practice, Catherine Lee Attorney at Law, which she’s had for 16 years.

It’s Lee’s first time running because she finally feels like she has the time now that her two children are older.“I have the time to be able to focus not only on the practice, but on the court as well. I’ve been doing it long enough that I see, especially in the local town courts, that I’m very qualified for the job,” said Lee.

It’s important to Lee, a practicing attorney for 23 years, that she gives back to the community. She also notes the everchanging times of law.

“Given the times that we’re living in, things have changed dramatically in the last four to six years. Between bail reform, our arraignment system, everything being computerized, the pandemic [which]forced us to be virtual, the world is changing. The town needs change, and I want to give back,” Lee mentioned.

Lee is married to Walden Mayor John Ramos and has two children, 14 and 17, at home. They live in the Village of Walden.

Frederick Gorss

Twenty-eight year incumbent Frederick Gorss was first elected in January of 1996 and was previously endorsed by the Town of Montgomery Republican Committee and Orange County Conservative Committee. Gorss, a lifelong Montgomery resident, attended Suffolk University Law School and soon after became a private attorney in the Town of Montgomery.

“I feel like I’m doing a good job and I feel that I’m producing for the citizens what they need. A judge is a public servant. I serve the town with distinction and competence and I feel the best at that. Each time I take the bench I put that experience in training and team spirit in play,” said Gorss.

Gorss has experience with landlord and tenant cases, civil cases, criminal cases, vehicle and traffic cases, small claims, animal cases and more.

“I pride myself in staying abreast of new constantly changing court statutes and precedent cases. And there’s been some changes in the law within the last three or four years and people complimented me on that. I’ve really dedicated my life to law,” said Gorss.

Gorss lives with his wife and campaign manager, Vicki, and their fur animals in Montgomery.

Town Council
Kristen Brown
Kristen Brown currently has a seat on the town board after originally being elected in 2018. Although she won her seat on the Democratic line, she later switched to the Republican Party. She felt, and feels, that it aligns more closely with her values. As a local farmer, she notes that her farm is the reason she ran for a seat on the town board in the first place.

“I got involved because our farm was threatened four years ago and I realized the need to update the comprehensive plan. We’ve updated the comprehensive plan, but we still need to do some more work on the zoning which is why I want to continue in my term,” said Brown.

“So, Benedict Farm Park, what is that going to look like? We need a new plan for the park. Are we going to put in new fields or are we going to keep it the way it is? It needs to be revamped,” Brown mentioned.

As a liaison for the Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corps, Brown also mentions continuing her role with them. She also has goals to aid in the creation of a new police station.

“We’re working on funding currently. We’re also looking at plans that the Chief of Police is providing the town board and I’m trying to move that project along also. In the last couple of years, we built a new highway garage. We really need to build a new police department as well,” said Brown.

Brown and her husband are fifth generation on their family’s farm, Brown Family Farm in Walden, where they raise beef cows, roaster chickens, egg layers and quarter horses. They have two children: John, four, and Bailey, eight.

Mark Hoyt
Mark Hoyt, although not an incumbent, previously served on the Town of Montgomery Board and was recently endorsed by the Town of Montgomery Republican Committee. He served on the town board from 2000 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2019. Hoyt has also spent time on the planning board.

Hoyt, a lifelong Montgomery resident, owns Mark Hoyt Hay and Live Stock Farm which is located between Walden and Wallkill. His self-employment, in large, is one of the reasons he is running.

“I enjoy the work and I’m self employed. I decide what I want to do. I can put my time into it and I have free time in the winter,” said Hoyt, who also mentions that he loves to learn and likes the mental stimulation.

“Zoning and the new comprehensive plan is a constant thing to keep an eye on,” said Hoyt, who thinks the plan needs a bit of cleaning up and to go through more stages.

Hoyt is Chairman of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Orange County.

Cindy Voss

Cindy Voss is the current deputy supervisor for the town and former councilperson, having served the board for twelve years prior. This is her thirteenth year with the town board after she was appointed this January to return.

Voss is a born-and-raised Town of Montgomery resident and originally left the town board to help with a large-scale project at her full time workplace, Walden Savings Bank. When the board asked her to come back early this year, she accepted.Voss is endorsed by the Town of Montgomery Republican Committee.

“I’ve lived here my whole life so my love for the town is what drives me,” said Voss.

Voss also works closely with the town’s IT department, given her experience with finance and IT. She’s currently the senior vice president for Walden Savings Bank, specifically running their IT Department. One of her ongoing goals with the board is to help with their technology.

“My track record stands. I’m very dedicated to the town,” Voss said.

The deadline to register to vote is Saturday, June 17. If further information is needed, visit the Orange County Board of Elections website. The polling places for the election are the Village of Montgomery Senior Center, Village of Maybrook Senior Center and the Walden Fire House.