Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, chairperson of the Town of Shawangunk Democratic Party, has announced her candidacy for the Shawangunk Town Board.

Two seats will be up for grabs in the November election. The four-year terms of Republican incumbents Brian Amthor and Robert Miller expire at the end of 2023.

Gelfand-Perine, who regularly attends town board meetings, is a founding member of the Vision of Wallkill (VOW) volunteer organization and is the president of the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library.

“I am providing a choice for a change to be the first Democrat elected to the town board,” she said. “For over 30 years, the same Republicans have controlled the leadership in Shawangunk and the needs of residents have mostly been ignored. I will bring critical issues to the forefront.”

Gelfand-Perine outlined her platform in a press release.

“Our community needs public transportation, a medical facility and the creation of a Chamber of Commerce to increase the tax base by attracting small businesses and encouraging tourism,” she said. “We need more gathering places for people to meet their neighbors. It would be an honor to be the first female Democrat to help lead Shawangunk into the 21st century.”

Gelfand-Perine said she bought a home in the town in 2001 and has since devoted her time, energy and money to support organizations. She said she has looked for ways that she could use her expertise to support organizations.

“Gravitating to the public library, I invigorated their Books Alive program with original scripts and music giving children and their families a low-cost way to engage younger children in the arts,” Gelfand-Perine said. “For six years, we had sold-out performances raising thousands of dollars to help the library with its needs.”

As president of the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library, Gelfand-Perine planned the first Harvest Faire Festival.

“Inviting vendors, selling food and having varied activities, we activated a dormant community event that had needed an enthusiastic and visionary infusion,” she said.

Along with other members of the library group, Gelfand-Perine opened a used bookstore providing a place for adults and children to purchase popular books inexpensively while raising funds for library programming.

Gelfand-Perine said VOW has brought free concerts, art workshops and the Weekend of WOW to the community. She said VOW is now expanding and partnering with other organizations such as the Women’s Club and the Lions Club.

As chairperson of the Shawangunk Democratic Party for the past six years, Gelfand-Perine said she has rallied local Democrats to bring enthusiasm to the party.

“I have increased membership, connecting the two areas of our town – Walker Valley and the hamlet of Wallkill,” she said. “Along with our group, I have encouraged people to vote and have increased the Democratic totals for Ulster County’s elected officials.”

In an effort to increase the Democratic Party’s visibility in the town, the party has built up a Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, formed an advocacy committee and has an Adopt a Highway section along Route 52, Gelfand-Perine said.

Miller and Brian Amthor have said they plan to run for reelection. Former Shawangunk Highway Superintendent and current Wallkill School Board president Joseph LoCicero, also a Republican, has thrown his hat into the ring for Town Councilman as well.

The three Republicans are expected to face off in a June primary.

Town board member Adrian “Binker” DeWitt will face off against Ulster County Legislator Ken Ronk Jr. for the GOP nod for Town Supervisor. Longtime Supervisor John Valk will retire at the end of the year.