Rachel Seeber eyeing run for Qby. Supervisor

By Gordon Woodworth, Chronicle News Editor

“As of now, my intentions are to run for supervisor,” Republican Rachel Seeber, 40, told The Chronicle Tuesday, setting up a possible race in 2017 against two-term incumbent Democrat John Strough, 65.

We contacted Ms. Seeber after hearing from several sources that she was mulling a run. Last November she won her second two-year term as a Queensbury at-large county supervisor.

Mr. Strough, who ran unopposed in 2015, told The Chronicle, “I like the job and right now, I would like to continue.” Some had suggested he didn’t plan to run again.

Another person with interest in the job is current Republican councilman Bill VanNess, who is Deputy Supervisor to Mr. Strough. They have a strong relationship.

Mr. VanNess acknowledges, “My ultimate goal is to be town supervisor, but it’s working so well right now, there is no reason to upset the apple cart. If John decides not to run, I may throw my hat in the ring, and I want to be ready if that happens.”

But he said he won’t run for supervisor if Mr. Strough decides to seek another term.

Seeber & Strough cite strengths

Ms. Seeber says, “I’m uniquely qualified. I have experience at the local, state and federal level, and now my position on the county board. It makes sense given our current structure. I’m a spectator at the town board meetings, but yet I’m elected by the entire town…I run for office townwide and then I get to the board, but I only get 20% of the Queensbury vote, so I’m only representing 20% of the residents. What I really want to do is represent all of Queensbury in both capacities, and the only way to do that is as town supervisor.”

Asked about Ms. Seeber’s possible candidacy, Mr. Strough said, “She’s with the county. She has no experience in the town. If she wants to run, the place to start is not on top and make mistakes. I don’t think she understands what is involved with the job. She should maybe start off as a councilperson.”

Ms. Seeber responds, “John is entitled to his opinion and I firmly believe that the people of Queensbury are entitled to a choice…In fact there have been multiple town Supervisors who have not had previous town board experience prior to running for Town Supervisor, all of whom have made tremendous contributions to our community — Mike Brandt, Steve Borgos and Fred Champagne to name a few.

“Furthermore, the strength of a good town board like Queensbury is that there is a collaborative effort with a minimum of three, if not five town board members making all decisions. The decisions of the Town do not rest solely upon one individual…

“I look forward to the appropriate time to share with our community my unique qualifications at a local, state and federal level, my small business experience, my education and my desire to serve in such a role. We just had an election 6 months ago and I am thoroughly enjoying my job as a County Queensbury Supervisor. I appreciate the community’s support of my potential candidacy, but it’s just too soon for a 2017 campaign despite how excited I am for Queensbury residents to have a choice.”

Mr. Strough said, “If you go by how many people ask me to stay on and run again, from other county supervisors to town employees to businesspeople, they have all said, ‘John, you need to stay with us. You have done so many good things for the town. We hope you stay on.’

“If I was about to retire, I don’t think the people would let me.”

He said his wife Chris “says I’m doing a better job delegating. I’m still working 60-hour weeks, but I’m making my wife happy.

“You need a lot of skill sets operating at the same time when you’re town supervisor. There’s community planning, budget planning, human relations. You have 50 balls in the air. I like the job, but the job just isn’t for anybody. It’s not a part-time job. It’s more than a full-time job, and the person that best understands the town is the person running it.”

Mr. Strough says of Deputy Supervisor Mr. VanNess, “Billy is coming along fine, and I’m going to be delegating more work to him.”

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