Columbia County Democratic Committee elects new officers
Ghent, N.Y. — At its regular meeting on Thursday, March 23, the Columbia County Democratic Committee elected new officers to fill positions vacated earlier this month.
In a packed meeting at Ghent Town Hall, local Democrats voted to install Keith Kanaga as chair, Matthew Nelson as first vice chair, Brenda Adams as second vice chair and Carol Peckham as secretary. Each of the new officers was already serving as a town representative to the CCDC. Dave Berman was previously elected treasurer at the CCDC’s Feb. 23 meeting.
Kanaga said the new leadership reflects an invigorated local Democratic party. “We have been energized by the destructive policies the Trump administration is directing at Columbia County: they’re taking away health insurance from low income families, putting hospital jobs at risk by eliminating funding for Medicaid, and giving more money to the wealthy at the expense of hardworking, middle-class families. We’re committed to keeping healthcare affordable, to tackling the opioid crisis in our towns and county and to keeping jobs, not losing them.”
Another important goal for the local Democrats is broadening the party’s reach throughout town and county government. Said Kanaga, “Our base is strong, but we also have an opportunity to reach more community members who want to see change. We are eager to engage people from all corners of the county who share our belief in responsible, responsive, compassionate government.”
Kanaga, representing Ghent, is a U.S. Army veteran and retired financial services professional. He also serves as co-chair of the Ghent Democratic Committee, vice chair of the Ghent Zoning Board of Appeals and chair of the Ghent Board of Assessment Review.
Nelson, representing Kinderhook, is vice president and mortgage officer and director of the Small Balance Loan Program at the Community Preservation Corporation. He also serves as a member of Kinderhook’s Board of Assessment Review and as a governor’s appointee on the Capital Region’s Regional Economic Development Council.
Adams, representing Canaan, is the longtime executive director of Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. She has also volunteered for the Columbia Land Conservancy, the New Lebanon library, and served the Canaan town government in multiple roles since 1996, including her current service as a member of the town council and representative to the broadband advocacy group.
Peckham, representing Greenport, is now retired but spent over 30 years in medical publishing and has translated that expertise into her current work as a consultant and advocate for universal healthcare. She also serves on the Comprehensive Plan Committee for Greenport.
Ghent resident Berman is an Emmy Award-winning sports television producer and longtime media and telecommunications executive, now working as a consultant. He currently serves on the Columbia County Broadband Subcommittee, is co-chair of the citizens’ group Connect Columbia and chair of the Ghent Broadband Committee.
