[November 2, 2025 | Register-Star, p.A4] If you’ve ever wondered why the state needs to strengthen its government transparency law and assess meaningful penalties to officials who seek to violate it, look no further than the plight of residents in Claverack, who have spent the last two months trying to get to the bottom of a questionable political hiring using the state’s inadequate Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The residents have rightly questioned how it came to be tha

November 28, 2025 | Register-Star, by Spenser Walshg | Page: 01 | Section: A CLAVERACK- Town Democrats aren't satisfied with the records the Claverack town clerk provided in response to their Freedom of Information Law request about the nature of his appointment. "To date, I have not received the responsive records, nor have I received a written explanation outlining the statutory basis for withholding the requested information," Columbia County Democratic Committee secretary

Ilze Earner: “The voters have spoken, and the result is not what we had hoped. I accept the outcome of this election with respect for the democratic process. Although I did not win this time, our work is not over. The challenges we identified are real and the values we championed remain important. I will continue to stand for them, to engage, to listen, and to act — because the issues that drew us together don’t vanish with the results of one race. I want to thank my supporte

We are filled with excitement and joy over Jackie Salvatore’s historic win to become the first woman of color to serve as Sheriff in Columbia County and New York State. Her resounding victory speaks volumes about what Columbia County values in law enforcement, and we are proud of her achievement. In Claverack, the results are not what we hoped. Despite an amazing effort, Ilze Earner, Robert Honeywell, Peter Hoffman and Amber D’Amato were not successful in their races, losing