This year, Ogden residents will cast their ballots for five town positions, two state Supreme Court judgeships and a Family Court judge.
To help inform your vote, we sent brief questionnaires through the party chairpersons to all candidates in contested races. Those with expanded information and photos below responded to the questionnaire. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and space.
Election 2025: Early voting starts Oct. 25 in NY. What Rochester-area voters need to know
Early voting is available to all voters in Monroe County from Saturday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 2. Polls are open for regular voting between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
You can look up where you can vote on Election Day at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov. Check back with the Democrat and Chronicle for the full election results as they become available.
Ogden Town Supervisor
Michael T. Zale, R, C (incumbent)
Ogden Town Board (2)
Jaime J. Erskine-Pettit, D
No reply received in time.
Linda S. Gibbardo, D
No reply received in time.
Joshua M. Hinman, R, C (incumbent)
No reply received in time.
Steven G. Toms, R, C (incumbent)
No reply received in time.
Ogden Highway Superintendent
Douglas J. Case, R, C (incumbent)
Ogden Town Justice
Andrew D. Kleehammer, D
Professional experience: For the past 10 years, I have worked for the Monroe County Law Department handling child abuse and neglect cases in Family Court. I am in court each day and have conducted hundreds of trials and hearings.
Top priority: The top issue driving my candidacy is experience. I believed Ogden deserves a judge who has knows, understands, and appreciates the law. I believe that in order be an effective judge you must have experience as a litigator in a court room. I will utilize my experience to ensure each citizen who appears in front of me is treated fairly and respectfully.
Christopher T. Mears, R, C (incumbent)
Age: 58
Current or prior elected offices: Currently serving as Ogden Town Justice since January 2025.
Professional experience: Retired chief of police for the Ogden Police Department, now director of security for the Spencerport Central School District.
Top priority: I believe everyone who comes into contact with the criminal justice system must be treated in a fair and impartial manner. Rights of the accused must be protected, while maintaining a sense of public safety. Town courts are those closest to the people, and I would be honored to continue to serve the public in this role.
— Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who’s on my ballot in Ogden? Election 2025 candidates
Reporting by Kayla Canne, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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