The Town of Hamilton Democratic Committee has nominated a full slate of candidates for the Nov. 7 general election. Eve Ann Shwartz (supervisor), Peter Darby (town council) and Donald Haight (justice) are candidates for re-election. They are joined on the Democratic and independent Good Government lines on the ballot by Mary Lee Dinski, candidate for the council seat vacated by Suzanne Collins, who chose not to run.
The four candidates bring a variety of experiences to serving local government. Shwartz and Dinski are natives of the region, representing different generations of Hamilton Central School alumnae. Shwartz received a law degree from Northeastern University and practiced law in Hamilton from 1985 to 1992.
Together with her husband Harmon Hoff, she runs the family beef business on Borden Road in Earlville. She was elected to the town council in 1993, and more recently has served three two-year terms as supervisor, overseeing town government, as well as representing its citizens on the Madison County Board of Supervisors.
Shwartz brings long experience with regional organizations, e.g., the Partnership for Community Development, the Madison County CCE Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Community Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.
Mary Lee Dinski graduated from Hamilton Central School in 2000 and later earned a degree in multicultural dynamics in education at Gettysburg College, as well as a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. Since 2003, she has been with the Fiver Children’s Foundation in Poolville. In 2015, she received the “Nonprofiteer of the Year” award from the Young Non-Profit Professional Network for her innovative and transformation work in the youth development sector. She now lives in the village of Hamilton and is a full-time deputy executive director for the Fiver Children’s Foundation, an organization that supports development of character and intellect in young people from downstate and the Central New York region.
Peter Darby, a native New Yorker, served in the Air Force after completing his undergraduate and graduate education and is a Vietnam veteran. He has lived more than 40 years on a farm on Earlville Road. He ran a successful carpentry business until his retirement. He served on the Sherburne-Earlville School Board for 12 years and was president during the planning and construction of the new elementary school. More recently, he has served on the town council for two four-year terms, acting as deputy supervisor and budget officer for most of that time.
Donald Haight moved to Hamilton more than 20 years ago after retiring as a history teacher and coach in public schools. He has served two four-year terms as town justice and is associate village justice. He is president of the Madison County Magistrates Association.
To vote in the Nov. 7 general election, voter registrations must be completed by Oct. 13. For more information, visit hamiltondemocrats.org and madisoncounty.ny.gov/board-elections/home.