Diane Valden is reporting for The Columbia Paper two candidates are vying for Ancram Town Justice, the seat was previously held by Robert Wilcox. Wilcox served as town justice for 10 years. Both candidates, Republican Richard Novik and Democrat Cathy Redlich, are seeking their first four-year term. Novik, 77, is running with the both the Republican and Independence party endorsements. He is senior vice president of the New York State Broadcasters Association and has been with the association for 13 years. Novik has worked in broadcasting for nearly 30 years. A Connecticut native, Novik is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and an Army veteran. He was named the Amber Alert Broadcaster of the Year by the US Department of Justice in December 2011. In a statement of issues submitted to the paper, Novik wrote, “I am running for town justice because I truly do love our community and want to do public service. I have lived in Ancramdale for 30 years, and believe I know our community, and values, well..." Redlich, 68, is an enrolled Democrat and is running with her party’s endorsement. She has been an attorney for more than 30 years, specializing in criminal and civil litigation. She co-founded the firm Driscoll & Redlich and continues to practice part-time. An Illinois native, Redlich attended the University of Michigan and received her law degree from Harvard Law School. She is editor of the Ancram Town News, a member of the town’s Communications Committee and Climate-Smart Community Task Force. She is co-founder and director of the Redlich Horwitz Foundation and helped launch the Columbia County Bail Fund. In her statement of issues, Redlich wrote: “The town court is most people’s first and only encounter with New York’s judicial system, which is why town justices have a special responsibility to instill confidence in the fairness, integrity and competence of our courts." Polls at the Ancramdale Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and the Ancram Town Hall are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tue., Nov. 6. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.