Amanda Purcell reports for Columbia-Greene Media that three petitions to compete in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary in Hudson are invalid. Earl Swanigan won't appear on the Democratic primary ballot for mayor, Henry Haddad won't be listed for First Ward Alderman, and Willette Jones won't be listed for Second Ward supervisor Sept. 12. The petitions were invalidated for lack of enough valid signatures. Any candidate can receive write-in votes, but not being listed on the ballot is a disadvantage. Jones will appear on the ballot on the Working Families party line. Harry “Rick” Rector, a current First Ward alderman, will now run unopposed in the Hudson mayoral race unless defeated by a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary. Haddad said he would not run a write-in campaign, citing, “a lack of leadership in the city.” Columbia County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Virginia Martin said redrawing ward boundaries has led to more candidates running this fall. “There are more contested primary races for alderman and supervisor than in recent memory. It’s good when the voters have a choice," she said. According to the Columbia County Board of Elections’ website, the following candidates will run in the Democratic primary:

Common Council President (vote for 1)
Steve Dunn
Tom DePietro

First Ward Alderman (vote for 2)
Kamal Johnson
Rob Bujan
Michael O’Hara

Second Ward Alderman (vote for 2)
Tiffany Garriga
Victor Mendolia
Dewan A. Sarowar

Third Ward Supervisor (vote for 1)
John Friedman
Michael Chameides

Fourth Ward Supervisor (vote for 1)
Linda Mussmann
William Hughes Jr.

Fourth Ward Alderman (vote for 2)
Lauren Scalera
Rich “Trixie” Volo
John Rosenthal