Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the four villages in Columbia County will hold elections on Tue., Mar. 15. In three of the villages, there are village board openings and the candidates in those races are running unopposed. Kinderhook is the only village with a mayoral race and it is contested. Voters can write-in candidates on election day and on absentee ballots. In Chatham, incumbent village board member Melony Spock is seeking reelection along with newcomer Karyn Schassler. Both are running on the Chatham Works Together ballot line and seeking two-year terms. Information is available at villageofchatham [dot] com. In the Kinderhook mayoral race, Michael Abrams, Barry Knights and Quinn Murphy are running. The mayor serves a two-year term. Two village board seats are on the ballot, as well. Incumbent Dorene Weir is seeking reelection and Susan Patterson is running to fill the two vacancies. Village board members serve two-year terms. March 8 was the last day for the Kinderhook Village Clerk to receive applications for absentee ballots that need to be mailed, but Mon., Mar. 14 is the last day for in-person applications for absentee ballots. Information is available at villageofkinderhook [dot] org. In the village of Philmont, two village board seats are on the ballot. Incumbents Debra Gitterman, on the Philmont Neighbors party line, and Douglas C. Cropper, on the Village Party line, are seeking reelection to two-year terms. Also on the ballot is Carla Ingersoll of the Philmont Party, running for village justice, a four-year term. Absentee ballots are available through the Village Office at 124 Main Street. The ballot request deadline is March 14 for pickup and Covid-19 is a qualified reason for voting absentee ballot again this year. Absentee ballots must be received by March 15. Information is available at philmont [dot] org. In Valatie, two candidates are looking to be elected to fill two open village board seats. Incumbent Angelo Nero and newcomer Patrick Rogers are seeking two-year terms. Information is available is valatievillage [dot] com Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.