​BDC ENDORSEMENTS

The BDC is proud of our endorsed candidates for 2023. We on the BDC are prepared to dedicate the time, energy, and funds needed to support progressive Democrats – but we need your help, too!

Town Board
ELECT TOM SCHNURR

“I am a dad, Democrat, and education advocate running for town board. I’ve turned ideas into actions that help people. I’m running for town board to use my experience to build on the good work our town is doing, protect our environment, and keep Bethlehem a great place to live. ”

— Tom Schnurr

Town Board
REELECT JOYCE BECKER

For many years, Joyce has been active in our community and would be honored to serve a third term on the Bethlehem Town Board.  She brings to the Town Board a strong commitment to build transparency and inclusiveness for all.  Prior to serving on the Town Board, Joyce dedicated many years as an experienced Director of the Senior Services Department providing programs and services to improve the lives of families and older adults.  The community recognizes her as a leader who serves with integrity and passion.  Joyce takes pride in being available to our residents. She volunteers on the Board of Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc. and the Bethlehem Community Fund as a Trustee.   

In 2022, Joyce was the recipient of the Bethlehem Woman of Distinction for an ongoing career in public service by Albany County.  Her past honors include Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, Citizen of the Year, Good Samaritan Award for Outstanding Contributions to residents of Bethlehem. 

“As your Town Board member, I will work hard to keep Bethlehem a transparent and accountable government while preserving Bethlehem's community character.”

— Joyce Becker

Town Clerk
​ELECT KIM WHITSITT

"As an attorney and mother to two small children, I will use my professional skills and compassion for people to ensure that the Clerk’s office continues to remain accessible to the residents of Bethlehem for the services and information they need."

— Kim Whitsitt

Town Supervisor
REELECT DAVID VANLUVEN

Since joining the Town Board in 2016 and becoming Supervisor in 2018, David has worked to better guide residential development, protect farms and forests, showcase the great work of town employees, advance renewable energy programs, and build bridges across political divides. His record is impressive, including creating a new 147-acre nature park, building a new Dive Pool, protecting the 307-acre historic Heath Farm, aggressively investing in sidewalk improvements, launching the Bethlehem Safe Streets traffic safety campaign, equipping our outstanding police officers with body cameras, transitioning the town fleet to electric vehicles, completing an award-winning Comprehensive Plan Update, and much, much more.

David and his wife Isabelle Bleecker have three daughters Catie, Juliette, and Emma who all went through the Bethlehem Central school system.

David has a B.A. from Middlebury College with a double major in Religion and Arctic/Alpine Ecology (for which he did his thesis research 130 miles north of the Arctic Circle), and a joint M.S. from Tufts University in Urban/Environmental Policy and Biology.

Highway Superintendent
​REELECT MARC DORSEY

Marc is seeking his third term as your Highway Superintendent.  Marc Dorsey is a veteran who has proudly served in both the Army and the Air Force National Guard.  No stranger to hard work, Marc is a lifelong Bethlehem resident and lives in Selkirk with his wife Michelle, their two children, Marshall and Madelynn, and two dogs Milo and Maxi. 

Since taking office in 2020, more roads have been paved and sidewalks installed, paving 60 miles of road, over 17,000 feet of new concrete sidewalks, and over 7,000 feet of blacktop sidewalks.  All snowplows are now equipped with salters for greater efficiency and cost savings.  All of the leaves in the Town’s 52 square miles are now picked up in 34 days.  Marc has done so much in the past four years.  The Highway Department is top-notch, committed to clearing snow, picking up leaves, paving our streets, and creating new sidewalks. 

Marc has also been a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers for thirty years and has worked all over the country.  Prior to being elected as Highway Superintendent, Marc worked for the NY State Department of Homeland Security.

County Legislator District 33
REELECT BILL REINHARDT

Bill worked for 26 years at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) until his retirement in 2010. 

In 2012, Bill was elected to the Bethlehem Town Council, where he used his energy and economics experience to support a sustainable community strategy for Bethlehem in the context of our changing global climate.

In 2015, Bill successfully ran for the Albany County legislature. He was re-elected in 2019, where he continues to work for a more sustainable Capital District.

In 2014, Bill co-founded Solarize Albany, a nonprofit citizens group, to transform the solar energy markets in the Capital District. Since that beginning, Solarize Albany has expanded its focus beyond rooftop solar into community solar, electric vehicles, heat pumps and community choice aggregation (CCA). In late 2017, Bill and the Solarize Albany team began to look at CCA and its promise to bring renewable energy development to the Capital District and renewable electricity to residential and small business customers across the region. Around this time, Bill and other community activists in the energy space founded a grassroots group that now operates as Capital District Community Energy (CDCE).

County Legislator District 38
​REELECT VICKY PLOTSKY

Vicky Plotsky has served on the Albany County Legislature since 2018 and has lived in the Albany area since 1992. She represents the 38th Legislative District which includes portions of the Towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland.
 
In private practice, Vicky handled commercial litigation and estate planning. She later joined the New York State Department of Financial Services and then the Workers’ Compensation Board, where she served as an attorney for 15 years with a specialty in uninsured workers compensation cases and World Trade Center volunteer claims. Vicky most recently served as Associate Counsel for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Her skills and experience include litigation, analyzing and applying legislation, project management, and streamlining processes for efficiency.
 
As a Legislator, Vicky has supported environmental initiatives, worker protections, and laws that support women and minorities. She is Chair of the Law Committee and serves on the Mass Transit and Conservation, Sustainability and Green Initiatives Committees. Vicky has lived in Clarksville with her husband, Bruce, for over 15 years and previously lived in Albany and Delmar. Through volunteer efforts, Vicky has helped raise thousands of dollars for charities locally and overseas. She is an avid musician, speaks Russian, and loves to cross-country ski and bicycle.