With three candidates running for three open Trustee positions in Walden, each is excited to make an impact once they are elected.

John Ramos has served on the Board of Trustees since Oct. 2015. During his tenure, Walden has fortified their parks and recreation programs. The Village now has over 400 involved in their summer youth program. He has also helped eliminate fluoride from the Village’s drinking water and has strengthened Walden’s relationship with the Valley Central School District as the liaison to the Board of Education. Now that he is retired, he can dedicate more of his time to improving Walden.

“I still have some unfinished business,” he said. “We still have the Ulster Avenue sidewalks. I want to have the community center built. Since I’m fully retired, I can dedicate my time to any village business that comes up during my tenure.”

Ramos will be joined on the Board of Trustees by Willie Carley, who previously served as a Walden Village Trustee from 2010-2013. He left the Board of Trustees to start the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Fellowship, a church in the City of Newburgh. Carley noted that the church is doing well and that he now has time to help out the Village of Walden.

“We have the people in place, we have the resources in place,” he said regarding his church. “And now I get to come back to the Village and put some time in. I believe in volunteerism and so this is my contribution back to my community with a number of other things I do.”

During his tenure, Carley aims to be a voice for the community. He added that he will communicate citizens’ views to the Board.

“I believe that everyone needs a voice,” he said. “I do my best to be the voice for those that can’t speak for themselves.”

Carley brings a skillset to the Village that can be leveraged to help its residents. For the past 10 years he has overseen New York and New Jersey for the Emergency Management Program for the Department of Veterans Affairs. At that position, he has gained experience leading people and resources, which is valuable for a Village Trustee.

As a Walden resident for 15 years, Cheryl Baker is excited to make a difference in her community.

“I love Walden very much,” she said. “I thought of this as an opportunity to help residents.”

One major issue that Baker hopes to tackle during her time on the Board of Trustees is the proposal for cutting dispatchers from the Village’s police department. She hopes to analyze whether Walden should cut or add hours for its dispatchers.

Baker possesses a kind heart, which is an asset to a Village Trustee. She volunteers at Montgomery Nursing Home and has a service dog, which provides emotional support to people. Baker has experience with problem solving and quick thinking, which she obtained as an emergency dispatcher for AAA. She is looking forward to being a voice for Walden’s residents while serving on the Board of Trustees.

“People matter and they should know that,” she said.

Like Ramos, Trustee Larry Kraus was also up for re-election this year. He is not running for the position again.

“At this time I’m not able to give 100 percent of my time to the position,” he said. “I also have other obligations and am moving out of the area in the near future. It’s time to move on in my life.”

Trustee Dan Svarczkopf was also up for re-election this year but chose not to run. The Wallkill Valley Times reached out to him for comment but did not receive an immediate answer.

Voting will take place on Wednesday, March 18 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Bradley Assembly Room, Village Hall.