Mission
The mission of the Town of Chatham Republican Committee is to support the work of the Republican Party. We look to recruit, educate, and support the most qualified Republican Candidates in local elections. We seek to engage and grow our base through the presentation of topics that our community has an interest in. When it comes to community service and volunteerism, we plan to lead through example.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Town of Chatham Republican Committee is one that includes all and promotes open discussion on issues that affect our community. We seek to protect our Constitution, individual rights, property rights, personal freedoms, and the family.
Our goal is to protect the quality of life we now enjoy and we promise to work at bringing this quality of life to all. We will make every effort to keep our government small and efficient, while exploring areas of combined services.
We will protect the rural character that is Chatham while keeping in mind the need for employment and economic growth that is essential in keeping our young people here and that provides the tax base that will also make it affordable.
The mission of the Town of Chatham Republican Committee is to support the work of the Republican Party. We look to recruit, educate, and support the most qualified Republican Candidates in local elections. We seek to engage and grow our base through the presentation of topics that our community has an interest in. When it comes to community service and volunteerism, we plan to lead through example.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Town of Chatham Republican Committee is one that includes all and promotes open discussion on issues that affect our community. We seek to protect our Constitution, individual rights, property rights, personal freedoms, and the family.
Our goal is to protect the quality of life we now enjoy and we promise to work at bringing this quality of life to all. We will make every effort to keep our government small and efficient, while exploring areas of combined services.
We will protect the rural character that is Chatham while keeping in mind the need for employment and economic growth that is essential in keeping our young people here and that provides the tax base that will also make it affordable.
Meet the Committee Members:
Henry Swartz, Jr., Chairman, Representing Election District 3
Henry Swartz, Jr., has lived in the Town of Chatham for the past 37 years and is a life-long resident of Columbia County. He is happily married to Tammy, his wife of nearly 37 years, and owns the Valatie-based plumbing and heating company, Hatfield & Joyce. Public service plays a significant role in Henry’s life. He is a 38-year member of the Niverville Fire Department and serves in a variety of other roles to maintain and protect community safety—Fire Investigator for the County Cause and Origin Team since 2002, member of the Traffic Safety Board since 2003, plus current Deputy Chair of the same, and Deputy Director of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division since 2012. Henry held office as President for the Columbia County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association in 2001 and 2016, and served two terms as Councilman for the Town of Chatham. In his “free” time, Henry loves hunting and snowmobiling in the great outdoors, especially when it includes his family and his grandson, Hunter. 
Julia Horst, Public Relations Officer, Representing Election District 1
Julia Horst has been a committee person for around 4 years and served as Secretary before beginning her current position as Public Relations Officer. She was born in Canaan, NY and was raised on a small farm in Chatham with 9 siblings. Julia used her skills with animals to pursue an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Science. She currently is licensed as a Veterinary Technician in New York State and works at the Nassau Veterinary Clinic. Julia has a heart for helping people and worked for the Town of Chatham in the Assessor's Office from 2011-2017 and is a full time Dispatcher (trainee) with Columbia County 911. She also is Treasurer for the Canaan Conservation Club and Superintendent for the Harvest Hall at the Columbia County Fair. 
Julia (Julie) Veronezi, Secretary, Representing Election District 1
Julia (Julie) Veronezi is proud to call Chatham her hometown for over 50 years. She has two adult children who also live in the Town of Chatham. Julie has served on the Republican Committee for four years and has also served on the Town of Chatham Citizen’s Finance Committee. Julie says “As a committee person I enjoy meeting the people of our town and working to serve the needs of our community.” Outside of the Republican committee, Julie uses her talents to help her community out in many ways. She retired from Taconic Hills Central School after 39 years of teaching and continues to substitute teach there. She is actively involved with the Philmont Community Center and is currently director of that organization. She also enjoys the outdoors and is a member of the Philmont Rod and Gun Club and is a NYS Safe Boating Instructor. Julie is a member of the Taconic Hills Motorcycle club and always enjoys a good ride. 
Michael R. Blasl, Representing Election District 2
Michael lives in Chatham with his beautiful wife Dawn Marie and has one son (Michael Jr). Michael Sr owns and manages French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home. Mike says "I have always had the sense of giving to make a community better, realizing that it takes a lot of people giving of their time and talents to make a community thrive. I am the Treasurer of the Chatham Lions Foundation, Treasurer of Ocean Fire Company #1, member of the Kinderhook Elks, Communicant of Saint James Church, President of Friends of the Tracy, a member of the Tracy Board, and one of Columbia County's Coroners." Mike is a committee member in election district two. |
Donald (Don) Tubbs, Treasurer, Representing Election District 2
Donald Tubbs was born and raised in the Town of Chatham and has been married to Kandy for 49 years. They have two adult daughters.
Don worked in maintenance and management for New York State for 31 years before retiring. He continues to keep busy working part time for Chatham Auto Parts doing deliveries or working at their location on State Route 66.
Tubbs is very interesting guy to talk to and has lots of stories to tell, if you care to ask. He joined S.W. Smith Hook & Ladder, one of the Chatham Fire Department's two companies, in 1963. He has been Chief of Chatham Fire and Deputy Chief of Chatham Rescue. To this day he remains an active member of Chatham Fire. Don is Secretary of the Columbia County Fire Police Association and is also a member of the Canaan Conservation Club. Don says about being a committee person "I wanted to help the Town survive and prosper".
Donald Tubbs was born and raised in the Town of Chatham and has been married to Kandy for 49 years. They have two adult daughters.
Don worked in maintenance and management for New York State for 31 years before retiring. He continues to keep busy working part time for Chatham Auto Parts doing deliveries or working at their location on State Route 66.
Tubbs is very interesting guy to talk to and has lots of stories to tell, if you care to ask. He joined S.W. Smith Hook & Ladder, one of the Chatham Fire Department's two companies, in 1963. He has been Chief of Chatham Fire and Deputy Chief of Chatham Rescue. To this day he remains an active member of Chatham Fire. Don is Secretary of the Columbia County Fire Police Association and is also a member of the Canaan Conservation Club. Don says about being a committee person "I wanted to help the Town survive and prosper".
Jay Rippel, Representing Election District 1
Jay lives in Chatham with his wife Beth Anne and daughters Cydney and Carly.
He is serving a third term as a Village of Chatham Trustee.
Jay is a registered nurse and works as a shift director at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA. He retired from the Army Reserve in November after serving for 32 years.
Jay says: " I got involved in local government because of the opportunity to serve the community I live in. Giving back to the community is an awesome experience."
Jay lives in Chatham with his wife Beth Anne and daughters Cydney and Carly.
He is serving a third term as a Village of Chatham Trustee.
Jay is a registered nurse and works as a shift director at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA. He retired from the Army Reserve in November after serving for 32 years.
Jay says: " I got involved in local government because of the opportunity to serve the community I live in. Giving back to the community is an awesome experience."
Patrick Wemitt, Representing Election District 2
Born and raised in Chatham, Patrick was one of nine children. He graduated from Chatham High School. Wemitt is Vietnam Veteran and attained the rank of sergeant after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps. He owned his own contracting business, coached Little League, officiated high school soccer, volunteered at the Morris Memorial and helped organize, schedule and officiate the Morris youth soccer program for many years. He was a vestry person for St.Luke's Episcopal Church, a trustee for the village of Chatham, and is an active volunteer firefighter in the Chatham Fire Department.
Patrick, who has a masters degree and a school district administrators certification, taught elementary school for many years before becoming a school administrator. He retired from Catskill Central School as a high school principal, and continues to remain active in education.
Born and raised in Chatham, Patrick was one of nine children. He graduated from Chatham High School. Wemitt is Vietnam Veteran and attained the rank of sergeant after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps. He owned his own contracting business, coached Little League, officiated high school soccer, volunteered at the Morris Memorial and helped organize, schedule and officiate the Morris youth soccer program for many years. He was a vestry person for St.Luke's Episcopal Church, a trustee for the village of Chatham, and is an active volunteer firefighter in the Chatham Fire Department.
Patrick, who has a masters degree and a school district administrators certification, taught elementary school for many years before becoming a school administrator. He retired from Catskill Central School as a high school principal, and continues to remain active in education.
Earle P. Kelsey, Jr., Representing Election District 3
Earle has lived in North Chatham with his partner Doris T. Appel for more than thirty-two years. He is a graduate of Siena College with a Master's Degree in Business Administration and served in the U. S. Naval Reserve for eight years, two of them on active duty during the Korean War. He has been employed by Cohoes Savings Bank and Morton Company and was Chief Financial Officer of Catholic Charities for seventeen years and Comptroller for the Town of Chatham for twelve years.
Earle believes strongly in giving back to his community and, in that vein, has been a member of the North Chatham Fire Company for thirty-two years and is currently Commissioner of the North Chatham Fire District, having served previously as the Fire District Treasurer. He has been involved many and various capacities in the North Chatham United Church, for more than twenty years as its Treasurer, and is currently a member of the Church Finance Committee.
An active Republican Committee member for many years, Earle is dedicated to making our town a better place to live.
Earle has lived in North Chatham with his partner Doris T. Appel for more than thirty-two years. He is a graduate of Siena College with a Master's Degree in Business Administration and served in the U. S. Naval Reserve for eight years, two of them on active duty during the Korean War. He has been employed by Cohoes Savings Bank and Morton Company and was Chief Financial Officer of Catholic Charities for seventeen years and Comptroller for the Town of Chatham for twelve years.
Earle believes strongly in giving back to his community and, in that vein, has been a member of the North Chatham Fire Company for thirty-two years and is currently Commissioner of the North Chatham Fire District, having served previously as the Fire District Treasurer. He has been involved many and various capacities in the North Chatham United Church, for more than twenty years as its Treasurer, and is currently a member of the Church Finance Committee.
An active Republican Committee member for many years, Earle is dedicated to making our town a better place to live.
