Drake and Nolan face off in Shandaken forum over broadband, bridges and services

At a candidate forum in Shandaken Town Hall, Democratic primary contenders Robert Drake and incumbent legislator Kathy Nolan outlined competing approaches to representing District 22, which covers Olive, Shandaken, Denning and Hardenberg.

Drake, deputy supervisor of the Shandaken town board, emphasized constituent outreach, internal-audit oversight and infrastructure resilience. "The budgets, of course, are hugely a part of that," he said, arguing that budgets reflect priorities. Nolan, who said she has represented the district seven of the last nine years, highlighted her committee experience and work connecting the county with state and DEP programs: "For the 1st time in 2025, Ulster County brought in over $1,000,000,000," she said, citing tourism-driven economic gains as both benefit and management challenge.

The candidates agreed on many goals — protecting essential services, improving broadband and supporting rural towns — but differed on tactics. Drake pressed for tighter contract audits and grassroots town visits; Nolan pointed to her record on public works and environment committees and county programs that already support housing, recovery and aging services.

The forum, moderated by Brett Barry, also provided practical voter information: early voting was noted as running through June 21 with primary day on June 23.