First and foremost, it has been my distinct privilege to serve as your town supervisor for the past 10 years. I want to thank the town board, our highway department, all of our town employees, and every community member for your support and partnership.
As I step down from my role as supervisor, I am seeking to continue serving Andes as a member of the town council. I am a lifelong Andes resident, and my wife Suzanne and I operate our family’s multigenerational beef farm in Gladstone Hollow. Our family’s roots run deep in this community, and my commitment to Andes has guided every decision I’ve made in public service.
I have proudly served in many roles over the years including 18 years on the Andes Town Board, 30 years in the Andes Fire Department (now as an honorary member), fire district commissioner, board member of Margaretville Hospital, and Delaware Opportunities. As town supervisor, I serve on the Delaware County Board of Supervisors, where I chair the Public Safety Committee and have been a strong advocate for establishing countywide ambulance service to strengthen our local volunteer emergency response network. I also serve on the Del. Co. Finance and Human Resources/Insurance Committees, the Delaware County Cooperative Extension Board, the Coalition of Watershed Towns, and as chairman of the Watershed Agricultural Council. Locally, I’m also a proud member of the Stars and Stripes group here in Andes.
During my time as supervisor, the board and I have worked hard to build and maintain a solid financial foundation.
We established a healthy fund balance to handle emergencies without borrowing.
We used this balance to stay within the 2% tax cap for the 2026 budget and to cover storm-related costs from August 2024 while awaiting FEMA reimbursement (to date, $220,000 received).
We are also investing those funds wisely to generate additional income for the town.
Over the past 10 years, we have maintained strong fiscal discipline, keeping tax increases to a minimum. The average increase during my first nine years in office was just 1.97%. In 2025, however, significant inflationary pressures caused sharp increases in costs across the board, resulting in an unavoidable 6.34% increase. Every line of the budget was carefully reviewed to identify potential savings, but further cuts would have meant reducing essential services or positions, particularly within our highway department, which is vital to maintaining our 111 miles of town roads.
Our team has also delivered major community investments:
• Secured $850,000 in funding for three streambank stabilization projects in the hamlet (construction begins spring 2026) to reduce future flood risks.
• Partnered with the MARK Project to obtain a $500,000 Main Street Revitalization grant, improving local business facades.
• Installed the Victorian clock at Bohlman Park through MARK Project and O’Connor Foundation support.
• Secured NYSERDA funds for two EV charging ports at the Andes Public Library.
• To enhance road safety for our community, we’ve purchased speed-reduction warning signs at both Rt. 28 entrances to the Hamlet and are ready to install them pending final NYS DOT approval.
In addition, the board and I have waived our salary increases for 10 years, saving taxpayers over $50,000, and developed shared service agreements with the Andes Central School, Andes Fire Department, and neighboring towns to keep costs down.
After years of persistence, we are finalizing an agreement for a cell tower in Andes with the foundation scheduled for completion this fall and tower installation in the spring of 2026, improving service for residents, emergency responders, and travelers.
Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in our local businesses and community spirit. As a member of the town council, I will continue to advocate for responsible spending, infrastructure improvements, and opportunities that keep Andes strong, sustainable, and affordable for generations to come.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Wayland “Bud” Gladstone
Andes
* Paid Political Endorsement
