STONY POINT, NY — Republican voters in several Stony Point election districts will head to the polls Tuesday, June 23, in a primary contest for party committee seats that has drawn increased attention inside the local GOP. Apparently, numerous flyers circulated around Town are providing a mix of available candidates for Tuesday’s vote in Stony Point.
Luckily for you, Rockland News is here to help sort out your GOP District Representative decisions Tuesday at the polls.
First of all: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the Rockland County Board of Elections.
The races are for Member of the County Committee seats in Stony Point Election Districts 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 14. Each listed Stony Point contest is for a two-year term, with voters selecting up to four candidates in their district. The Rockland County Board of Elections lists Keith Williams among the Republican candidates in District 10 and Aidan M. Rowan among the Republican candidates in District 11. Both provided statements to Rockland News.
Two Slates, Competing with Each Other
The committee races have produced two competing messages from within the Stony Point Republican Party: one calling for change, transparency and new leadership, and another urging voters to support the existing committee members and continue what supporters describe as a record of Republican success.
Aidan Rowan, who is running in District 11, said in an interview with Rockland News that voters should pay closer attention to committee races because, in his view, they help shape which candidates move forward for town and party leadership positions. Rowan said his campaign is focused on accountability, transparency, taxes, code enforcement and long-term affordability for younger families and retirees who want to remain in Stony Point.
Rowan argued that Stony Point needs “change” at the committee level, saying he believes too many decisions are made without enough open discussion among committee members and voters. He also pointed to concerns he said he heard while campaigning door to door, including property taxes, neighborhood code enforcement, housing affordability and the future of town leadership.
Listen to interview: Aidan Rowan on Rockland News
Rowan also emphasized that the race, while competitive, should not become personal. He said he respects Keith Williams, noting that the two previously ran against one another for a town board seat and that he later supported Williams in the general election. Rowan said that after Tuesday’s vote, Republicans should return to working together toward shared goals.
Keith Williams, in a statement provided to Rockland News, urged Republican voters in Stony Point Districts 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 14 to support the current committee-backed slate. Williams described the slate as experienced, hardworking and composed of neighbors who have helped deliver Republican victories in Stony Point year after year.
Williams pushed back against the opposing slate’s “vote for change” message, saying voters should examine the current committee’s record before deciding whether change is needed. He also criticized the opposition campaign, alleging that it is not a grassroots movement and claiming that some candidates are closely related or not fully invested in the town. Rockland News has not independently verified those allegations.
Williams also rejected the suggestion that Republican victories in Stony Point are automatic. In his statement, he said comments suggesting that “a rock could win in Stony Point” as a Republican are demeaning to voters and the process. Williams said Republican success in town elections has come through work, organization and dedication.
“Tomorrow is about protecting the integrity and future of Stony Point,” Williams said in his statement, urging voters to “Keep Stony Point Strong.”
For voters in Stony Point, Tuesday’s races may appear low-profile compared with contests for town, county or federal office. But the debate between Rowan’s call for new voices and Williams’ call for continuity reflects a larger question inside the local GOP: whether the party’s future in Stony Point is best served by maintaining its current structure or reshaping it from the committee level up.
Early voting for the June 23 primary ran from June 13 through June 21, and the Board of Elections notes that voters who cast ballots during early voting may not vote again on Election Day.
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