VILLAGE CAUCUS NEXT THURSDAY
Hanna Joy Bergene, 29,
Formerly With Chamber,
Running For Trustee Seat
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www. AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Hanna Bergene, 29, well-known in Cooperstown affairs from her years as Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce marketing & events director, is running for the Village Board in the March elections.
Veteran Trustee Jim Dean, 80, a trustee for the past eight years, said he decided to step aside when he heard of Bergene’s interest. “I met with her and saw her bio,” he said. “I’m going to is step aside and make a space for her.” As the village comes out of the COVID Era, he said, younger people should be involved in building the future.
Bergene, currently social media media at Paperkite Creative, said Trustee MacGuire Benton, who narrowly run reelection to the Village Board in September, suggested that she seek the seat. “I’m very excited,” she said.
Trustee Cindy Falk, the deputy mayor, confirmed she also plans to put her name in contention at the Village Democratic Caucus at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at Village Hall. The caucus will also accept nominations from the floor.
It was unclear today, particularly after of Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, whether a Republican be found to run for trustee in the Democratic village. Also, there is no village Republican chairman at this time.
Bergene was born in Otsego County, graduating Cooperstown Central in 2009 and, in 2013, from SUNY Oneonta, where she majored in Tourism & Hospitality. She is the daughter of Greg and Susan Bergene, Town of Middlefield, and has a sister, Kristin.
In addition to her community involvement while at the Chamber, she serves on the Cooperstown Winter Carnival Committee, as she has for several years.
Those darn Republicans and their riots. Everyone of them complacent. Or so that jab made it sound. This paper has a ridiculously obvious political slant.
I’m pleased there was someone out there checking voter identification during the riots. Hopefully, we can start doing this when they vote! Statements of this nature are a fine example of some of the problems that exist in this country. We need term limits! Perhaps then we can all come together and be responsible citizens without pointing the finger at either party.