Four candidates — two Democrats, two Republicans, and one incumbent — are in the race for the two open seats on the Pine Plains Town Board. Each of them sat down for interviews with the Herald. You can also watch their participation in the Oct. 13 Meet the Candidates forum here.
Robert Ambrose (R)
Incumbent Robert Ambrose, who has lived in Pine Plains for 49 years and served 33 years in the volunteer fire department, said he is seeking a second term to continue work on sidewalks, recreation facilities, and public spaces. He said he supports encouraging “any and every business to come” to town and wants to maintain local input in decision-making.
Ambrose said he supports relocating Town Hall to North Main Street, calling the current site “an inconvenience to the people.” He said the project will take time but would benefit downtown once completed.
Ambrose’s view of the proposed wastewater system evolved during the campaign. Over the summer, he said Pine Plains had “got this many years without any central sewer system” and could continue operating without one. At the Oct. 13 public forum, he joined the other candidates in indicating that business district cannot thrive without a central septic system. He cited previous challenges in finding adequate land for the project and said he is opposed to “taking anybody’s land.”
Murphy Birdsall (D)
Candidate Murphy Birdsall, who grew up in Pine Plains and returned full-time in 2023 after working in film editing, said she is focused on revitalizing downtown and increasing transparency between the town and residents. She supports relocating Town Hall to North Main Street, saying the move would bring daily activity to the business district and make government more accessible.
Birdsall said she supports establishing a central wastewater system, which she described as necessary for economic development. “Yes, I do support the wastewater system. We need it,” she said. She added that the town should continue working to locate appropriate land and seek grant funding.
At the Oct. 13 candidates forum, Birdsall said too many storefronts remain empty and that the town needs a coordinated strategy for filling them. She proposed holding smaller, topic-specific forums to address issues like housing and infrastructure more directly. Birdsall also said Pine Plains should better promote outdoor recreation and ensure consistent testing and access at Stissing Lake Beach. “We need to let people know all the good things that are here,” she said.
David Prentice (R)
Candidate David Prentice said he wants to “make Pine Plains bigger” by attracting new residents, encouraging small-business development, and increasing local events. A lifelong resident and 2019 Stissing Mountain High School graduate, Prentice works in his family’s sanitation business, does excavation work, and operates a family farm with his brother.
Prentice said he supports moving Town Hall downtown, describing the current location as inconvenient. He said the project should rely on grant funding and be decided with community input. He also said he would support efforts to add another grocery store and expand affordable housing so “younger people can start families.”
His position on the wastewater project shifted during the campaign. In a summer interview, he said he did not view the system as a top priority because of its potential cost and the difficulty of finding land. At the Oct. 13 forum, he said he now supports the plan if land can be identified and funding secured. “I do support the septic system,” he said. “Once we find land, then I say we move forward.”
Trevor Roush (D)
Candidate Trevor Roush, a Stissing Mountain High School graduate who farms in Pine Plains and operates a small-scale forest-management business, said his priorities include supporting local businesses, improving downtown activity, and expanding civic participation. He co-founded a nonprofit that produces the Oldtone Roots Music Festival and said his experience with grants and project management could help the town move forward on long-planned initiatives.
Roush said he supports establishing a central wastewater system, calling it critical to keeping the business district viable. “If you don’t support the town septic, you kind of don’t support the town,” he said. At the Oct. 13 forum, he joined the other candidates in indicating that Pine Plains cannot have a thriving downtown without such a system.
He also supports relocating Town Hall to the center of town and creating a volunteer tree committee to manage and replant public trees. Roush said he favors organizing more town-sponsored events and encouraging businesses to stay open later. He said developing an updated Natural Resources Inventory would help the town manage growth while maintaining its rural character. “Sustainable businesses create a sustainable town,” Roush said.