2025 Board of Education Election

The Annual Budget Vote and Board Election will take place Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary gymnasium. 

2025 Candidate Information

There are two candidates running for two open seats on the Board of Education.

Andrew Gilligan

Andrew Gilligan

My best qualifications to serve on Chatham’s Board of Education are my three children. My oldest is in first grade at M.E.D. My wife and I lived and worked in many parts of the country and are grateful we ended up raising our children in Chatham.

Secondly, I was a K-8th grade educator for 17 years in public and private schools. In 2013, I earned an M.Ed. from Antioch University New England. I now work as an insurance broker at a local agency in Chatham.

Around town, I’m involved in various things. I coach youth sports, recently at the Morris Memorial - go Grizzlies! I’m also a newbie volunteer firefighter. This past year I was on the finance committee of Chatham schools. 

Most of my professional life was dedicated to education, mostly outside Chatham, but I’m definitely here now.

I have great appreciation for Chatham and its schools and volunteer to serve on the board more as a caretaker of a long tradition of excellence than anything else. Thank you for your vote.


Steve Michalek

Steve Michalek

I am running for school board because I offer a unique and important perspective that does not yet exist on the school board. I grew up in Canaan and attended Chatham from kindergarten through 10th grade. I was active in local theatres and coffee houses. I played football at Chatham and rowed crew in college. Now, my two daughters are in 9th and 10th grade at Chatham. I have worked with my hands for the last 30 years, building scenery and lighting shows. I have also taught scenery construction, lighting, sound, and drafting at several colleges. I have spent my life working in a field that requires bridging the gap between creative and concrete thinkers. Finding a path forward through collaboration, amongst limited resources, is what I excel at.

The next three years will require,more than ever, nimble thinking and consensus building amongst diverse opinions and scarce resources. The skills I have honed through my years working in entertainment will be an indispensable and invaluable asset to the school and community. Thank you.

Open Seats

The District has two seats up for election on May 20, 2025. The seats open for election are:

  • The expiring term of Fred Hutchinson (Rachel Galvin incumbent) July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025

  • The expiring term of Muriel Faxon (current incumbent) July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025

Candidates elected to the Board will serve three-year terms starting July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2028. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes will also fill the remainder of the unexpired term left vacant by the resignation of Fred Hutchinson, starting May 21, 2025 and expiring June 30, 2025.

Voter Qualifications:

To be eligible to vote you must be:

  • A citizen of the United States 18 years of age or older

  • A resident of the Chatham Central School District for a period of 30 days or more directly preceding the date of the vote

  • Registered to vote with either the School District or the Columbia County Board of Elections

Voter Registration Dates

April 30, 2025 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. MED Lobby
May 14, 2025 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. MED Lobby

Early Voting by Mail & Absentee Ballots

Voters who wish to vote early by mail may submit an application to vote by mail-in ballot.

Voters who are unable to vote in person on May 20, 2025 may submit an application to vote by absentee ballot.

Applications for early voting/absentee ballots will be available starting Friday, April 25 from the District Clerk in the Superintendent’s Office. The last day to submit an application for an early voting/absentee ballot is Tuesday, May 13 if the applicant wishes to receive the ballot by mail, or Monday, May 19 if the applicant wishes to receive the ballot in person.

Early voting/absentee ballots must be returned to the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

For more information, contact Deborah Pottenburgh, District Clerk, at 518-392-1501 or pottenburghd@chatham.k12.ny.us.

2025-26 School Budget Vote

Information about our 2025-26 school budget proposal is available on our Budget Information page.