MONTICELLO — Registered Democrats in the Village of Monticello will head to the polls on Tuesday, January 25 when they’ll vote in a primary to nominate two candidates to run for trustee seats.

The two candidates selected in the primary will each run for a four-year term on the Democratic Party line in the village election on March 15.

Tuesday’s primary will take place at the Ted Stroebele Center (formerly the Neighborhood Facility) from noon until 9 p.m. Only enrolled members of the Democratic Party in election districts 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Town of Thompson who reside in the Village of Monticello are eligible to vote in this Democratic primary.

Candidates include former Village Recreation Director Michael Greco, former Village Mayor Gordon Jenkins, incumbent Trustee Rochelle Massey and incumbent Trustee Charles Sabatino.

The Town of Thompson Democratic Committee has endorsed Greco and Sabatino.

“Mike and Charlie will work with Mayor George Nikolados in moving the village forward in a positive way,” said Thompson Democratic Committee Chair Bill James.

Greco previously ran for trustee as a write-in candidate in 2020. Originally from the Bronx, Greco graduated from Monticello High school and SUNY Sullivan. In addition to working as the Village Recreation Director, Greco has been a coach at the Monticello School District.

“I care about the whole community,” Greco said. “As a community we have a lot of problems that are fixable. When I say we need youth programs, I’ve run youth programs and shown that it can be done. When I say we need to get young people jobs, I've done that.”

Jenkins and Massey gathered enough petition signatures to launch a primary challenge. Jenkins previously served as village mayor until 2015 when he was removed from office by the State Supreme Court Appellate Division, citing incidents of misconduct.

Jenkins says he’s focused on the future and giving village residents a choice. Since leaving office, he still attends village meetings and is a regular voice during public comment.

“I’m running to do what I've always done - get taxes down, watch budgets and try to get things going here in the village,” he said. “I own a business and property here. I care about and love this community. Why should I not run?”

Sabatino and Massey were both elected to the board in 2018.

Sabatino in the past has described Monticello as a “diamond in the rough” and  ran on a platform that included improving parking along Broadway and focusing more on code enforcement in the village.

Massey has previously served as Deputy Mayor alongside former Mayor Gary Sommers.