Ulster County had to wait until after the election for a dramatic change in local politics: Longtime Ulster town supervisor James Quigley III announced he will step down just two days after winning an uncontested race for a seventh two-year term.

In a letter delivered to the town board on Thursday night, Quigley said his resignation will take effect January 1, meaning he will complete his current term through the end of 2025 but not serve the term to which he was just re-elected. Quigley, 69, has led the town since 2009 and secured 2,094 votes on Tuesday; hours before notifying the board of his resignation, he appointed councilman Clayton Van Kleeck as deputy supervisor, replacing councilwoman Anna Hayner, who lost her reelection bid this week.

The timing of the move comes against a back

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