TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. — First-time candidates Ryan Ham and Michael Tinnie are on the November ballot to fill the final year of a vacant Town Board term.

Ham, 36, will be on the Democratic line. He is a foreman for Baker Brothers Excavation and has lived in the town for eight years. He graduated from Kingston High School in 2007 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, in 2012.

Election 2026: Michael Tinnie, Ryan Ham vie for Ulster town board seat

Ryan Ham earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, in 2012.

Election - Daily Freeman

Ham, 36, will be on the Democratic line. He is a foreman for Baker Brothers Excavation and has lived in the town for eight years. He graduated from Kingston High School in 2007 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, in 2012.

Ryan Ham works as a foreman for Baker Brothers Excavation.

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. — First-time candidates Ryan Ham and Michael Tinnie are on the November ballot to fill the final year of a vacant Town Board term.

Ryan is a first-time candidate for the Town of Ulster Town Board.

2026 New York General Election

As of October 22, 2026, Ryan Ham did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Ham also said he would like to review how town departments are used.

“There’s certain departments within the town that you’ve got to really look at and see if they’re understaffed and being overutilized,” he said. “These are people who provide services to us. We rely on them as citizens of the town.”

Wants to review whether town departments are understaffed or used too extensively.

- Wants to review whether town departments are understaffed or used too extensively.

Public Services

Ryan Ham (Photo Provided)

“Kingston Motel is a very hot topic lately,” he said. “I understand that this is a homeless shelter and it’s helping meet the needs of people, but if it’s not safe, is it meeting the needs of the people?” he said. “That’s something that definitely needs to get looked at, however that happens. If that’s discussing things with the county, have the discussions with them, but obviously, there needs to be more done.”

Calls for discussions with the county and further action to ensure the Kingston Motel homeless shelter is safe.

- Calls for discussions with the county and further action to ensure the Kingston Motel homeless shelter is safe.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

The three proposed lithium-ion battery facilities are a conundrum for the town, according to Ham.

“You have green energy initiatives that need to be met and we have to go about meeting these in order to meet the … standards that we’ve set,” he said. “The battery storage plant is a way that we can accomplish this, that’s for sure. But you don’t want to build something that won’t be safe for our residents. It’s one of those situations that you really need to deep dive into it and make sure it is the right decision for the community.”

Supports battery storage to help meet green energy standards while calling for a review of the safety of residents and whether it fits the community.

- Supports battery storage to help meet green energy standards while calling for a review of the safety of residents and whether it fits the community.

Energy & the Environment

Ryan Ham

As of October 22, 2026, Ryan Ham’s website did not contain information on this issue.