Village Elections: March 18, 2026Voters in the Village of Dryden will be asked to vote for: two (2) Trustees for two (2) year terms.Polling Location: Dryden Village Hall, 16 South St., Dryden. Polls open: 12 noon - 9pm.Tompkins County Board of Elections: For more information, including sample ballotshttps://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Board-of-Elections(607) 274-5522/5521; 128 East Buffalo Street, Ithaca. 9-5pm Mon. - Fri.Trustees: The legislative body of a village is composed of the mayor and the trustees. The village board has broad powers to govern the affairs of the village, including: establishing self-organization and rules of procedure, adopting a budget and providing for the financing of village activities, managing village properties, and granting approval of appointments made by the mayor.
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Candidate's Name
Rachel A M Sumner
Current Employment/Occupation
Educator & dialogue practitioner
Government Experience-elected or volunteer (e.g. committees)
Town of Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission
Education
B.A. (Psychology) from William Smith College; Ph.D. (Developmental Psychology) from Cornell University
My hope for Dryden is that residents actively participate in shaping the direction of our community because they feel invested in this place and connected to each other. If elected, I will be a responsible steward of our natural and economic resources, ensuring that Dryden’s infrastructure, services, and greenspaces continue to meet residents’ needs even as our population expands. In recent years Main Street has been improved by having more local businesses, and I’m especially eager to support the ongoing revitalization of our downtown in addition developing more opportunities for people to come together.
In my work I collaborate with others to design and implement dialogue courses and programs, some of which include thousands of participants. I collect and analyze data to inform program-related decisions, communicating relevant takeaways to different audiences. I also teach courses and workshops where people build their skills for engaging in dialogue, working toward mutual understanding even among those who have different beliefs, backgrounds, and values. Having served on the Tompkins County Relay for Life planning committee for five years and as a current member of the town’s Recreation and Youth Commission, I’ve learned from experiences of bringing people together to identify needs, developing a plan for addressing them, and following through on commitments to the community.
When reading a summary of results from a national 2024 survey (”Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life”), I was struck by the extraordinary amount of existing civic infrastructure in Dryden - from our shops and restaurants to our library and parks, people have opportunities to gather and participate in our community. As our population expands, we are faced with ensuring that these civic resources, along with physical infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, sewer system), continue to meet the needs of residents. With careful planning and thoughtful, collaborative implementation, I believe we can maintain and even enhance quality of life in the Village as we grow.
In recent years, the Village has been awarded grants to support maintenance and development; continuing to seek grant funding will help bolster our economic resources for necessary and ambitious projects ahead. In applying for the NY Forward grant that was awarded in 2025, the Village articulated its commitment to Smart Growth principles (e.g., connected communities, prioritizing community voice, attending to accessibility). I think the values underlying this approach will help us navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with population growth in a small town, informing both the allocation of resources and the process through which such decisions are made.
The monthly Board of Trustees meeting is open to the public and offers a great opportunity for a conversation in which residents and elected officials can share how they’re experiencing local issues and articulate their goals for our community. As someone who's attended these meetings for over a year, I appreciate how informative they can be! For those who can’t or don’t want to attend Board meetings, email offers a flexible option for communication. In addition to these existing avenues for sharing information and receiving feedback, I’d seek out opportunities to meet people where they are, bringing my curiosity, empathy, and active listening to interactions with members of the community at large events like Dairy Day and more intimate conversations over coffee downtown.
