Democrat committee chairman Rich Campbell said party members endorsed two candidates _ Lynne Mebust and Eric Hage during the caucus last Thursday. Mebust is a Democrat and Hage is a registered Independent. A third candidate, Patrick Christman, was also nominated during the caucus, Campbell said.

``I think we had three strong candidates,’’ he said.

On Tuesday night, Republicans endorsed Tim Feury, a Republican, and cross-endorsed Hage, who will appear on both the Democratic and Republican lines on the ballot.

Stuart Taugher, the senior member of the village board of trustees, announced at the Democratic caucus that he had decided not to seek another three-year term after 40 years in local government.

His decision and Glenn Hubbell’s earlier resignation means there will be two new faces on the board following the March election.

Campbell said he was happy to see some new faces at the Democratic caucus, which drew almost 20 people.

The mix of new blood and some older party members with their institutional knowledge of the village will be a winning combination, he said.

Long-time committee member Hugh McDougall advised candidates that ``one key to getting elected in this village is to knock on as many doors as possible. That’s worth more than all the posters,’’

All three candidates are political newcomers.

Mebust, 44, lives on Pioneer St. with her husband and three sons. She said she has had a lifelong interest in politics, but this will be her first run for office. She has served on the village Parks Board since last spring.

``It has been real interesting learning how the process works and the importance of planning,’’ she said.

She spent 14 years as a program manager for a not-for-profit educational agency in Washington D.C. and believes her experience in strategic planning, fundraising and grant writing would be assets on the village board.

Mebust said she would like to remain involved in the village parks, which she described as ``some real treasures.’’ Also on her list of interests is pedestrian and traffic safety, and infrastructure.

Hage, 42, resides on Nelson Ave. with his wife and three children. He is in an investment partnership, Mohican Financial Management, located on Railroad Ave.

Like Mebust, Hage is new to politics. He was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Leatherstocking Cooperative Insurance.

Running for office is something he has been considering for some time and now that his life and business is on a stable footing he has more time to dedicate to it.

``My family is getting older and settled into the community and now I have the time to do it,’’ he said. ``I have the time to give back to the village.’’

Hage earned an MBA, spent many years working on Wall Street and believes his background would be helpful with village finances.

He said his children are at ages where they make use of the village parks and that is an area in which he is also interested.

``The kids are active and at ages where they benefit from the parks and I like to skate, too,’’ he said.

Feury, 63, and his wife live on Chestnut St. Their two children live in Manhattan.

He is a retired actuary and most recently spent over 20 years with Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Syracuse.

Feury said he moved here with his family when he was three-years-old and feels indebted to the village for helping launch him into his life.

``Now is the time,’’ he said, ``to pay that back.’’

He has maintained an active interest in local government and what is going on in the village.

His goal as a trustee would be to improve the quality of life for residents and said he is willing to work on issues or projects they feel need attention.

Feury said growing up in Cooperstown and having a good understanding of how the village has evolved is the biggest asset he would bring to the board of trustees.

The village election is Tues., March 20.