Rutenberg earns Cloverdale Town Board nod

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:44 PM

By Paul Gable

In what was one of the most interesting races in the Putnam County primary election season, the voters in the town of Cloverdale had the final say when it came to the Ward 3 Town of Cloverdale seat between Daphne Rutenberg and incumbent Brandon Tancak.

Tancak had resigned his seat in early March and suspended his campaign, going quiet leading up to the primary election, while Rutenberg continued to promote herself on social media.

In the end, the promotion worked, as Rutenberg held on, picking up 120 votes or 51.5 percent to Tancak's 113 or 48.5 percent.

"I'm truly honored and thankful for the support of the people that believed in me. Thank you to everyone that braved the weather to vote today. Thank you to my family and friends who continue to be by my side throughout this journey," Rutenberg told The Putnam County Post.

As for Tancak, he maintains that while he lost, he is far from being done with politics.

"I want to first and foremost thank my family and the incredible supporters who have stood by me throughout this journey. Your encouragement, belief and constant support over the past five years have meant more than I can put into words. Serving this town, one that I care so deeply about has been both an honor and a privilege. I'm proud of the work we've done together and the relationships we've built along the way. Congratulations to those who won their primary races. I wish you the best heading into November. While this chapter may be coming to a close, it's far from the end. When one door closes, another opens, and I am not going anywhere. My commitment to this community hasn't changed. I will continue working behind the scenes to support the people and the future of this town. To everyone who has supported me, thank you for believing in me. This isn't the end, it's just the beginning of what's next. Stay tuned," Tancak said.