A sign for the town of Caroga by Barney Signs in Johnstown on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

Highway Superintendent Roy Stock is seeking his first full term in the role since his appointment in January.

Stock was appointed after former highway superintendent Larry Voght resigned from the role after being charged with official misconduct in December. The 68-year-old Voght is said to have allegedly had a town employee build him a doghouse and doing so while on the clock about four years ago, according to his attorney Bob Abdella of Abdella and Sise LLP. Both he and Voght said that Voght will not be seeking re-election for the role despite his name being on the ballot.

“I would be 70 by the time the two-year term was up,” Voght said in a text message Wednesday. “I just want to retire — my girls and wife said to retire so I am.”

Voght isn’t the first Caroga highway superintendent to run into legal trouble. In 2019, former superintendent Steve Putnam was charged with fraud when he allegedly took damaged parts off one town truck, put them on a second truck and then submitted a claim to the town’s insurance company to get the truck repaired.

Voght, running on a third-party line, defeated Putnam in 2019.

Abdella said Voght’s criminal case is still being litigated, and that he entered a plea of not guilty six months ago. He said there’s nothing new on the case, and that he’s working closely with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to find a resolution.

“The district attorney and I are continuing to discuss the case, and we’re hopeful that there’ll be a resolution sooner rather than later,” Abdella said.

Voght affirmed his support for Stock in the upcoming election. He said he is supporting Stock because he is a dedicated employee and was his deputy during his time as superintendent.

“I tried to get off the ballot but it was too late to get my name off,” he said in a text message. “I have no sign-up, no nothing for my support. I am supporting Roy Stock for the election. I want nothing to do with the town board or the election. Please, everyone, support Roy Stock.”

Stock, a Caroga native, graduated from Johnstown High School in 2008 and is running as a Republican. When asked about his relationship with Voght, he said he got along with him, and has nothing bad to say about him. He previously worked at Amsterdam Printing manning the fill machine before joining the highway department in Caroga eight years ago. Working for the town highway department has become a family legacy.

“I’m the fourth generation in the highway department, so I’ve been around it all my life,” Stock said. “Just keep honesty and integrity moving forward.”

The 35-year-old has plans to upgrade town highway equipment if elected.

“It’s outdated,” Stock said. “We’ve been fixing it, trying to get everything back up to snuff, and we just purchased a new dump truck for the town…I’m on-call 24 hours a day. The phone rings, I answer it. I’m here for the people and to make the town succeed.”

Town Supervisor Ralph Palcovic commended Stock for his work so far as highway superintendent.

“He’s got a great communication level with the public, and I get feedback from that, and I get ‘thank you’s’ for [his] prompt attention,” he said. “That’s all positive, and he has a good communication level with all the board members.”

Jade Bonneau, an Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville senior stands in the high school auditorium on the last day of classes Monday, June 16, 2025.

Jade Bonneau, an Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville senior stands on the stage in the high school auditorium on the last day of classes Monday, June 16, 2025.

Jade Bonneau, an Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville senior has some fun in the high school auditorium on the last day of classes Monday, June 16, 2025.

Jade Bonneau, an Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville senior stands on the stage in the high school auditorium on the last........

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