Elliott Auerbach and James Quigley want to be the county's first comptroller, the position that will replace the treasurer and will be responsible for auditing the books. Both should be able to run a nine-person, $510,000 department. Quigley is a CPA, and that should accrue to his benefit. Auerbach is a current village manager, familiar with municipal finance and good with people, and that should accrue to his benefit. This one is a tough call, but we'll endorse Auerbach as able to watch where the money goes while listening to the people it goes to and comes from.
The campaign for Ulster County's first executive has been something of a disappointment. And yet, if county voters elect Democrat Michael Hein we will likely get the person we need - the guy who will conduct the necessary work to set up the office of executive, who will watch the budget and count the beans, who can put all the pieces in place. These will be the primary tasks of the first county executive. We could argue that it is not necessary to elect a great political visionary for the county, first because we don't appear to have one, and second because organization could be a greater key to this first term. It's a complicated office, there's a new administrative code to be followed and a relationship to be built between executive and legislature.
Len Bernardo is not the man for this task. It's a nuts and bolts time and his grasp of the situation is lacking. Running a government is quite different from running a private business, where his expertise lies.
Hein never struck us as an ideal candidate - he switched parties, came up with too much familiarity with the old power structure in the county, and is making a novice's run at office. But his experience as county administrator gives him a leg up on knowing what desks have to go where and that should suffice for a first term.
11 comments:
Jeremy
Obama wants to penalize me for working hard and providing jobs to my employees because we earn more than 250k a year.
he wants me to pay for more people who didnt work as hard as I did as cant provide for themselves (or as we know all of the welfare abuseres that sit and watch and dont add to our society)
Why should I be responsible for these people when I am already providing for my family and employees?
According to your candidate i should be penalized for my success and help others who dont help them selves
Does that sound fair to you?
Even you cant beleive that this is the way our ancestors beleive our government would work, after all we dumped tea in the harbor because someone told us we had to pay more taxes....
Do you beleive this country can survive with this type of thinking in charge?
If so we are all in big trouble
Grant it McCain is no prize but at least he knows that business is what made this country great, not our welfare system.
So what? The Kingston Times is run by a far left group. This is NOT a big endorsement and I am sure Auerbach would trade it for the Freeman endorsement anytime.
Looks like they split the baby, Blaber. The endorsement by Hollander in the Woodstock Times is for Quigley. The endorsement in the Kingston Times by Hollander and Zucker is for Auerbach. That's what you call covering all the bases.
If you want to really change county government, break up the good old boys network, and get things done, the choice is Bernardo/Auerbach.
They are not owned by any special interests, are both good honest people, and will work hard for the taxpayer's best interests.
5:31 - if your taxable income exceeds $250K a year - that means after all your write-offs, deductions, exemptions, etc. - then only that portion over $250K will have an increase of 3%. Sorry - I don't feel sorry for you if your NET taxable income is more than a quarter million dollars. If your asshole president and McSame didn't want to continue to spend $10B a month over in Iraq, maybe that small increase wouldn't be necessary. Bush gave the wealthy a tax cut (President Clinton got $78,000) - it's time you paid your fair share.
And, judging from the way you write, you should be working at Walmart for the minimum wage. You're a typical McSame supporter: stupid and selfish!
Why should people get taxed for being successful? Its there hard earned money.
10:38 got it right.
The Kingston Good Old Boys Club is a mafia that needs to be broken up.
Their tentacles reach deep into our taxpaying pockets.
They are ruthless.
I'm voting Auerbach and Bernardo.
3:54 FORGETTA BOUT IT!
11:00
Your just jealous because someone knows how to work hard and make more money then you.
Get over it!!
5:31,3:43, and 4:12 are the same illiterate moron who can't spell and obviously doesn't make squat. Another illegal plumber! Any idiot that makes enough to be affected by Obama's tax plan and can't figure out how to shelter it, deserves to lose it!
to 11:00
I apologize for my typing, I was rushing to vent while I was doing payroll for my employees.
First of all, it is not my fault that we are at war, and it certainly isnt my fault that our country favors, pleasing the poor and lazy but taxing the rich.
How do you conclude that I should be working with you at Wal Mart?
Please tell me why I should have to pay more to help the needy, just because I am able to earn more than you? as for 9:18, I am able to hide as much money as possible yearly and legally however If I threw out 3% everytime someone asked me for it, i would be at Wal Mart with 11:00. It is my dedication and hard worked that have made me successful and I dont feel the need to provide anymore to a society that is pleased with sitting and watching me work with thier hands out. did your granparents come here and ask the govt to pay thier way? I think not
The issue that no one wants to talk about is welfare reform. Make these people have some type of employment (if they are phycically able) and then help them with the rest of monies they need to survive, not foot the whole bill.
Tell these people that if you become pregnant while recieving my monthly support check, we will cut you off without a cent. See if that slows things down a bit.
No one will stand up and say this because then 11:00 will cry that we that have resources, BUT wont give to the needy.
Its a matter of when is this enough, and why should I be punished for my success.
by no means am I a McCain supporter, but at least he understands that the people in this country that work and provide jobs (which i do) should not be penalized for the lack of effort that is put forth by the lazy and ignorant. ( by no means is this an attack on people who are trying to get or do better and are not able. I will assit them all day. If you are a leech on the system, and you all know who you are, deal with it...I didnt create your problems, so I shouldnt be responsible to solving them)
Obama needs to know that we cant feed everyone who doesnt want to work for thier dinner.
I went to public schools and no college, so i am not priviledged, but I worked hard and save my earnings, why should my president punish me?
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