Hugh Reynolds on the District Attorney's Race:
Republican district attorney Holley Carnright of Saugerties came into office three years ago under a cloud, inheriting the too-long-delayed and underfunded grand-jury investigation on the jail from Don Williams. Under those conditions, that Carnright produced virtually nothing was surely no surprise. But, Republicans, after activist DAs like Williams (now a county judge) and appellate judge Mike Kavanagh, probably expected more than a nine-to-five low-profile chief prosecutor who shunned so-called “political cases.”Both sides believe this office in play.
Politicians, like generals, tend to fight the last battle. It is not lost on anyone that Carnright polled 46 percent of the vote in the 2007 three-way race with Democrat Jonathan Sennett of New Paltz and now Democrat, Vince Bradley Jr. of Kingston running on the Conservative and Independence lines. Unspectacular, steady Carnright, the minority DA, is the GOP’s best hope. And that speaks volumes.
Sennett, assiduously courting Democratic support for the last three years, should be his party’s standard-bearer. The only real “outsider” three years ago, he could, with some tweaking of out-of-step leftish tendencies, be a formidable candidate in a one-on-one race this time.
Republican district attorney Holley Carnright of Saugerties came into office three years ago under a cloud, inheriting the too-long-delayed and underfunded grand-jury investigation on the jail from Don Williams. Under those conditions, that Carnright produced virtually nothing was surely no surprise. But, Republicans, after activist DAs like Williams (now a county judge) and appellate judge Mike Kavanagh, probably expected more than a nine-to-five low-profile chief prosecutor who shunned so-called “political cases.”Both sides believe this office in play.
Politicians, like generals, tend to fight the last battle. It is not lost on anyone that Carnright polled 46 percent of the vote in the 2007 three-way race with Democrat Jonathan Sennett of New Paltz and now Democrat, Vince Bradley Jr. of Kingston running on the Conservative and Independence lines. Unspectacular, steady Carnright, the minority DA, is the GOP’s best hope. And that speaks volumes.
Sennett, assiduously courting Democratic support for the last three years, should be his party’s standard-bearer. The only real “outsider” three years ago, he could, with some tweaking of out-of-step leftish tendencies, be a formidable candidate in a one-on-one race this time.
29 comments:
What out of step leftish tendencies? He supported the repeal of the Rockefeller Drug laws. That happened. Is supporting, in select cases, alternative sentencing leftish? These political labels are BS. Sennett will balance strong prosecution of hardened criminals with alternative methods for those who with help can stay out of the prison system.
Jonathan is a moderate Democrat, look at our Attorney General, there is a left leaning guy and I think the people of this great state and Ulster County agreed that he is not out of touch when they elected him.
Go Johnny go go go! Johnny be good!
How sad that Sue Zimet is asking people if Vince Bradley will run..obv she could care less about Vince just trying to hurt Jon. I got news for you if Mr.Sennett has an enemy whos name is Sue Zimet than he has my support. I also will be calling Vince and asking him to support Jon as well.
I agree with the previous comment, Sue Zimet's backing is no blessing. Speaking of sad though, it is a sad commentary on my part that I had no idea who Carnright was until I read the freeman today. Where has he been the last four years? I don't care about Zena test scores, I want someone that will go after curroption and prosecute criminals. Stop the fluff, show me some substance. Sennett all the way, bro!
If Zimet is so concerned maybe she should run for DA. She seems to like running for things and dropping out anyway...
If Zimet supported him, I would worry. She is a cancer and the sooner Ulster County is rid of her, the better. Here is to wishing she sells her house soon.
I am already 100% behind Hector Rodriguez in the Legislature too. Let's not let her poison that pool before Hector gets a foot hold.
I am sure we will get the obligatory it is "becuase she is strong woman" shit. Well, I am here to tell you that is not true, she is just an asshole and the last time I checked, being an asshole didn't require being a man.
Sennett would be a great DA and I am willing to bet one of the best we have ever had here in Ulster County as well.
Jon Sennett is EXACTLY who this county needs.
Zimet...Zimet..Hasn't she done enough civic duty for Ulster County? Take a break. Move to South Florida. Relax. Retire. Rnjoy the warm tropical climate instead of all this snow. Drink some Kadeem, kick back and enjoy life. Matzeltov!
There is a new Blog in town, we pull no punches, name names and let the chips, (cow chips), fall where they may. Join in the fun and find out a few things that you wont find in the Freeman.
Rodriguez is an idiot. Sennet is a good guy who deserves the support and the job
David... aka... Ulster Insider... where is the blog?
Let's hope the public will elect the right person this time. You can't blame lack of funding for the jail "under" investigation. Or the fact that nothing is being done to investigate falsification of records at the RRA. What about the use of DSS benefit cards.....any arrests there or was it all left up to Social Services and arresting the owners alone.
The DA should not be in the press his job is to investigate and prosecute those who have done wrong and Holly Carnright has done and will continue to do a great job for Ulster County! We don't need another egomaniac in office!
I heard County Leg. Susan Zimet actually caucuses with the Republicans. She is a disgrace for the Democrats.
Rumors flying that Carnright may not even run. Maybe he does not want to face the scrutiny of running a soft DA's office.
Hey Blabber, (mouth) no mention of the State Audit and your buddy Auerbach, it wont go away you know!
8:11 - Carnright has done a shitty job. He investigates Zena test scores which the state is already doing - he's wasting my money. He doesn't prosecute crimes that should be prosecuted (like the rape at KHS) and then wastes time and money on stupid investigations. Sennett is the perfect person to be DA in this county; he is an "outsider" (by Kingston definitions - someone who wasn't born and didn't go to elementary through high school here) who owes no one anything - someone who is not, and never will be, one of the good ol' boys.
Let's be honest Jonathan was a good candidate in 07, he lost by 4 thousand votes in a 3 way race, with the other Dem getting 10 thousand!
In a one on one race Gilda and Debra lost to their oponents by what 7-10 thousand votes?
Jonathan is going to steamroll. over Holly Carnright, the minority District Attorney.
Steamroll? You must be kidding. Even in a 3 way race he would of needed over 70% of the third party candidate's votes to beat Carnright by just one vote. You think he is going to get 70% of those people? Very unlikely. Neither one of those guys would of beaten Carnright. He got 45% in a three way race...that is a big number.
You have no idea what you are talking about, Vince Bradley or Jon Sennett would of mopped the floor with Carnright one on one.
On the flip side of your 45% argument, he will never win with 45% and he will have to get at least 5.0000001% of the people who voted for Bradley / Sennett to win.
That is not likely, especially with a sub par record as a prosecutor.
Holly will not run. He does not want to be humiliated.
Another Democrat is going to announce and get the nomination. Sennett will regret badmouthing Julian for the past three years.
Bradley took more votes from Carnright than from Sennett. Do you really think the Bradley supporters are going to come over to Sennett? Think again. It will be Williams Schneer numbers.
It amazes me how poorly you political junkies are able to interpret voting data on the County level.
Gilpatric barely carried the county against an Albany unknown. And he had three lines.
UMM, I beleive Gilpatric carried this county and Albany county and every other county pretty handidly my friend.
Holly has no shot bro, give it up or he will be really embarassed.
Even when Holly tries to grow a set and get himself in the paper it's about zena test scores.
Let's evaluate how Holly did on his jail investigation, the incident of money being solicited by high elected officials from out of the area, the KHS sex scandle, faliure to act on numerous county matters. This guy has set behind Donny Williams' desk (who was a great da) for 4 yrs and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Sennett all the way.
Anonymous Poaster Spewed...
>Bradley took more votes from >Carnright than from Sennett. Do >you really think the Bradley >supporters are going to come over >to Sennett? Think again. It will >be Williams Schneer numbers.
>It amazes me how poorly you >political junkies are able to >interpret voting data on the >County level.
>Gilpatric barely carried the >county against an Albany unknown. >And he had three lines.
Schneer was a hug-a-thug judge who
never should have been nominated. I believe a sensible Democrat would have had a fighting chance against a donkey backstabber williams.
Gilpatric, although a friend and a damm good judge, had his own issues with that BULLSHIT case log censure and his unfortunate disease, so that may have scared off a few voters.
Jon Sennett is highly qualified to be our D.A. and I have no doubts would have won if Junior had done the correct thing and bowed his Wilson Pakula Ass out of the race.
Other Poasters to Blabbers blog have correctly denoted that the old guard does not want Jon in there as DA. Fuck Em. Albany County had the same situation with David Soares a few years ago where remnants of the old Corning machine tried in vein to derail his campaign, and all of their fears have not been realized. Soares, like Jon is a bit more progressive, but that is what we need. We do not need a DA who is going to hide his head in the sand and not investigate and prosecute obvious crimes committed by corrupt public officials who happen to be his cronies down at the old watering hole. That is the fundamental difference between Jon Sennett and Holly Carnright, aside from competence issues.
The old guard is still around...they haven't all died off yet. Jon will still face challenges if he wants to be the DA. I hope he gets it. We will all be better off.
Poasty von Poastenstein
Saw Jon today @ the Post Office.
He is running for sure.
Should be fun, he is a formidable campaigner & with ol' Bradley Jr all tied up with Cuomo's ascent & all the room to move up in the A.G.'s office, Vince-baby aint goin nowhere near the D.A.'s office. Even with Susan Zimet's nastiness urging Bradley to run,run,run. nasty witch that she is.
What makes this Sennett guy "qualified"? All I see coming from his supporters is that he is more qualified than Carnright. I am willing to listen, but from what I can see is that the guy served for under four years in a DA's office in the Bronx, which means he didn't get to do a heck of a lot of serious stuff when he was there. Since he has been up here, it looks like he is a part-time public defender in a solo office and not much else. I am having a hard time seeing how that translates into taking over an office with a couple dozen employees and over a 2 million dollar budget. From what I can tell this guy has not supervised anyone....EVER. He has also not had to handle a budget this size EVER. Can someone clarify this because I question if he would even be hired by a District Attorney's Office as an Assistant based on his resume.
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