Blaber News Person of the Week Brian Woltman

For 2012 I resolve to update this blog on a regular basis and I also plan to bring back some of the great regular spots I used to have like pin heads and patriots (which I took from O'Reilly) but it was fun to do on a local level. I also would like to bring back the Blaber News Person of the week.. I used to write something nice about someone ever week and post it on the blog. Usually this person is someone that is a local official, volunteer or someone that is newsworthy or was newsworthy for that specific week.


 I first met Brian back in 2006 when I was doing my tv show, I had to pay a parking ticket at city hall. Brian introduced himself and said he had saw the show, after that I would run into him from time to time and we became friends.

I did a story about Brian's help back when city court had to be moved for renovations, Brian had done a lot of work on the mechanics of the move, far and above his duties as the city purchaser for the City of Kingston. That's not unusual for Brian, Brain takes his work at City Hall very seriously and many times will go above and beyond what is expected of him in his role in city government. However Brian has the same  seriousness and dedication about most things.

This past year Brian helped a lot in Shayne Gallo's race for Mayor. Woltman was one of the original five people that were on Gallo's committee from day one and was a loyal supporter in good times and bad. Woltman was a loyal solider, he nominated Gallo with his infamous: Gallo gets it speech and put himself out there as a city employee to some extent and it's very honorable, to pick a life long friendship over the possibility of losing your job, if you back the wrong horse.

There is some talk Brian may run for a seat on the legislature when his current legislator retires, and some would say he is the heir apparent to that seat. He has my vote and is this weeks person of the week.

Coming next few days 2012 Predictions

 In the next few days, I will do my 2012 predictions, I thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and look at the predictions I made last year.

On December 28th 2010, I did a blog post on 2011 predictions, and some I was pretty good on and some I was way off on..but actually for writing these in Decemeber of last year, I think I did ok..I was dead on about the Kingston races and this was way before any of the candidates had announced, some had not even thought of running yet.


http://blabernews.blogspot.com/search?q=2011+predictions   <~~~~~ post from December 2010

Kingston Mayor Jim Sottile will not run for reelection or finish his full term in office.

I was right on the money on Sottile not running, he is finishing his term.

Kingston will see primaries on both the Democratic and Republican sides for the office of mayor.

Was accurate on prediction number 2, which was a good call being I made it in December

The winner of the Kingston Mayor's race will be a Kingston native and established politico, although considered some what of an underdog in the primary, his huge primary win gives him great momentum and an easy win in November..a few Aldermen may be tapped to serve in the administration, leaving some open seats and special elections in key areas of Kingston.

For the most part with the exception of only the special election part, this predication came true.

Kingston's Ward 6 will continue to have solid representation and the Ball will start moving forward bringing Kingston on the right track, another candidate will make some noise about running but he will quickly and swiftly be shut down

four for four!

The common council will remain solidly Democratic..two former Aldermen will make a run for the council again...one will be successful, one will not.

half right on this one

Kingston will elect it's first female Alderman at Large; in fact the election in 2011 will guarantee that a female holds the post

dead wrong...at the time I was thinking Provanzano vs. Levin

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A bright charismatic former prosecutor and Kingston trial lawyer will be elected Ulster County District Attorney. The new Democratic D.A. will quickly transform the Ulster D.A.'s office in similar ways Spitzer transformed the NYS AG's office and will eventually go on to hold statewide office.

ok...I was wrong on that one too...ah, what could have been.

A Democrat will run on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines for County Executive; Mike Hein fighting on the Democratic and working families lines will be reelected by an Andrew Cuomo type margin.

Wrong on that end..at the time I was think Zimet may run

Incumbent legislators that will not be returning to the county legislature after 2011 : T.J. Briggs, Donald Gregorius, Richard Parete, Mike Sweeney, Robert Aeillo, Fred Wadnola, Jim Maloney, Jeanettee Provanzano, Al Lomita, Jack Hayes, Frank Fellicello, Sue Zimet, David Donaldson, Marybeth Maio

(note only two of these incumbents will lose their reelection bids, the rest may chose to retire with the redistricting, others (3) may run for higher offices.)

I was wrong on eight of these..but I was right Sue did run for higher office. When I did this Rich and Rob where going to be in the same district, I thought Jeannette was running for Alderman at Large...I did my best.

Two ulster co. legislators will be investigated and their reputations "trashed" for unethical relationships with a county agency

...nothing to this one...

A high ranking county political appointment will be "encouraged" to take early retirement rather than face termination

was wrong on this one

With the Democratic ranks swelling, and the Republicans shrinking, Julian Schrieman will be challenged from within the party to act more like the Majority Chairman and less like a casual observer

this may still happen..

A new local, middle of the road political party will be talked about to take advantage of the huge number of non enrolled voters

to be fair, I didnt write this one haha

Reapportionment will be the battle of the year in the County Legislature. The Republicans will not accept fair districts and force court action....again.

pretty accurate...this ended up being a huge issue

In the end it does not matter, Mike Hein's coattails and a Cahill returning to the legislature (and we don't mean Kevin, Mr. Malloney) bring Democrats back to the majority party, although it will be close.

Oh I wish Brian would of ran..he would of been that one vote I was talking about that would of given Dems the Majority :(

Not my back, not your back...it's Auerbach

 Auerbach and I in June of 2008 after his big convention win! I was much bigger than :(

I was looking on Facebook and came across some great pictures, this picture was taken moments after Auerbach won the Democratic convention in 2008 in his bid for County Comptroller, he went on to win the general election over Republican Jim Quigley. Elliott's race was the first serious race I was involved with and the beginning of a great friendship.

It may seem like a dumb post about a picture that was taken three years ago but when I look at it, it brings back a lot of memories. That was a big night for me, I felt accomplished, I was part of his team and I was proud of him and I looked up to him, I still do. Elliott was the first person that ever gave me a chance and took me seriously in politics and I am very grateful to him for that and he remains someone that has serves as a political mentor to me. He's a great guy and doing a great job as our county comptroller.

Congrats Majority Leader Hoffay

Alderman Hoffay will become Majority Leader Hoffay on January 1st. I was hoping for Robert Senor for no other reason than that Bob was a loyal Gallo supporter but I wish Hoffay the best. Tom will be a good Majority Leader, he is very bright and very savvy.


Hoffay who is retiered said he would make sure the office of Majority Leader has regular hours for new Dem Alderman (there is 4 of them) and that is a really good thing. I think everyone has full confidence in Hoffay's ability moving forward.

Can Kingston Dem Boss Cardinale Hang On?

Traditionally, The chief executive is the titular head of his party, so if the Mayor has differences with the chairman...Oh Well, there's only one boss.

                                                  -Hugh Reynolds, regarding Kingston Dem Boss Frank Cardinale