city of Kingston Mayor and Aldermen Take Office

Here are some pictures from the swearing in ceremony at Kingston City Hall. I really wanted to be there but I live on a large hill and I was snowed in for much of the afternoon until I could get plowed. Due to the fact that I was not there, I have limited photo coverage of the event. Thanks to Alderman Madsen for e-mailing me the pictures below. Anyone with additional pictures can send them to me at jeremyblaber@yahoo.com and I will publish them.

Congratulations to Mayor Jim Sottile and Alderman at Large Jim Noble and all the Aldermen that were sworn in. Especially Alderman Reynolds, Alderman Senor, Alderwoman Ringwood and Alderwoman Whitlock.

The Common Council for 2008-2010 and how they will govern :

Ward 1 Al Teetsel, when he shows up, Minority Leader :

Al can be a good Alderman if he would stand up for something and stop being such a follower...I don't expect much.

Ward 2 Jen Ringwood :

Jen is a proven leader and will continue the good work that she started two years ago. Expect her to continue to introduce legislation that will improve the quality of life for Kingstonians.

Ward 3 Charlie Landi :

Not a big fan of Charlie but he knows his stuff and the issues of the third ward. I expect Charlie to follow lock step with Sottile. Despite the speculation, I doubt that the 'old Landi' will resurface anytime in the near future.

Ward 4 Rev. Shirley Whitlock :

Shirley will be a breath of fresh air to the fourth ward and I really think that even her opponents will be impressed with the leadership that she shows in the next two years.

Ward 5 Cruella DiBella :

Cruella is a mean spirited person that is in it for herself. I don't expect much.

Ward 6 Ron Polacco :

Ron will either be quite and learn the ropes or will be a thorn in Sottile's back and use the seat as a stepping stone for higher office...only time will tell.

Ward 7 Bill Reynolds, Majority Leader :

What can I say about Bill, Kingston's Seventh Ward will continue to shine under his leadership. Reynolds should be mayor.

Ward 8 Robert Senor :

Alderman Senor will continue to fight for the residents of the Eighth Ward and they will be well served. I think Senor will show a little more independence this term.

Ward 9 Mike Madsen :

Madsen is a very involved Alderman and will continue to be a voice for the 9th ward and for parking meters. To give you an example of low dedicated Madsen is, on Christmas I had to run to the gas station to pick something up and on the side of the road was Madsen changing a municipal trash can. He cares about Kingston.


Mayor James Sottile is sworn in by Judge James P.Gilpatric, with his wife MaryBeth Sottile

Common Council President James Noble is sworn in for another term by Judge Ball as his family looks on.

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Shirley Whitlock and to her left my good friend and master mind behind the 2007 elections Dr. Nassar Habbib

Kingston City Judge James Gilpatric and part time City Judge Larry Ball

An Iowa family makes it clear who they're supporting in the upcoming Democratic caucus.

Carnright Sworn in as D.A.

Holley Carnright was sworn in today to a four year term as Ulster County District Attorney. Mike Kavanaugh presided over the well attended ceremony. Judge Work, Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, Under Sheriff Falutico, Legislator Jim Maloney and Jonathan Sennett were some of the people in attendance.

Blaber's News Hits 100,000 Visits

Blaber's News and Commentary hits new milestone

100,000 + Visits

Happy New Year --- 2008

It seems 2007 will end on a sad note...

Our condolences to Mike Hein on the passing of his brother Warner Hein, a Sergent in the New York State Police. Sgt. Hein was just 44 years old. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Also Jim Thompsom, long time chair of the Kingston Republican party died at 64. Thompson ran one of the closest mayoral campaigns in Kingston's history. In 1979 he narrowly lost to Mayor Quick by about 170 votes.

Blaber's 2008 Predictions

I spent a long time on a year in review but it sounded a little bitter and I thought a look forward in to 2008 was more appropriate.

Kevin Cahill will RUN for Ulster County Executive and will be sworn in as Ulster's first Exec on January 1st 2009.

The race for Cahill's Assembly seat in the 101st will be a blood bath with a five way primary consisting of county legislators, a town Supervisor, and a Kingston Alderman.

The Ulster County Democratic Committee will elect a new chair after John Parete chooses not to seek another term. His successor? A candidate that was on the ballot in 2007. The new chair will unite the party and the Dems will sweep every 2008 race in Ulster County.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey will run for another term for congress.

The Democrats will take back the NYS Senate and our local Senator John Bonacic will become Minority Leader.

Hillary Clinton will win Iowa and New Hampshire and go on to win the nomination and the presidency.

Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for President.

Elliot Spitzer will appoint A.G. Andrew Cuomo to Hillary's Senate seat.

The Dallas Cowboys will be the Super Bowl Champs.

Hugh Reynolds will write columns that are completely fair and balanced. Reynolds will aso enter anger management and will no longer take out his frustrations out on the people that he writes about.....just kidding, Hugh Reynolds will continue to be Hugh Reynolds.

Woerner Sworn in for a Second Term as Ulster's Supervisor

Supervisor Nick Woerner had his swearing in ceremony at the Sky Top Steak House at 1pm this afternoon to a packed crowd of about 200 friends and supporters. Including Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, Congressman Hinchey and former Mayor John Heitzman. Judge Tony McGinty swore in Woerner to his second term as town of Ulster Supervisor.

Alderwoman Shirley Whitlock got up and made a speech about how much Woerner had helped her during her campaign. " I would like to thank Nick for showing me the way, Nick reached out to me and it was the most important call that I got said Whitlock, I would not be here today without him."

Woerner talked about his accomplishments, how he has been able to work with the other side to accomplish things in the best interest of the town. Councilman Craig and I thought it would be a long two years at the start of my first term, it ended up being a long two weeks, we than were able to sit down and get on the same page, said Woerner.

Woerner broke down in tears when discussing his friend Republican Councilman Joel Brink, "there were times when we didn't know if Brink would make it and I'm glad that he did." Joel Brink was reelected in November but suffered a long and serious illness during the campaign.

Judge Gilpatric Sworn in as Kingston's Full Time Judge

Judge James P. Gilpatric was sworn in today as Kingston's full time City Judge. Congressman Hinchey, Assemblyman Cahill, Mayor James Sottile and several Kingston Aldermen were among the more than 400 in attendance.

Judge Gilpatric was sworn in by NYS Justice Chris Cahill, afterward Gilpatric thanked his supporters and his wife Betty and gave a very emotional speech that was very moving to everyone that was in attendance.

Larry Ball was also sworn in to a six year term as the part time City Judge. Surrounded by friends and family.

I congratulate Judge Gilpatric and Judge Larry Ball, Kingston will be well served for many years to come under their leadership.

Vin Martello Sworn into a Third Term as Supervisor of Marbletown

Below is Marbletown Supervisor Vin Martello being sworn into his third term as Marbletown Supervisor. Supervisor Martello and the rest of the town board were sworn in yesterday at town hall.

Poll Results: Kevin Cahill Tops Primary and General

The latest Blaber News poll finds that Kevin Cahill would easily defeat Mike Hein in a Democratic primary beating out Hein with more than 73% of the vote. Cahill also beats benjamin by more then a 2:1 margin.

Jerry Benjamin beats Hein by a 2:1 margin in the general election but loses badly to Kevin Cahill.

The results are not scientific but they are interesting. I must point out that Cahill has never lost a Blaber News poll..which shows how popular he is in this community.

Exec Primary Kevin Cahill over Hein 73-27%

Exec General Kevin Cahill over Jerry Benjamin 66-33%

Exec General Jerry Benjamin over Hein 66-33%

Swearing in Events Around Town

James P. Gilpatric will be sworn in as full time City Court Judge today at 12 noon. Larry Ball will also be sworn in as Special City Court Judge.

January 1st - - Holley Carnright will be sworn in at 11:00 am as Ulster County District Attorney at the Ulster County Court House.

Mayor James M. Sottile, Council President James Noble and the entire common council will be sworn in at noon at Kingston City Hall.

I plan to cover all these events with the exception of Holley Carnright's ceremony, I have been invited to an open house with Governor Spitzer at 9:30...so I will be rushing back to Kingston to go to the ceremony at City Hall. I wish Holley and everyone else a congratulations.

Governor Spitzer Visits Kingston Family

Governor Eliot Spitzer paid a visit to Kingston, Thursday afternoon to spend time at the home of Cecelia Madden, a town of Ulster resident.

During the one hour visit issues were discussed ranging from heath care to property taxes as well as other issues that were important to Ms. Madden's family.

This is one of many trips that will be made in New York leading up to Governor Spitzer's state of the state address on January 9th.

Blaber's News and Commentary Now Listed with Poughkeepsie Journal

Today is the first day that Blaber's News and Commentary is being listed with the Poughkeepsie Journal. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome new readers that may be reading my blog for the first time.

This blog offers a variety of information on local issues in Ulster County and beyond. Some of the stories that you will find are news based and others are simply my commentary on the issues that I feel are important to the readers of this blog. During the next few weeks there will be several updates to the blog, including interviews with local politicians and more frequent use of the new audio blogs, that I launched a few weeks back.

I look forward to this new exciting venture and I hope that you will too. Please participate in the discussions and offer your own opinions by using our comment area. To the regular readers of my blog, I encourage you to check out the other blogs on the Poughkeepsie Journal as well. The Blaber's News and Commentary year in review will be updated shortly with a glimpse into what 2008 will bring...a must read.

Poughkeepsie Journal Blogs

Please Join Justice Ceresia

Justice Ceresia is being sworn in for another term as a Supreme Court Justice, he's a good guy and I'm glad to have met him during the 2007 election. Details for his swearing in ceremony are below.

Please Join:

Hon. George B. Ceresia Jr.

for the ceremony of the administration of oath as Justice of the State Supreme Court of the State of New York.

When : Friday, December 28th at 12 noon

Where : Rensselaer County Court House

Congress and Second Streets

Troy, NY

A reception will immediately follow.

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy holidays.

- Jeremy

Happy Holidays

Parete and Cahill Top Polls

Rich Parete pulled out a close win in a recent poll for Comptroller and readers felt that Brian Cahill should be his brother's replacement in the NYS Assembly's 101st district. Now, again, the polls are just for fun and they're hardly scientific. One thing for sure is, that the race for the Assembly in the event that Cahill is our County Executive, will be a heated one.


The last few polls have dealt with four or five candidates for one position...let's narrow the feild and see who comes out on top in head to head primary match-ups. As well as a fantasy general election...see our new polls for details.

Congrats to Jack McCoy, Law and Order's New D.A.

At least in the world of t.v. we can now count on a District Attorney that will make sure that justice is served. Jack McCoy, the fictional Executive District Attorney on Law and Order has been elected District Attorney. McCoy succeeds D.A. Arthur Branch, played by Fred Thompson who left the show to run for President.

No Huck, It's Not Just a Bookshelf

Mike Huckabee claims it's just a bookshelf in defense to criticism that he used a cross in his Christmas ad that has been running the last few weeks in Iowa and New Hampshire...not buying it Huckabee.

Mr. Huckabee is a right wing religious nut who insists on shoving HIS religion down our throats any chance he can get. This time through a political ad with a bookshelf that has a hidden subliminal message.... a Cross and a symbolic way of how he will run this country if elected. Didn't we already have eight years of a president that has worked hard to appoint judges to the Supreme Court that will try and overturn a woman's right to choose, and a president that consults with God on policy decisions.... It's a very scary way to govern.

I have no trouble with a person that has strong religious beliefs, I think that's important. I myself was raised with strong religious beliefs but there needs to be a separation of church and state in this country. A public servant that is given the privilege of being elected should not impose their views on anyone else, especial the diverse group of constituents they were elected to represent.

Please watch the Huckabee ad below and judge for yourself.