The Rumor Mill

Candidates are starting to line up for the County Executive and County Comptroller positions that will be on the ballot this November. It really should be interesting this year. A recent Blaber News poll showed that among the Dems, Hein is the strongest candidate. However, in a three way race he suffers the same fate as Mr. Sennett in the general election. The Comptroller race is up for grabs. A lot of rumblings but no announced candidate for the job thus far. See our current poll for more details.

Below is a list of people that have been rumored to of been interested for the two top county spots.


County Executive :
full disclosure : I am supporting Mike Hein for County Exec


Mike Hein (announced)

Pr0 : Is currently doing the job now and has an extremely impressive track record of cutting wasteful spending.

Con : New to the political scene


Sue Zimet ( all but has announced)

pro- Has already proved elect-ability county wide

Con- Will have trouble uniting the County


David Donaldson

Pro- Currently is the executive of Ulster County

Con - will have a difficult time campaigning county wide.


William Berardi (announced)

Pro - Extremely well educated individual with strong ties to the community.

Con - A harsh critic to the point where he turns people off.


County Comptroller :

Kingston Majority Leader Bill Reynolds (front runner)

Pro : Chair of the Kingston Finance Committee, has worked to develop multi-million dollar municipal budgets as a Kingston Alderman for the past 17 years. Currently works for the NYS Comptroller's office

Con -- None I can think of.


Eliot Auerbach

Pro- Do not know enough about the individual

Con - Do not know enough about the individual

Another candidate that would change the dynamic of this race may run but it's to soon to even float the idea out there.

Cahill Attacks GOP Party Boss

Rich Cahill today ripped in to GOP party boss Jean Jacobs on his blog. In a post on his blog about Anne Marie DiBella he wrote this :

"She [Anne Marie] needs to be beaten in 2009. Hopefully, my party can come with a real candidate this time and not just run Jean Jacobs again. "


It's clear the former Mayoral candidate is saying that Ms. Jacobs is not a real candidate. That's pretty harsh criticism and it's highly unusual for Rich Cahill to attack his party's leader. Which brings validity to the rumors going around that Cahill is looking to challenge Jean Jacobs for the Chairmanship in June.

Paterson Taps Cohen as Senior Advisor

Dr. Jon R. Cohen, who sought the lieutenant governor nomination only to back out when it was headed to David Paterson, was tapped by Paterson last week to serve as his senior advisor.

Before Governor Spitzer had picked David Patterson to run as Lt. Governor, I backed and worked for Dr. Cohen in his short bid for the job. I think Dr.Cohen will do an excellent job as Governor Paterson's senior advisor. He's a really great guy that has a tremendous amount of energy and compassion for New York.

Council's 90 Day Review

Ward 1- As far as I am concerned the seat is vacant. Their elected representitive is missing in action.
Overall Rating = F


Ward 2 Alderwoman Ringwood - Jennifer has done a tremedous job fighting for the quality life issues of the 2nd Ward and beyond. Ringwood's latest iniciative to ban smoking on City Property is right on target. Also her willingness to comprimise and work with members across the aisle is refreshing. I am very sorry to see her leave.

Overall Rating = A

Ward 3 Alderman Landi- Alderman Landi has been pretty quite his first few months but I am impressed with what I have observed thus far. I do disagree with his vote against transart. Like him or hate him he knows his stuff and is an effective Alderman

Overall Rating = B

Ward 4 Alderwoman Whitlock - The clouds have been lifted in the trobled fouth ward and replaced with sunshine and an active Alderwoman that cares about the issues that matter in the ward and puts in the time to make sure they are addressed. The 4th ward could not ask for a better representitve than that of Alderwoman Whitlock

Overall Rating = A


Ward 5 Alderwoman DiBella - As hard as it admit this, Anne Marie is an effective lawmaker. In large part to Anne Marie's leadership, the county no longer houses Kingston's homeless at the King's Inn like animals. Anne Marie has also supported important initiatives such as the smoking ban. DiBella's vote in favor of granting Trans Art's extension with the City t speaks volumes. Even though she was against the transfer originally, her vote shows the ability to see the big picture in restoring a city eye sore.

Overall Rating = A

Ward 6 Alderman Polacco - Ron has had an impressive first start. He clearly is head and shoulders above his Republican colleague. Polacco who is in his first term, is not having any trouble adjusting to the job and seems to know what he is doing. I do however disagree with his votes not to fund the police and fire department budgets for 2008.

Overall Rating = B

Ward 7- Majority Leader Reynolds - Bill is far beyond his office and is being held back as Kingston's Seventh Ward Alderman. Don't get me wrong, there is no one better to represent the Ward but our County and State could use him more.

Overall Rating= A+

Ward8 Alderman Senor - Like Landi, Senor knows the job and has been doing it long enough to know when to pick and choose his battles. Why he would throw himself out to the wolves by picking a fight with CSEA over personal cell phone use is beyond me. The City has more important issues to deal with.

Overall Rating= A

Ward 9 Alderman Madsen - I saw Alderman Madsen raking leaves on city owned property the other day, the next day he was picking up trash. Madsen continues to tirelessly work by example by taking pride in his ward and community. I also like the fact that Madsen has started a program on kpa tv and a blog to better interact with residents of the ninth ward.

Overall Rating = A

Sign the Petition to Chairman Dean to Seat the Flordia and Michigan Delegates

CLICK HERE AND SIGN THE PETITION

The day after major Hillary Clinton fund-raisers sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi about the role of superdelegates in the nominating process (as in, please stop taking the Obama campaign's position on it), two Hillary Clinton supporters from New Jersey are circulating a petition, addressed to Howard Dean, asking that Florida and Michigan delegates be reinstated "immediately."

"If they are not reinstated by early April," the petition says, "we ask the Democratic National Committee to show cause why they should not be reinstated and establish a mandate for two full revote primaries for June."

Photo Blog of Supervisor Woerner's Fund Raiser

Supervisor Nick Woerner had a good turn out tonight, over 50 people showed up Paulina's and it was a great time. Here are a few pictures from the event.


County Administrator Mike Hein, Supervisor Woerner and Deputy Supervisor Craig Artist

Harvey Slaight Indicted on Official Misconduct

I went to the press conference today and was completely unimpressed. There was a six foot long table set up of thousands of pages of jury deliberation that will never be made public. The D.A. said here is our extensive work it's all here, we paid 10 thousand to print this alone but you (the taxpaying public) will never see their findings.

The investigation, which to be fair started way before Holley Carnright took office, was a farce. A 20 million dollar over budgeted jail fiasco, hundreds of thousands to investigate the misuse of funds and the result : Harvey Sleight, the buildings and grounds supervisor, was indicted on a misdemeanor. Now I clearly think Mr. Sleight was in over his head and the charge is probably a legitimate one. However, Mr.Sleight did not go to the bathroom without permision from the legislative Chairman. It is very clear this guy is being thrown out to the wolves.

A disappointing end to a dark chapter in Ulster County's history.

D.A. Carnright to Release Report on Jail Investigation

BREAKING NEWS : D.A. Holley Carnright will hold a press conference today at 11am to announce grand jury findings on the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center.

The jail and sheriff’s administrative office building was years late and millions over budget when it was finally opened last year.

I hear conflicting reports, some say an indictment 0r indictment(s) will be handed out, others have told me that no criminal charges will be found...I hope that is not the case. We'll see tomorrow. This is really the first time all eyes will be on our new district attorney...let's see how he does.

Molinaro Faces Challenge ....... Molinaro for NYS Assembly

Laurette Giardino, who ran unsuccessfully for East Fishkill town clerk last fall, on Monday announced she will challenge Republican state Assemblyman Marc Molinaro for the 103rd District seat in November.

Although, Marc and I are of different parties, he is an excellent public servant and he has my full support for reelection. The New York State Assembly is lucky to have a leader like Assemblyman Molinaro.

Visit Assemblyman Molinaro's website at : www.marcmolinaro.com

Valley Chat w/ Alderman Mike Madsen

Alderman Madsen with Tom Hoffay on his new show Valley Chat. The show went great, Hoffay, lived up to his reputation as the smartest person that I know!

photo from Ulster County Politics

Governor Paterson Admits to Previous Drug Use

Governor David Paterson admitted to using drugs in his early twenties, today on Inside City Hall with Dominic Carter.

Dominic Carter: You have?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: Marijuana?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: Cocaine?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: You used cocaine governor?

David Paterson: I'd say I was 22 or 23, I tried it a couple of times, yes.

Dominic Carter: When is the last time that -- is that the only time you've tried cocaine, governor?

David Paterson: Yeah, around that time, a couple of times and marijuana, probably, when I was about 20. I don't think I've touched marijuana since the late 70s.

I got a call from the Poughkeepsie Journal today and I was asked to remove my campaign buttons from the blog. As you all know, this blog is advertised on the Journal and they can't seem as if they are providing my campaign with preferential treatment. I agree and I am setting up a separate website for my school board campaign. Updates to follow.

Patterson Looks to Move Forward

Governor David Paterson gets a warm welcome in Harlem this past Friday and pushes the need to move forward after a rocky first week.

Governor Paterson was joined by Thompson, former Mayor Ed Koch, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi at the Rev. Al Sharpton's Lenox Ave. headquarters.

Happy Easter

Mike Hein Launches Website

Micheal Hein, Democratic candidate for County Executive has launched his campaign website today. It can be viewed at www.heinforexec.com, bookmark it and check back often for updates. A link to the site has also been added to my links section below.

Smoking Ban Moves Forward

The Laws and Rules Committee approved the revised smoking ban last night. The committee has unanimously recommended that smoking be banned from within 50 feet of municipal building entrances and in playgrounds, bleachers, pavilions, gazebos, at Kingston Point Beach, the Forsyth Park Nature Center, and at the Andretta Pool at Dietz Stadium. There will be a $100 fine for those in violation.


The laws and rules committee headed by Alderwoman Anne Marie DiBella has made the right decision in backing Ringwood's proposal. While I think this legislation does not go far enough it's a good start and a fair compromise. I'm confident that the full council will approve the ban into law in April.

Kick Off a Success

Over 30 people showed up tonight at my campaign kick-off for the Kingston School Board. It was a great time and I thank everyone who showed up as well as Shawn from the Reservoir Inn for having us. I talked tonight about my ideas for the future of the district and I feel very good about how things are progressing. I didn't have a camera so Alderman Madsen took a few pictures and e-mailed them to me....sorry I don't have more.





Jeremy talks with (from left) Under Sheriff Frank Falutico, County Administrator Mike Hein and the Gillons

Jeremy with the Sennetts
A picture of the crowd
Ulster County Legislator Susan Zimet (left) and Shannon Schreibman (right)

Swearing In Video of Governor Paterson

New York's First Family

New York State Governor David Paterson, his wife Michelle Paige Paterson, daughter Ashley and son Alex

More on swearing in later today

GOVERNOR PATERSON ; DAY ONE EVERYTHING CHANGES

Today we begin the Patterson administration. Governor Spitzer's tenure ends disappointingly to say the least, a man elected with a mandate to clean up Albany is taken down by a scandal he could not overcome. To be fair, putting the prostitution thing aside, Eliot was doomed on day one, the poor guy never stood a chance. Albany insiders including members of his own party fought him tooth and nail on every bit of reform...in the end the dirty politics of Albany were no match even for the f'ing steamroller. Albany chewed him up and spit him out after only a year in office.

Governor Paterson will have a different approach, he knows how the game is played and is a veteran of the system. Not to say he won't be a reformer, I just think that he knows how to approach reform in a more diplomatic way.

One thing to look forward under Paterson is that he will mover New York in a more progressive manner. Patterson's predecessor was a moderate Democrat that even supported things that were directly against Democratic values such as the death penalty.

Governor Paterson is :

* Pro- Choice

* Against the Death Penalty

* Favors Universal single payer Health Care

* Equal Rights for Same Sex Couples

* Everyone living in NY having the right to vote

* Opposed the Iraq War

I look forward to the Paterson administration and hope that members of the legislature will work with our Governor and that are new Governor will work with the legislature. Governor Paterson is now the leader of New York state and will be looked upon to move business forward and to start the healing process. I wish him the best of luck.