June 2006 News

In this issue
Message from our Chair, John Parete
Report from the Ulster County Democratic Convention
Help Needed for our Candidates
The Fight in Plattekill
Kickoff Rally for Sue Zimet for NY State Senate
Kickoff Rally for Paul Van Blarcum for Ulster County Sheriff
Ulster County Charter Refortm - What it Means
Calendar for June and July


MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR, JOHN PARETE

The Ulster County  Democratic Party in Ulster County was out in full force at our annual nominating convention held on the first Monday in June at the Hillside Manor in Kingston. Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Assemblyman
Kevin Cahill, our incumbent legislators, spoke most eloquently where the party was when they started and the positive direction our outstanding nominated candidates will be leading us in the future. We owe the people of Ulster County and we owe our candidates nothing less than 100% support in this November’s election. On a party note, since the first of January 2006, our new enrollment numbers show an increase of over 800—twice the amount of the other party. As you can see, the Democratic Party in Ulster County is alive and well.
Thanks for your efforts.

At the Ulster County Democratic Convention

Over 200 delegates from town and city Democrats attended the June 5th County Convention held at Hillside Manor.  Turnout was significantly higher than in prior years, perhaps an indication of an increase in interest in Democratic
politics after the sweeping November 2005 victories in towns across UlsterCounty in which Democratic majorities were elected to a number of local offices as well as to the Ulster County Legislature.

After a warm introduction by Kingston attorney and friend Eli Basch, Judge Karen Peters, an appellate division supreme court judge covering the 3rd Judicial District, addressed the crowd and told delegates that she was working hard on her re-election to a second, 14-year term on the bench. Judge Peters looked back fondly at serving as Ulster County’s Family Court Judge and her long association with the County.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey was designated as the Party’s nominee for reelection to the House of Representatives. The audience listened to the Congressman’s remarks on the Bush Administration’s lack of respect for the
Constitution and rights and the politicization of the governmental process.

State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill was designated as the Democratic candidate for the 101st Assembly District. Kelly Keck, Scott Trees, and Lee Kyriocou, all running for office for the first time, were selected as the candidates
for the 107th, 127th and 100th Assembly Districts, respectively.

Ulster County Legislator and former New Paltz town supervisor Susan Zimet was selected as the Democratic candidate for the New York State Senate’s 42nd District, which represents nearly all of Ulster County, along with
parts of Delaware, Orange, and Sullivan counties.

Sheriff Department veteran Paul Van Blarcum was selected as the candidate for Ulster County Sheriff in an open race. Van Blarcum addressed the inefficiencies in that department and reminded the audience of the current 
sheriff’s jail project.

Before adjourning, the members of the convention selected John R. Parete as the Democratic commissioner of the Board of Elections and affirmed the members of the State and individual town committees.


Help Needed for our Candidates
The campaigns of Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Judge Karen Peters, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, and Sergeant Paul Van Blarcum need your help. As you know, all four have received the endorsement of the Independence Party;
Paul has also been endorsed by the Conservatives. (Each may also receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party, though we believe WFP will handle their own petitions this year.) So…

We need notaries or friendly members of the Independence and Conservative parties to carry nominating petitions in every town in Ulster county. 

Even though our own Democratic petition process has just barely begun, this effort is very important for our candidates’ success in November and cannot be ignored. If you are a notary or know a notary who would go around with
you in your town and carry petitions, or if you can persuade a friendly member of the independence or conservative parties to do the same, please respond to this email or call Democratic Headquarters at 331-8275 and leave
a message. Thanks.


THE FIGHT IN PLATTEKILL
Chris Mercier, chair of the Democratic Committee for the Town of Plattekill, is a watchdog in a very Republican district. There are no Democrat legislators in District 9—Towns of Marlborough, Plattekill and Shawangunk—and no Democrats on the Plattekill Town Board, either. This is leading to an abuse of power, according to Mercier, and to other problems as this most southern portion of the county continues to see unchecked and in some cases poorly planned development, with infrastructure issues causing the most concern. We asked Mercier to detail the problems. Please also read to the BOTTOM of this section for information on helping the Town of Plattekill and District 9 fight back against the Republicans in office.

An Abuse of Power
The town board seems to think they can pretty much do whatever they want. The department of state has said it’s illegal to use town funds to advertise events for the Republican committee and for groups like the Rotary Club.
Also, Plattekill is using funds to buy property to increase the town park size. According to state law they have to do an environmental assessment and it could be expensive and the town has flat refused to it. Councilman Brian VanDuser basically said he didn’t care and until somebody comes down from  Albany they’re going to do what they want. Essentially he was saying that until the town gets sued or Albany says otherwise they’ll continue to break
the law. To counter this we’d have to call the New York state comptroller’s office or the State Attorney General’s Office and let them know this is going on and it’s a matter of record on the Town of Plattekill minutes; it’s
been brought to their attention and they’ve chosen to ignore the law. 

Overspending When Other Options Exist
We had a $70,000 grant from Larkin’s office to redo Hoppenstead Rd. in Plattekill, and the road was done. Unfortunately we lost out on the grant money because it was only open for seven years and now, eight years later,
highway superintendent George Dougherty never filled out the paperwork. No paperwork, no money—we lost the funding. Also NY State puts CHIPS [Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program] money out there
for towns; there’s about $560k in the Chips program according to the previous budget officer. However, Dougherty hasn’t filed for it, and Dougherty hasn’t worked with the current budget officer to get that money either. This is money for the town to build roads. This is money that offsets the tax burden of local citizens. And his budget’s only about
$900,000 a year so that’d be two-thirds of his budget offset by this funding but he has to apply for it. Meanwhile the roads are terrible around here and badly need maintenance. One of the things the Town Board can do is request a
detailed road plan, which Dougherty has refused to submit. What the town might want to do is freeze his budget until a plan is submitted. He gets re-elected by staying under budget but he doesn’t do his job, which is to maintain the roads. Eventually this isn’t a matter of comfort when you drive down a road, it’s a matter of public safety.

THE GOOD NEWS! YOU CAN HELP PLATTEKILL!
The Plattekill Democratic Party is looking for new members including volunteers and new committee people to represent one of the six districts of Plattekill, two members per district. Call Chris Mercier at 883-7912 to step
up and help Plattekill become more Democratic (with so many more new residents, that’s already happening!). The most important thing you can do is to get involved with what’s happening in your town.


KICK OFF RALLY FOR SUSAN ZIMET FOR NY STATE SENATE!
It will take just four seats for the Democrats to capture our dysfunctional State Senate. SUSAN ZIMET is going to be one of those Senators, to be elected this November.

To help launch Zimet’s campaign, come to Kingston’s Fourth of July display as seen from the balcony of Ann and Karl Rodman’s home, overlooking The Rondout. Sunday, June 25th, starting at 7:30 pm.

Your $100 per person contribution will emphatically launch her campaign. Your contribution will return, magnified, as Susan demonstrates her strength and the campaign rolls on to victory. Come, enjoy all the fireworks and meet
with Susan. 

RSVP to Karl or Ann at 340-1031. (Karl will be calling you, the week of the event, with driving and parking instructions.)

Even if you can’t make it, contributions of any amount will be gratefully received. Make checks out to Zimet For Senate and send to P.O. Box 444; New Paltz, NY 12561  (write Rodman party in the memo).


Kick Off Rally for Paul Van Blarcum for Sheriff!

WHEN: Monday, June 19th

WHERE: Hillside Manor, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Suggested Contribution: $30.00 per person

Or please send contributions to:
Friends of Paul Van Blarcum
C/o Leslie Lohrer, Treasurer
335 Upper Boiceville Road
Boiceville, NY  12412

Help Paul become the next Ulster County Sheriff!

Ulster County Charter Reform

What it Is, What it Means PART II
By Vic Work

This November we are going to have the opportunity to vote for a new form ofgovernment. It will be an elected County Executive with a Legislature. The elected county executive will have most of the power to make decisions effecting our taxes and economic development. It is an important question.  
Why should you vote for this new form of government? Is it foolproof? One of the problems that we have with a county administrator hired by the legislature is that NO ONE person has responsibility for running the county.
Lots of people have some degree of authority, but no one individual or office has final responsibility. Too many times in  committee meetings or in department meetings we wind up with a finger-pointing exercise; everyone points at everyone else as the person responsible for making the decision.

I spent a number of years at sea as a deck officer in the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine. We were the officers who manned the U.S. flag cargo ships carrying goods to and from the USA to other parts of the world. On most merchant ships there are about 35-45 crew members, only one of whom is the captain. At sea, the captain has total control—it is his or her responsibility to get the ship, cargo and crew safely from one port to the next. He or she also has authority to make life and death decisions. He or she cannot be on the bridge watching cargo operations 24 hours a day, so the captain “delegates” some of his authority to other officers and crew to carry out his/her orders. Notice he delegates SOME of the authority, not final responsibility. He can make people responsible for their own actions, but when something
goes wrong (even if he is not on the ship while it’s in port) It is his final responsibility.

In this election we can make a statement, deciding that the elected county executive is going to have the responsibility for running the county government with the help of the legislature and the employees. The county executive will be able to delegate some authority to other people in government, but when push comes to shove it is the county executive who is responsible for those decisions, good or bad. If they are bad, we will have the opportunity to vote that person out of office. If they are good, we will have the opportunity to relect them, but we will know who is responsible.

Harry Truman used to have a plaque on his desk: THE BUCK STOPS HERE! He was not talking about the male deer or cash, he was talking about the final decision and responsibility for that decision. No election is foolproof. We
can elect boneheads and hopefully they will not do too much damage while they are in office, but we can make them very responsible for their actions and the new form of government under the charter revision is our chance to
make that happen. Vote YES for the charter revision.