MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR, JOHN PARETE
Volunteers across our county will meet to contact 100 voters each from their communities
The Ulster County Democratic Committee will be joining our State and National counterparts in what should be a major voter registration drive. I hope each Democrat can attempt to contact 100 voters from his or her community by Election Day 2006. Here in Ulster County we have already registered over 1,000 new Democrats this year.
As a neighborhood Democratic volunteer, you know your neighborhood best. You are a local "opinion maker." This means your neighbors may come to rely on you for information about the Democratic Party, candidates from your area, and local issues.
Face-to-face voter contact is the most effective way to meet people, exchange information, and talk about the Democratic Party and candidates.
In other news, the petition process is over and what a tremendous job the County Committee members and other volunteers did this year! We gathered over 2,000 signatures for Susan Zimet’s State Senate campaign (whose district encompasses about half of Ulster County). In Paul Van Blarcum’s race for Sheriff, our Committee members and volunteers gathered almost 4,000 signatures. Maurice Hinchey and Kevin Cahill’s Ulster County numbers were also phenomenal.
Now the campaigns are organizing and will be co-coordinating efforts locally and State- wide for what will be a tremendous Democratic victory this November.
Democratic Primary to be held on Tuesday, September 12th
Absentee Ballot Information
The Democratic Party will hold a primary election on Tuesday, September 12, 2006. Polls in Ulster County will open at 12:00 noon and remain open until 9:00 pm.
The candidates being voted upon are:
Governor:
Eliot Spitzer (spitzer2006.com)
Thomas Suozzi (www.tomsuozzi.com)
Attorney General:
Andrew Cuomo (www.andrewcuomo.com)
Mark Green (www.markgreen.com)
Charles King (www.king2006.com)
Sean Patrick Maloney (www.seanmaloney.com)
United States Senator
Hilary Rodham Clinton (www.hillaryclinton.com)
Jonathan Tassini (www.tasinifornewyork.org)
On a more local level, the Conservatives and Independence Parties in Ulster County are also holding a primary for the office of Ulster County Sheriff. If you know of any members of either party, please ask them to vote for Paul Van Blarcum, who was designated by the Conservate, Democrats, and Independence Parties. (www.paulforsheriff.com)
For more information, please visit the candidates’ websites, noted above
If you are unable to vote in the primary election in person, you may print an absentee ballot application by visiting:
http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/elections/absenteeapp.pdf
or you can call or visit the Ulster County Board of Elections at 284 Wall Street, Kingston. Tel: 845-334-5470.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Board of Elections prior to September 5th if a ballot is to be mailed, or by September 11th if the ballot is to be picked up in person at the Board of Elections office.
SUSAN ZIMET: A Genuine Hero in Our Midst
Susan Zimet, a candidate for NYS Senate, is not afraid to speak her mind, shake up the status quo, and to do whatever it takes to create a more responsive and effective state government. Susan is ready to work with you—and with Eliot Spitzer—to restore the Hudson Valley and our great state, the Empire State, to her rightful place as a world leader in business, finance, education, jobs, healthcare, transportation, and environmental protection. Even with these disparate goals in mind, you can bet Susan won’t forsake her deep and abiding respect for the civil and constitutional rights of each and every citizen.
Susan Zimet is challenging incumbent John Bonacic for the 42nd District seat in the New York State Senate, which includes Delaware and Sullivan County, most of Ulster County and parts of Orange.
Like many reformers, Susan was drawn into politics because of issues: unregulated development; endangered community and environmental treasures; out-of-control property taxes; and education reform. As Town Supervisor and County Legislator Susan has gained a reputation for tight-fisted budgeting, finding alternative funding opportunities and minimizing waste and taxes.
Zimet (New Paltz) represents the 10th District in the Ulster County Legislature where she Chairs the Ways & Means Sub-committee on Budget Reform, and chairs the Arts, Education and Community Relations Committee that oversees all cultural, tourism, education, aging, veterans and health agencies. She also serves as a member of the Ways & Means, and Criminal Justice & Safety Committees. Susan won re-election to her second term in 2005 in an historic victory that resulted in the second Democratic majority in Ulster County history, the first since 1978.
Working across the aisle she achieved legislative successes on issues including Veterans' Health Care, Clean Elections, and Homeland Security—including protections for first responders and a warning system for hazardous waste transported through the region. For years Susan has been in the forefront, leading the bipartisan call for Indian Point Nuclear Plant to be closed because adequate safeguards are not in place. Susan's Resolution, calling for veterans and active military personnel to receive the care they deserve, as well as for testing soldiers returning from war zones for depleted uranium poisoning, is a bill now under consideration in Albany.
Prior to service in the Legislature she served two terms as Supervisor of the Town of New Paltz, the first woman to hold that job. Under her leadership New Paltz prevented WalMart from coming in and changing the character of the town, while she simultaneously worked to increase opportunities for locally-owned area businesses.
For more information about Susan Zimet go to: http://www.susanzimetforsenate.com
Help Needed for our Candidates
Volunteers Needed: We need campaign volunteers in all towns across Ulster County to help our Democratic candidates get elected. If you would like to volunteer for phone banking, mailing, canvassing, voter registration, or anything else, please email: info@ulstercountydemocrats.com
Let’s Get it Passed!
By Vic Work
The proposed Charter Revision to be voted on in November creates a Strong County Executive with a single source of public accountability and creates the top county position who is elected by all voters in Ulster County. Under the current system, we elect 33 legislators who elect one member to be chairman of the Legislature.
The Comptroller and County Executive will serve 4-year terms, elected in alternate, odd-number elections.
The charter revision creates the office of an elected Comptroller who fills the role of auditing and policy making. The duties of the currently elected Treasurer will be consolidated into an appointed position of Commissioner of Finance to administer policy, collect taxes and receive and disburse funds. The Commissioner of Finance will also draft the County's annual budget in concert with the elected County Executive. The Treasurer's office will be eliminated and the Office of the Appointed County Administrator will be eliminated.
The Charter Revision also ratifies the 2003 Local Law that reduces the size of the Legislature to 23 single-seat districts whose representatives will stand for election in November 2011. They will continue to serve 2-year terms.
The next step is up to you: The Referendum will go on the ballot at the election on November 7th. Assuming the Charter Revision passes the Strong County Executive will be elected in November 2008 for a 3-year term to start January 1, 2009 and there after every 4 years.
The Legislature will become a Policy Making body - make appropriations, adopt the budget, levy taxes, pass local laws and confirm the appointments of the Elected County Executive. The County Executive will be the administrative head of the government, prepare and present a budget and capital program, appoint department heads and the county attorney, and report to the people and the legislature on the condition of county finances.
The Elected County Executive will be the person responsible for the activities of the county government and will hold a lot of authority. The authority will be offset by the elected County Legislature andthe elected Comptroller who is responsible for the audit of the county affairs.
Please vocally support the Charter Revision - it will make our government more efficient and less expensive and more responsive to the electorate.
Kind regards, Vic Work
The August-September Ulster County Democratic Party Events Calendar
Sunday, September 9—Olive Day, Davis Park, West Shokan
Sunday, September 9—Esopus Democrats Annual Picnic, Freer Park, Noon--?
Tuesday, September 12---PRIMARY ELECTION
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