Hokanson looked like a beaten candidate when Zimet accepted the nomination. People in small towns — in particular multiple term supervisors — know their people and these were not Hokanson people. Nonetheless, she put on a brave front, delivering a dead-woman-walking speech where she inexplicably failed to mention most of her numerous accomplishments over almost a decade in office.
There was only one oblique pass at her opponent, when Hokanson said she didn’t consider the job a stepping stone to higher office. Six years ago, Zimet ran for state Senate against the impregnable John Bonacic, narrowly carrying Ulster County to Bonacic’s considerable chagrin, but losing 60 percent of the vote in the rest of the mostly Orange County-based district. She made a stab at county executive in 2008 but quickly withdrew. That Zimet is an ambitious politician is evidenced by her run for supervisor. Whether she runs further remains to be seen.
For Hokanson, there could be one last long-shot hope for redemption. Lurking in the lobby of New Paltz High School where the Democratic caucus was held was town Republican Chairman Butch Dener. Very much the man in brown shoes at a black-tie event, Dener was scheming to pick off any Democratic losers for his ticket — like Hokanson and a trio of highway superintendent candidates.
As for Zimet’s future as a supervisor, the past may be prologue. Town supervisor from 1996 to 1999, she was soundly defeated for a third term. Hokanson, who won a fourth, can take some solace in that.
As for her legislature colleagues, after eight years only a few hummed that old country tune, “Thank God and Greyhound She’s Gone” when word of her change of careers got around.
City bits
Flailing around for something that might stick, GOP Republican candidate Andi Turco-Levin might have finally scored with a call for the long-delayed appointment of a city ethics board. I know ethics is not a major issue with taxpayers struggling to keep their homes and avoid potholes, but this one bordered on the ludicrous.
Under the 1994 city charter, the mayor was supposed to appoint an ethics board. Seventeen years later, we’re still waiting. The mayor’s response: we never had a complaint. In 17 years? Does anybody count sexual harassment at the DPW or indictments of allegedly crooked cops? Kingston has to be the most corruption-free town in the state.
GOP alderman-at-large candidate Joe Marchetti returned from a 25th-wedding-anniversary cruise on Monday to a leaking roof, no power and downed trees around his property. A few press releases should make everything right.
Just in time for some post-primary peacemaking, the Sottile-Noble campaign committee will honor retiring Mayor Jim Sottile for “30 years of dedicated service to the people of New York and the City of Kingston” at Hillside Manor Restaurant on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. Sottile worked in accounting for the state Department of Taxation and Finance before being elected alderman-at-large in 1993. Tickets are $50, and are available at PO Box 2467, Kingston. Deadline for reservations is Sept. 5.
