Fewer legislators, more work
As for the two Democratic candidate’s opponents, repeated calls to Jordan, a retired 62-year old school administrator who is presently half way through a four-year term as Shandaken council member, went unanswered. And attempts to reach Monserrate, 65 of Lake Hill, came to naught.
“Jordan’s on the ballot but not running,” Turco said of the former. “Two weeks ago he asked if he could get off the ballot but short of moving out of the district, getting a judgeship or another option I’d rather not say, he’s there. So Jack’s not campaigning…it seems someone misled him about what was involved in getting off a ballot once nominated.”
The elections commissioner added that he had never heard anything from Monserrate.
As for how they see the current race for a new legislature, Gregorius and Parete praised the new single district system, but didn’t want to try predicting any outcomes…as yet.
“Now you’re dealing with your districts one on one,” Gregorius said, approving of the shift in districting. “As for how it’s going to lineup, I suspect it’ll be very close, with three seats or less determining the majority.”
How the new legislature then ends up working with (or against) Hein will depend on “who the body chooses as leadership,” Gregorius added. “But you can be sure we’ll all have more work, what with ten less legislators doing everything.”
Parete similarly thought the election would be close, in terms of who takes the legislature, county wide. He worried that his party didn’t have candidates in a number of races in several southern Ulster districts. As for how the new legislature would work out, inevitably, he noted, simply, how he’d been finding that “everybody just wants some stability right now.”
As for his campaigning, Parete noted a reception he hosted at Al’s Restaurant in Phoenicia October 26, as well as his traditional Senior Luncheon at the Boiceville Inn, scheduled for Thursday, November 3. There will be a League of Women Voters event at the Shandaken Town Hall starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 29.
Gregorius had Meet the Candidate events this past Wednesday, October 19, in West
Both men said they were putting up their lawn signs up around their prospective districts.++
