Hugh Reynolds: Lies, damned lies and campaigns for office

Under the old plan, Ulster County, home to about 183,000 people, including a few thousand state inmates who can’t vote — had two state Senate districts and four Assembly districts. The new plan gives us four of each. Does this mean we have eight voices fighting for us in Albany? No. It means we have eight people fighting with each other.

The Thursday primary, which will undoubtedly drive voter turnouts to new lows, was at least done in respect to Tuesday, Sept. 11, a date that will forever live in infamy. Not so, the dismemberment of Ulster County, the product of which will be on display next week.

And now, the straight news:

Voters in three state legislative districts in Ulster County will go to the polls on Thursday, Sept. 13 to determine party candidates for the November elections.

The new 46th State Senate District, which includes the city and town of Kingston, Esopus, Hurley, Lloyd, Marbletown, Saugerties, Ulster and Woodstock, will hold a Democratic primary among Cecilia Tkaczyk (pronounced “Kat-Chik”), Monica Arias Miranda of Delson in Albany County, and Tom Dolman of Coeymans, also of (southern) Albany County. The 46th also offers an “opportunity to ballot” (write-in) for Green Party members. No Green candidates are on the ballot.

Veteran state Sen. James Seward of Milford has been challenged for the Republican nomination by James Blake of Schenevus in the 51st Senate District. The district includes the towns of Hardenburgh, Olive, Rochester and Shandaken in Ulster County.

Then new 101st Assembly District offers a primary between Republican candidates Claudia Tenney of Utica and Brian Maher (pronounced “Marr”) of Walden. Tenney is a first-term member of the Assembly, Maher mayor of the Village of Walden. Tenney is also on the ballot on the Conservative line.

Polls are open from noon to nine at 54 polling places in Ulster County. The board of elections can be contacted at (845) 340-5470 or at its website at voteulster.com.