Should Zimet seek another term on the Democratic ticket, voters will address that question at primary in September, the only election that matters in New Paltz. Despite GOP Chairman Butch Dener’s best efforts, there has been no credible Republican challenger in the town since Sally Rhoads ousted then-supervisor Zimet in 1996.
Here and there
Kingston pizza partner pols Nicky Woerner and Mike Madsen have split after only a few months. Woerner says he left to concentrate on his “consulting business,” in the main securing state liquor licenses for bars and restaurants, a lucrative trade formerly the near-monopoly of Al Spada sidekick Patrick Oliveri. Aisle-jumping political operative Oliveri spends half his time in Florida these days. Madsen will remain with the lower Broadway pizza business, as long as it lasts.
Mike Madsen and Nick Woerner send some dough into the sky. (Photo by Phyllis McCabe)
Being challenged for nomination on the Republican line in Rochester couldn’t have come as a surprise to county legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo. The margin of her defeat may have given pause. In weighted voting, eight of nine committee members gave newcomer and contractor John Dawson a resounding two-to-one margin over the two-term incumbent. Bernardo, vowing a primary, blames town chairman Dave O’Halloran, whom she refused to support on an issue involving his resort business.
Others see the long arm of the county executive reaching out to smite yet another political enemy. Bernardo, with husband Len’s deep pockets, will probably prevail at primary, but this slap in the face had to sting. Since legislators attach much significance to hometown popularity, it also raises questions about her future as county legislature chair if she is re-elected.
Videographer Beth Murphy, a Democrat, has thrown her hat in the ring against freshman Republican Mary Wawro in Saugerties District 1. Murphy, a party stalwart, films just about every public event in Saugerties for local TV plus a bunch of county government events, too. She knows her stuff, which means firebrand town GOP Chairman Joe Roberti, ax in hand, can’t be far behind. With Saugerties’ other legislators Bob Aiello and Dean Fabiano either uncontested or lightly challenged, Wawro versus Murphy will be the main event.
Hear ye. The Independence Party will host a fund-raiser for itself at Boiceville Inn from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, June 2. Tickets are $25 for “supporters,” $40 for town candidates, $75 for legislature hopefuls, and $200 for countywide candidates. Who says money can’t buy you love?
The writer missed the town board telecast where zimet said “I sold my house on Butterville because I was paying more taxes on it than all of P and G’s restaurant and bar? ” And she was right, as her house on Butterville was assessed at $650,000 with taxes of 2.8% per assessed $1,000 for county, town and school district and P and G’s restaurant for its bar, three apartments upstairs, taco stand, barber shop etc is assessed at $515,000 and pays 3% per assessed $1,000 for village, town, school district and county. She was right, Zimet, but hasn’t budgeted for a competent assessor yet, one that knows the difference between Supplemental Security Income and Social Security, nor understand that you shouldn’t lie to the IRS about disabled parcel owners, both of them, in fact. As for Gardiner, of the 23 municipalities in the county, it has the third lowest tax rate, and New Paltz has the third highest tax rate. She has spared herself the further financial burden by moving to Gardiner, and left the rest of us.