Comparisons are difficult. In multimember districts, voters could vote for either two, three or four candidates (up to eight choices) two years ago, depending on the district. Many a vote was left in the booth. More than 27,000 blanks were recorded in the last multimember election in 2009, ranging from 26 percent of turnout in the larger districts to half that in the smallest.
Another component may be driving candidate scarcity. The 2006 charter eviscerated the legislature, handing power in county government to an elected executive. The once all-powerful legislature has devolved into a monthly debating society, with time wasted on exchanging birthday felicitations and handing out “Pride of Ulster County” awards. At many meetings, the people speaking at public session make more sense than the legislators.
First-time candidates for legislature tend to fall into several broad categories. Some town and city legislators view the county legislature as a promotion. Some seek the prestige of being a county leader. Most that I’ve known have been active in their communities in one way or another, busy people who value their time. They go to the county legislature with the idea of doing something, changing things, improving people’s lives. People like that aren’t going to be interested in birthday greetings once a month.
Bits and pieces
Ulster County’s district attorney is investigating allegations that New Paltz Mayor Jason West signed nominating petitions using an address where he no longer lived. That’s against the law. So is living outside the municipality one was elected to represent, a transgression to which West readily admits. The anti-West village board is expected to render judgment on that one. There will be blood.
Town of Olive Supervisor Berndt Leifeld, seemingly retired more times than Frank Sinatra, says this time, after 25 years on the job, he’s serious. So are his would-be successors. Long-time Town Clerk Sylvia Rozzelle will challenge Councilman Bruce LaMonda at the Democratic caucus in July.
Hugh Reynolds.
Former Ulster town supervisor Woerner, who cruises around town in a huge Lincoln town car with “Ulster” plates, is a candidate for alderman in Kingston’s battle-zone Fourth Ward. Four years ago, Woerner, a Kingston native, lived in Ulster. Two years ago he moved back into the city to run unsuccessfully for alderman in the Fifth Ward. With that Lincoln landcruiser, he could establish residency anywhere in the county.
Woerner will face Republican nominee Steve Ladin, the Red Dog Party candidate for mayor two years ago. The dog is dead, but Ladin thinks he has a future in politics. The neighborhood activist at least has the advantage of having lived in the ward for the last 10 years. He should be on the watch for a black Lincoln cruising the neighborhood this fall.
