Sean Eldridge is interviewed by Hugh Reynolds and Geddy Sveikauskas. (Photo by Dan Barton)
John Dyson of the Millbrook Dyson Foundation clan ran for Congress at 25 (the minimum age) in 1968. Bucking a presidential tide and spending a reported $300,000 (over $2 million in today’s dollars), Dyson got within two percentage points of Republican scion Hamilton Fish Jr.
Eldridge more suits the Dyson profile. Schumer, U.S. senator since 1999, was of the bootstrap type.
Here and there
Bull-headed ego types might well take retiring Olive Supervisor Berndt Leifeld’s advice to “keep ’em talking to each other” to heart. Such, of course, is not the case with our assemblyman and county executive.
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill’s prediction that the Assembly probably won’t take up the Ulster County sales-tax issue before meeting in regular session next year could cost county coffers $6 million or more this year. That’s manageable on a $360 million budget with millions in surplus, I would think, less so the approximately $22 million that a full year without the tax might cost.
Cahill appears more reasonable in this exchange. He hasn’t publicly impugned Hein, while the county executive has called him an extortionist and an obstructionist. Questionable rhetoric aside, though, it would appear the executive is beginning to win the battle for public support. He will blame the assemblyman for any draconian cuts he may have to make to balance his next budget. At that, Cahill might have done the executive a solid. Hein had no one to hold responsible but himself for previous budget cuts and layoffs of hundreds of county workers.
Legislator Dave Donaldson, called Dancin’ Dave in his youth, played the wallflower at trial last week where he failed to bump Republican challenger John Quigley off the ballot in Kingston’s midtown 6th county legislative district. The danceman pleaded his case sotto voce with off-camera allegations before and after the hearing. Not much got on the record, which is what counts.
It would appear that the nine-term incumbent, after surviving a three-way primary last time, is taking seriously the candidacy of a 21-year-old challenger only recently flown the nest. He should. Daddy James Quigley, the Ulster supervisor, will generously back his boy in what could be a winnable race for Republicans.
And finally, apologies to the Dyson Foundation for my failure to mention Margaret Dyson as a founder with her husband Charles.
I would not count out Congressman Gibson. In my currency, a moderate Republican is worth more, and can accomplish more for his district than an unknown Democrat or other species.
I have to admit that Mayor Bloomberg, as a self funded Democrat/former Republican has been fabulous. However, he is a bit older, and I’m sure, a bit wiser.