In any event, it’s the unofficial start of the autumn campaign, which we, considering comptroller is the only contested county-wide race on the ballot (other than state Supreme Court), eagerly await.
And speaking of state Supreme Court, Democrats, after the usual scuffling at convention last week in Albany, nominated Albany County Family Court Judge Dennis Duggan as their candidate in the Third (Ulster) Judicial District. Rensselaer DA Richard McNally settled for a Coke and a smile and hopes for better luck next year. Duggan will face Republican-Conservative Carol Donnelly-Stevens of GreeneCounty.
Eldridge running
To the surprise of almost no one, Shokan newcomer Sean Eldridge has formally announced his intention to run in the 19th Congressional District next year. He’ll face two-term Republican incumbent Chris Gibson, 49, of Kinderhook.
Eldridge, a 27-year-old millionaire venture capitalist, has had a busy year, first moving to Shokan, then setting up an investment firm to loan out millions around the district. Strategically located at former congressman Maurice Hinchey’s old district office in Kingston, he is now declaring for Congress.
A Gibson spokesperson didn’t exactly dismiss Eldridge as a carpetbagger; that’s next year. But she did suggest a footloose rich boy. For sure, those carpetbags are stuffed with cash, which means Gibson needs to get extra busy hitting up those D.C. PACs for campaign financing. This may be the first congressional campaign in this area that blows through $10 million.
Friends and family of former Kingston alderman-at-large Joe McGrane will fete the 90-year-old for 14 years of “quiet, reflective” service on the Dietz Stadium Commission at a brunch at Deising’s Bakery on North Front Street on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. McGrane, a former alderman and a Democrat, served as alderman-at-large for twelve years ending in 1991. During his tenure, the city and the Kingston school district undertook the multi-million-dollar renovation of Dietz Stadium’s playing field, creating one of the premiere sporting venues between Albany and Westchester County. The commission, composed of school and city appointees, governs the stadium. A plaque in McGrane’s honor will be placed at the stadium near the concession stand.
Further information is available from commission member Ron Woods at (845) 338-9438.
Alderwomen Deb Brown of the Ninth Ward and Mary Ann Mills of the Seventh will co-host a meet-and-greet at the Fresh and Easy Café on Hasbrouck Avenue (near East Chester) on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invitees include the mayor, the fire chief and the police chief.
Republican Brown and Democrat Mills are first-term legislators, though with a distinctive difference. Mills is running without opposition, while Brown faces a serious challenge from Lynn Johnson in the heavily Democratic home ward of the mayor.
Johnson, a newcomer, demonstrated electability in crushing hapless challenger Jeremy Blaber in last month’s Democratic primary. Brown has had almost two years to show constituents what she could do.
That was a great summary on Cahill and Hein with some Gallo in there to boot…. really cleared things up for me: I was thinking Cahill played to hard, but nope: it was Hein that played hard and fast, and wrong.
Cahill worked for what was clearly the right thing to do, and by facing up to Hein, he got it done. Hein’s recalcitrance caused a lot of unnecessary grief, pulled Gallo in with him and the real losers are the citizens of the county and Kingston… we got damaged by Hein but got the right long term solution from Cahill.
Hein lost a battle he shouldn’t have started… that was a pure power play. That is going to be remembered.