Hugh Reynolds: Budget blasts

The senior Quigley, incidentally, did not decline the Democratic nomination for town supervisor at deadline last Friday, much to the relief of Democrats. With Quigley leading their ticket this year, Democrats think they have a fighting chance of electing somebody to the town board, currently 5-0 Republican.

Legislator Carl Belfiglio scored big at the annual PortEwenMethodistChurch apple fest with his colorful “Vote for Belfiglio” balloons. It looked like every other kid had one. Church ladies said they sold 600 apple pies at Saturday’s hugely attended festivities.

Oops. Due to a momentary brain blurt, I reversed the results of last month’s Democratic nominating convention for state Supreme Court judge in the Third District. Rensselaer District Attorney Richard McNally will be the candidate, not Albany County Family Court Judge Dennis Duggan. Duggan will run on the Working Families line. Carol Donnelly-Stephens of Greene County is the Republican-Conservative candidate.

Of note on the judicial front this year is a ballot proposition that would increase the age of retirement for state judges from 70 to 80. In practice, it’s not that much different. Judges can now be “superannuated” (appointed on a yearly basis) until age 76.

Either way, it’s age discrimination.