Things to Be Thankful For

* With Republicans in control of the Legislature, there will finally be checks & balances in Ulster County government.

* That Republicans will make life absolutely miserable for the Mighty Heiny.

* With the county Legislature downsizing from 33 to 23 and going to single member districts in 2011, this will be the last term for Rich Gerentine and/or Frank Felicello.

* I sleep well at night because I know the Mighty Heiny and his million dollar staff are watching over me.

* 2010 should be an exciting political year with the NYS Governor, State Legislature, Ulster County Sheriff & the county Comptroller up for grabs.

* The Mighty Heiny - because without him, Mojo would need to get a new hobby!

Happy Thanksgiving folks!

What is this Guy Smoking?

Leave it to our megalomaniac County Exec to spin the independent audit of his 2010 budget into a PR opportunity to tout his greatness and lecture the state Legislature on proper budgeting.

What the f**k is Hein smoking?

While providing enough praise to stroke Hein's fragile ego (especially with him shouldering part of the blame for the GOP takeover of the Legislature), the audit performed by a White Plains accounting firm did raise several issues that challenges Hein's self-proclaimed budget wizardry.

Sales Tax Projections - With his million dollar staff, it's unfathomable that Hein overestimated 2009 sales tax revenues by $8 million. The audit found Hein again overestimated sales tax revenues by at least $1 million for 2010. If left uncorrected, Hein's error will create a $2.5 million deficit in 2010.

Fund Balance - In part due to Hein's faulty sales tax projections, the county had to expend $10 million from the fund balance since 2008. $5.8 million in fund balance will be used to balance the 2010 budget. The auditors also found an additional $1 million (not accounted for by Hein) is needed to fund new labor agreements. The county's present fund balance is now at the minimum acceptable level set by the state Comptroller.

One Shot Revenues - Hein proclaims his budget as free of "gimmicks." But, how do you describe the budget's reliance on $5.5 million in federal stimulus funds that will disappear in 2011? Or using the last $3 million from the county nursing home fund (even though only $2 million is in the account)? Pretty gimmicky, huh?

2011- When the Heiny hits the fan! - With a dwindling fund balance, lower sales tax revenues, possible state aid cuts new unfunded mandates and no more stimulus money, the auditors warned the 2011 budget "will be a big challenge" for Hein & the Legislature.

As UC Mojo reported in a previous post, Hein will have no choice but to get "medieval" with the 2011 budget or face a massive tax property tax increase.

With Hein facing re-election in 2011 (hopefully against Jim Quigley) and a new generation of tax-averse Republicans entering the Legislature, look for a contest to see who can swing the mightiest budget axe next year.

Regardless, the Ulster County government will be undergoing a dramatic metamorphosis in the very near future.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE MIGHTY HEINY

After taking time to reflect on the recent election, I have made an important decision. I'm incredibly proud to switch my party enrollment back to Republican. Surprise!!!

That being said, this was a tough decision. My roots in the Democratic Party go all the way back to, well, er, Barack Obama. Even though Obama helped me get elected, I think he totally sucks ass now. I can let you in on a little secret - I voted for McCain!

I'm also incredibly proud to announce that I am changing the name of Sojourner Truth Park to Dick Cheney Park.

This party switch may come as a shock to all of you. But, I never really liked the Democrats. They have hairy arm pits and smell like cabbage - and I'm just talking about the women!

In closing, I'm looking forward to working my fellow Republicans now in control of the county Legislature. In honor of this momentous occasion, Republicans may now make eye contact with me while in my presence.

That is all for now.

YOU GOT TO BE FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME!!!

With Republicans back in control of the Ulster County Legislature, it appears former Ulster County Legislature Chairman Richard Gerentine has announced his intentions to reclaim his old post.

Figures that Gerentine would crawl out of the shadows as soon as Republicans finally dug themselves out of the large hole he put them in in 2005.

UC Mojo has a message to re-elected and newly elected Republican Legislators - putting Gerentine back as the Chairman would make as much sense as Catholics making Eliot Spitzer the Pope!

Let's look at the lowlights of Gerentine's Chairmanship:

• Gerentine was in charge when the jail project was being mismanaged. He was famously quoted in a local paper at the time as saying he wasn't "paid enough" to babysit jail construction.
• Gerentine proposed a 39% property tax increase right before the 2005 election, causing the end of 30 years of Republican Legislative control.
• Gerentine and henchman Frank Felicello also made a deal with Democrats to give them self a favorable election district at the expense of other Republicans.
• Gerentine was thisclose to being indicted by a Grand Jury for his role in the jail fiasco.
• Gerentine hired incompetent relatives to important county jobs.

Let's also not forget Gerentine's disloyalty to the Republican Party (eg joining with Dems to put Danny Alfonso in as Chairman, although the GOP supported Phil Sinagra & his non-support of Len Bernardo last year).

Plus, Gerentine is a not very smart (aka dumb) and a poor communicator. Therefore, Gerentine is ill-equipped to match wits with the Mighty Heiny.

Gerentine is the "poster boy" for Republican incompetence that GOP Legislators should run (make that sprint) from. He is a relic of a by-gone Republican era of secret, closed, failed government. Republicans must show voters they have learned from the past and select a leader with no connection to the jail or the 39% property tax increase.

Making Gerentine Chairman would be an epic public relations disaster.

The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of Defeat - Election 2009 Roundup

A year ago, it appeared Ulster County Republicans were on the verge of extinction. After a year of Obama, billions in new state taxes and Heinomania, Republicans won two countywide races and took back the Ulster County Legislature.

As expected, Nina Postupack & Don Williams easily won their races. Despite a large Democratic enrollment edge, Postupack and Williams earned 62% and 59% of the vote respectively.

Republicans earned the Legislative majority by picking up seats in Esopus-Rosendale, Saugerties, Highland and Ulster and not losing any of their seats. Democratic incumbents Brian Cahill, Gary Bischoff, John Decker and Frank Dart (replaced by another Democrat) went down to defeat. Republicans also won the seat formerly held by the late Phil Terpening. Pre-election Democratic darling Nicole Tucker unexpectedly lost in Saugerties while reports of Bob Aiello's demise were greatly exaggerated.

One has to wonder if Ulster County Democratic Chair Julian Schriebman will be able to survive this catastrophe.

The Republican victory means they will redraw Legislative districts when the body downsizes to 23 single-member districts for 2011. Speaking of 2011, how fun would it be if Town of Ulster Supervisor-elect Jim Quigley decides to challenge the Mighty Heiny for County Exec?

Speaking of the Mighty Heiny, newly empowered Republicans will be sure to make life very difficult for him. Hallelujah!!!!