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 and 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!!!!

Election Eve Ponderings

* Can Frank Dart win with only one line? It's possible because he's in a small district.

* Will Nina Postupack & Don Williams win big despite the large Democratic enrollment advantage? Look for Postupack & Williams to do very well in the Democratic City of Kingston & go on to comfortable - but not landslide- victories.

* Does Nick Woerner have a snowball's chance in hell to win? No.

* Does the Mighty Heiny get a weekly Brazilian wax?

* Will Republicans take back the Ulster County Legislature? Doesn't look likely, but it will be closer than most people think. Control may hinge on the results in Hurley-Olive & Saugerties.

* Biggest Election Night Surprises? That UC Legislature veterans Brian Cahill, Bob Aiello & Gary Bischoff may go down to defeat.

* Who will get the most drunk tomorrow night - Glenn Noonan, Hugh Reynolds or John Decker?


Please remember to vote tomorrow!

The Latest

* Gilda Riccardi and her supporters have ratcheted up their attacks on Nina Postupack - citing nepotism, mismanagement and Nina's connection to Al Spada. Still, expect Postupack to win at least 55% to 60% of the vote on Election Day.

* Deborah Schneer's recent blunders on the bench have become a campaign issue. Now, Schneer is sending out a mailer trying to energize Obama voters into coming to the polls for her (Maybe Schneer check out the excellent "Obama Fatigue" article floating around the Internet). Also laughable is Schneer's attempt to say her four months of judicial experience trumps Don Williams' long career of putting scum behind bars. Expect Williams to win at least 55% to 60% of the vote on Election Day.

* While UC Mojo is predicting that Democrats will maintain control of the Legislature, Republicans still have a chance to pull off an upset. Republicans will have to pick up seats in Rosendale/Esopus, Ulster and Highland and hold the seats they have now. Odds of a Republican takeover - 60/40 against.

* The Mighty Heiny issued a press release announcing the county maintained its credit rating that was written by a person making $60,000/yr just to write press releases. Go figure!

Predictions

UC Mojo is predicting Nina Postupack will prevail for County Clerk, Don Williams will win the County Court Judge seat, and Democrats will maintain control of the Ulster County Legislature by a razor thin margin.

What are some of your predictions for county, town & city races?