Mojo Mini's
- Due to a pair of upsets, it appears the match up for Kingston Mayor will be Democrat Shayne Gallo & Republican Ron Polacco. Polacco's hustle ended the once-promising career of Andi Turco-Levin. Unfortunately, his reward for his hard work will be an ass-thumping from Gallo in November. Gallo also has the Independence & Working Families lines.
- In Ulster County Legislature Republican primaries, Terry Bernardo walloped arch-enemy Manuela Michailescu in Accord. In Saugerties, Bob Aiello defeated Walter Frey, who's non-stance on Golden Hill may have hurt him. Frey also ran a lackluster campaign.
- On the Democratic side, long time Legislators Dave Donaldson & Hector "H.Rod" Rodriguez were victorious. As you may recall, H.Rod was dropped by New Paltz Democrats at the UC Dem convention this past summer.
- There were several minor party primaries that could decide November winners. The Indy primary in the ultra-competitive Gardiner Legislature District between Dem Tracy Bartells & Conservative Jack Hayes will be decided in Court next week. The winner will be the favorite heading into November. Interesting sidebar - there was a dispute regarding two relatives of "Mr. Republican" Glenn Nooooonan who cast votes for Bartells, but no longer live in the area. In Saugerties, Kelly Myers defeated longtime Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel in the Indy primary.
- Golden Hill supporters had a setback this week when a resolution calling for the continued county operation of the facility was defeated 15-14. But supporters shouldn't lose heart because only 8 of the 15 no votes will return to the Legislature next year, while 10 of 14 supporters will return.
I think that the dispute with Noonan's relatives is not that they don't live here, rather, that the signatures on their voter registrations cards don't look anything like the signature on the absentee ballot..... 3 guess who witnessed the ballot? Noooooonan
ReplyDeleteI guess that old saying about forgery is true "he who smelt it dealt it"
According to your rationale, Gallo is the clear winner, which means Kingston is the Clear Loser.
ReplyDeleteGallo will bring to the table exactly what his predacessors did, more taxes, more RUPCO, less business friendly, more crime, more gangs and more unemployment. The flight of homeowners will be on and Kingston will continue to decay.
Golden Hill should be a non starter for the entire legislature, it belongs in the private sector, with rising heath care, the potential for another better than $100 million boondoggle, (remember the jail), and the gimmie more now union mentality, Ulster County will be bankrupt long before the ribbon cutting ceremony begins.
UC must, MUST get out of the Health Care business!
Don't count Polacco out so quickly.Gallo has be part of the dysfunction in the City of Kingston.He is part of the ridiculous contracts with the three unions that have crippled the City.Most of the bad policies that the NUT Sottile has shoved down the throats of the taxpayers of Kingston, had to have passed through Shayne's office,if not Shayne wasn't doing his job.Either way Shayne has been part of the problem. "HE IS ONE OF THE GOOD-OLE-BOYS" Kingston taxpayers can not take anymore of the dysfunction that has been going on for the last sixteen years.I'm just hoping the taxpayers of Kingston have had enough.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back mojo! I disagree with your prediction on the upcoming mayor's race; I think Polacco has a good chance. People in Kingston are fed up with the Democrats that have totally fucked the city, no matter who is their candidate.
ReplyDelete7:10,
ReplyDeleteIf the voters of Kingston gave a shit, they would not have voted for Polacco. The only one who could have taken on Gallo was Cahill.
12:13 is smoking something if they think Cahiill had a chance. It it his ego that cost Kingston voters and republicans the chance of winning this election. POLACCO has no clue of what do do if he wins. Either way now Kingston will suffer.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like what is happening in the City of Kingston. MOVE.
ReplyDeleteThe Town of Ulster is just over the line.
I've seen Polacco around town talking to residents on the streets, listening to business owner's concerns and just making himself known to the city residents. I am registered democrat and have YET to meet either Gallo or Clement...where are they?? And why aren't they making any effort to meet their constituents?? Sorry...I don't live in a big house on West Chestnut St...but I still vote...
ReplyDelete10:39 a.m.
ReplyDeleteyou are 100% right on! The LAST thing we need in this town is someone who has been in City Hall for years (gallo)! It's time to clean house there. The burden of us taxpayers paying for RUPCO's clients (that clearly, no one is doing backround checks on...) is just too much. I am willing to give anyone a shot at becoming Mayor as long as they haven't been part of the sadly dysfunctional City Hall for the last 10 years.
12:13 - you're right - Cahill was the most qualified of all of them (including Gallo and Clement). If Cahill hadn't run for mayor last time and stayed on the council these past 4 years, a 6-year alderman and attorney would've been a shoo-in. It's too bad he didn't run a better primary campaign. The Republican voters showed, once again, how stupid they are by voting for Polacco. They have no vision - they didn't think who'd be the better mayor or who'd have the better chance of beating the Dem (and the Dems are psyched that it's Polacco - they'd be worried if it was Turco-Levin or Cahill).
ReplyDeleteGallo is very much a part of the current aministration and should not be allowed anywhere near the front office for a month let alone 4 yrs.
ReplyDeletegood lord, if another person, (rick cahill) says that cahill was the most qualified, i am gonna puke. he is not qualified, he was not the best and he would have been an absolute disaster as mayor. he is an egomaniac who is so far right that his views are rejected by most republicans.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the kind words posted within the comments. To those disappointed with my Primary loss, I am sorry. I did the best I could under the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThis is a political fact of life: voters select candidates WHO they know and like no matter what their "qualifications" are. It is what it is!
ReplyDeleteA sad day for Kingston. As a democrat, I will now vote for Cahill. We are in big trouble!!
ReplyDeleterumor has it some higher-ups in the police depts are backing polacco...gallo better not take him lightly. everyone is tired of the same old, same old...and gallo is the epitome of "same old"...i agree with 4:14...keep gallo away from city hall
ReplyDeletelets put things in perspective... Rich Cahill got less than 100 votes in this primary, he came in third behind Pollaco and turco Levin. He needs to realize that he has been rejected by his own people, and he will not factor in even remotely as a conservative in kingston, Kingston doesnt have many conservatives living here, soooo....for all intents and purposes cahill is done. The trick is for him to come to accept that, but it doesnt seem to have sunk in because he more than likely is doing all the posting with compliments to himself. Sad.
ReplyDelete4:30
ReplyDeleteI too think Rich was the most qualified.
Even though a bit right wing, its better than the bleeding heart liberals who have turned our city into a den for welfare cases and prisoners!
I will take a pro business, pro crime fighting, pro accountability candidate, over either of the two major party candidate anyday!
Viva Rich Cahill....lol
Hope you just puked too
Frank Cardinale should resign as chairman of the dem. commitee after openly lobbying for Hayes Clement BEFORE the convention. He was pushing for Clement all over town prior to convention, which is disgraceful behavior from a chairman that had two of his committeeman vying for an endoresment fron thier respective party. also, calling Hayes Clement "classy" or a "stand up guy" for conceding is wrong. Hayes Clement did what any defeated opponent had to do, concede. Doesnt mean he is classy or stand up, just means he is beat,period.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we talking about Rich Cahill? He is all washed up.
ReplyDeleteIf Shayne really was one of the old Kingston boys, he would have been the endorsed candidate coming out of the convention. The only reason he was not the endorsed candidate is because he was not willing to go along with the pay for play rules that have dominated Ulster County for decades.
ReplyDeleteThe party leadership told him that they would only support him if he promised jobs and favors to a select few who control blocks of committeemen. Shayne refused to play along and they took their votes and supported the candidate who promised them what they wanted.
Now, for the first time in memory, we have a democratic candidate who does not owe anything to the party leadership. When he wins, and he will win, he can govern without the baggage that comes along with support from the party.
As to Polacco, while he can not be underestimated, and he will not be outworked, he does not have the background. knowledge or experience to do the job. That will quickly become clear to anyone who spends more than five minutes with him.
WHoo Hooo Myers WHomped Helsmoortel in the Indy Primary -- go Saugerties!! The old geezer Helsmoortel has been in office longer than Rip Van Winkle and has too many favors to pay back! He's forgotten how to vote NO. Taxes are too high. Assessments are out of wack, completely disregards open meetings law... he left on vacation while the rest of us battled hurricane Irene! Saddle up his horse it's time for him to go!
ReplyDeleteAmen, 4:32 PM.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny that neither candidate was their party nominee. Are the committees out of touch, ineffective, or just too arrogant to understand that they represent their constituents and they're not voting for themselves?
432: I agree Polacco is not to be underestimated but you are wrong he will be out worked, Polacco is a hard worker no doubt but so is Gallo. I would imagine Shayne will be burning shoe leather for the next six weeks like he did in the primary.
ReplyDeleteShayne will owe something to somebody. The people who worked on his campaign will need to be paid. The Dems were split right down the middle.
ReplyDeleteShayne will be the next Mayor only because Cahill will not get out of the race. Polacco and Cahill combined will get more Votes than Gallo. Gallo will win with 35% of the vote.
4:32 Gallo just promised a different group within the good ol boys. Dems have ruined Kingston and Gallo will continue there downward spiral.
ReplyDeleteOnce Spada, Aaron and company get there hooks into him he will be bought and paid for.
I would rather have Aaron and Spada controlling him, then the liberal failures that have turned UC into a welfare community!
ReplyDeleteYou democrats are a bunch of nuts...
When the GOP goes against the dems, you whine and cry, now you have some of the strongest GOP'ers backing a dem, and you still whine?
WTF do you people want?
Gallo is a big boy, if he gets sucked in, its his own fault!
Mr. Hein wants everyone to feel the pain in his proposed 2012 budget. Except for himself and his over bloated staff with some of the biggest salaries ever seen in Ulster County. Mr. Hein be a man and do some cuts on your own dept first to show the way.
ReplyDeleteHein for president!
ReplyDeleteWhat is with Hein? Is he fulfilling a political deal with Carnright or something? He is talking about closing Golden Hill on one hand and hiring another ADA on the other.
ReplyDeleteIf I did not know better, (and I am not sure I DON'T!), I would think this is some sort of payback on a political deal worked out so Hein could run unopposed! Some Democrat Hein is, he throws his running mate right under the bus 4 weeks before election day.
Mr. Hein you are a liar. You said you would let the county legislature deceide the fate of Golden Hill. Now you are looking for the spot light thinking you are a hero. But you are making yourself look more like mudd. More people hate you than ever before. You now taking the lead has just made you the most hated politian in ulster county. You must have a bunch of $99,000 dollar a year idiot working for you just like President the other idiot Obama.
ReplyDelete7:52 You are on to something. The democratic dinner featured a ticker tape parade for Hein--included Hinchey and Auerbach. Did the DA candidate get any real exposure at this event in front of 250 Dems????
ReplyDeleteTruth is Hein really hasn't done anything remotely close to deserving the praise.
The only people who should be honoring Hein are his overpriced staff. The Dems were hoodwinked into honoring Hein. 250? What I am hearing is that is was more like under 200 and 20 of them were Hein staffers or County Department heads. Many Democrats stayed away, obviously they felt Hein was not deserving of any honor.
ReplyDeleteHein is now out there as one of the people besides Robin Yess who has said the County should get out of the Golden Hill. He didn't help himself by closing down Mental health, Consumer Fraud and hiring an assistant for Carnright. All of those things are going to piss off Democrats who will stay home election day. Sennett, the Legislature, town boards across Ulster County will be hurt by his selfish actions.
I believe that Jonathan Sennett was the first speaker at the Democratic dinner so yes he got some "exposure."
ReplyDeleteIf Hein shuts down mental health and substance abuse services Carnright is going to need that extra ADA and we will need that extra space we put in the county jail.
ReplyDeleteWho protects the Seniors? We can not expect the Legislature or the Executives office to. Once they wash their hands of it, it is over to them.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the RRA? We can spend money on garbage, but not our seniors.
That ladies and gentleman, is the difference between a true Democrat and a true Republican. You decide which one Hein is.
The Legislature has to vote on this budget and I truly hope they save Consumer Fraud, a small department with a reputation for helping people and generally well-regarded by the public. Jonathan Van Vlack must be turning over in his grave.
ReplyDeleteI hear rumors that Ron Polacco is having second thoughts about running for Mayor. He is scared to death of the upcoming debates against both Gallo and Cahill. Polacco was even seeking advice from Andi Levin on what "ideas" he might present.
ReplyDeleteWow!!!