Walter committed to justice
A month after the presidential election last year, 2012, I got a call from the Board of Elections advising me that my absentee ballot was not counted, and therefore any of the votes I had cast were rejected. I felt terribly disenfranchised. For many years I have been an election inspector. This was the first time I was an inspector in Mount Tremper rather than in my Saugerties election district. It required that I vote absentee.
With inadequate information I sent my ballot in 15 days before the election date, rather than, per election law, within the required 14 days or less. It turns out that I was not the only one. 52 other election inspectors’ ballots were also set aside and not counted. Even the Board of Elections was not aware of this law when they sent the ballots out three weeks prior to the election.
My husband, Lanny Walter, who is also my lawyer, advised me that we could fight this. Another election inspector and I, with Lanny representing us, went to court. If counted, these 53 ballots could determine the election of either Cecilia Tkaczyk or George Amedore as Senator for District 46.
Along with Cecilia’s lawyers and Lanny representing us and, implicitly, the other 51 inspectors, Lanny made the case in front of the Appellate Court and won. Lanny and Tkaczyk’s lawyers argued that absent any assertion of fraud by the poll inspectors, refusing to count our ballots violated our constitutional right to vote. All 53 ballots were counted. Prior to this count, Tkaczyk was behind. She ended up winning by 18 votes. The most important fact for me, though, is that everyone who voted had their vote counted!
This is not the only time Lanny has gone to bat for people’s civil rights! He is deeply committed to equal justice under the law and will uphold your rights as your Town Justice. He is honest, direct, fair-minded and, as a lawyer for over 40 years, knows all facets of law.
Please use your right to vote and go out to vote for Lanny Walter as your Town Justice.
Carole Furman
Saugerties
Lamb runs a good court
Recently, I accompanied a friend to the Saugerties Town Court. While there I had the opportunity to observe Judge Dan Lamb presiding over a great number of cases before a fairly crowded courtroom. Not only did Lamb impress me as being very competent and efficient, he commanded the respect of those present. Lamb explained procedures so that defendants understood their rights and what was going on. He was also very patient in dealing with people, many of whom seemed nervous about being in court.
Judge Lamb was a calming presence and behaved with amazing good humor even when things happened that would have been a test of anyone’s patience. Based on my experience, I felt proud that Saugerties had as fine a judge as Dan Lamb on the bench. He will have the support of me and my entire family on Election Day.
Caroline Sinnott
Saugerties
Walter committed to community and justice
Next week we have the opportunity to vote for our local representatives. Often local elections draw far fewer voters than the national elections.
It’s unfortunate because it is during these election cycles that we get a chance to have a real impact in our local communities– to participate in our democracy. I am really pleased to have a chance to vote for Lanny Walter for town justice of Saugerties. I have known Lanny for almost 30 years. As an attorney Lanny has decades of experience in a wide range of legal areas– from family issues, prisoner rights, real estate: across the gamut. He has always had a strong commitment to this community. He has volunteered and lead the struggle to protect the Winston Farm and Saugerties from a county wide incinerator and from a casino, to protect and grow our historic library, to develop a Boys and Girls Club so that our children have a safe place to grow and flourish, to work for our schools on the School Board, and much more.
His sense of justice informs much about his life and his work. He is passionate about his belief in fairness, justice and equality. As town justice, Lanny will be able to focus both this passion and his level-headedness and his broad legal knowledge and experience to provide us with a town justice Saugerties needs and is worthy of.
Now is not the time to sit out an election, let others make decisions for us and then feel powerless. Come out to vote next Tuesday.
Sue Rosenberg
Saugerties
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