County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach. (Photo by Dan Barton)
Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach announced over the weekend that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 19th District.
“I love what I do. I love where I live. I love the people around me,” Auerbach said. Auerbach, 63, a former Ellenville mayor, is serving his third term as comptroller. County Executive Mike Hein, widely expected to be the Democrats’ pick for the seat, expressed similar sentiments in ruling out a run earlier this month. Julian Schreibman, who ran for congress against retiring U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson in 2012, has attended candidate interviews, but has not declared. He was not available for comment.
Zephyr Teachout’s possible candidacy was not as factor in his decision, Auerbach said of the 2014 gubernatorial candidate.
“We’ve had several conversations,” he said, adding that he hopes to be involved in the coming election. Teachout, a Fordham University law professor and author who resides in the eastern Dutchess community of Dover Plains, carried the district against party nominee Andrew Cuomo, but has not announced her intentions. She has wide support from district Democratic leaders.