fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Holiday Gift Subscription
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

New Paltz Democrats give up caucus in favor of a primary

by Terence P. Ward
August 22, 2017
in Politics & Government
0
New Paltz Democrats give up caucus in favor of a primary

This year, the New Paltz Democrats are ending the tradition of caucusing to choose their candidates in favor of a primary, to be held September 12.

Caucuses are a grand political tradition, providing an intimate democratic experience. Candidates make their pitches to anyone who shows up. Votes are cast and tallied. Participation generally requires availability for two or three hours in an evening.

Local Democraic committee members feel that the caucus process disenfranchises voters. With Democratic registration outstripping all others in New Paltz, and most voters following the party line in November, they contend, town elections are decided by a few hundred voters with time on their hands.

Democrats registered in the town will vote at their usual polling places on September 12 any time from noon until 9 p.m. If that usual place is the New Paltz Middle School, however, changes may be needed to account for the ongoing construction there. According to Democratic county elections commissioner Ashley Dittus, it’s not clear whether work on the parking lot will be completed this month.

“We’re trying to get answer this week,” Dittus said. If the middle school cannot be used, Dittus said election officials were considering having those voters go to the high school or to Ulster Boces. No decision had been made as of press time. “It’s kind of a nightmare,” she conceded.

Democrats will be choosing a candidate for town supervisor and two councilmanic candidates.

Ballot order was determined last Tuesday morning. Dittus confirmed that the name of incumbent supervisor Neil Bettez would be listed on the ballot before the name of challenger Marty Irwin. The town-board candidates in order will be Daniel Torres, David Brownstein and Jennifer Ippolito.

How did the Democrats choose ballot order? “We pull bingo balls from a bag,” Dittus said.

The internal Democratic rifts that have been part of local politics for years will continue at the first-ever primary. Democratic Committee members endorsed Irwin, Torres and Ippilito, snubbing incumbent Bettez, who is running on a slate with Torres and Brownstein.

No Republican caucus has yet been scheduled. It can be held as late as the morning of September 19. Several candidates seeking the Green Party line were invalidated because they were not party members and didn’t take the proper legal steps to obtain that line. Celeste Tesoriero will retain her Green line for town justice, because the election rules for that position are different, according to Dittus.

Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

WAAM’s Radius 50 show

Next Post

Kingston hopes ‘land bank’ will blunt gentrification’s impact

Terence P. Ward

Terence P Ward resides in New Paltz, where he reports on local events, writes books about religious minorities, tends a wild garden and communes with cats.

Related Posts

Calls for transparency on county’s redevelopment of former TechCity building
Business

County and town governments seek state funding to help iPark 87 pay for building repairs  

January 25, 2023
Town of Hurley declares highway department garage unsafe
Politics & Government

Town of Hurley declares highway department garage unsafe

January 24, 2023
Saugerties celebrates Independence Day with parade and fireworks
Politics & Government

Saugerties Town Board adopts property tax reduction for firefighters

January 24, 2023
Sowing seeds of community: The New Paltz Rescue Squad
Politics & Government

New Paltz Rescue Squad asks for more financial support as employees leave for better-paying jobs

January 23, 2023
Ulster County Legislator and New Paltz alumnus Abe Uchitelle appointed to the College Council
Politics & Government

Ulster County Legislator and New Paltz alumnus Abe Uchitelle appointed to the College Council

January 20, 2023
Saugerties contractor works towards correcting previous building violations
Politics & Government

Most everyone agrees, Gardiner’s current Zoning Code lacks clarity

January 20, 2023
Next Post
Kingston hopes ‘land bank’ will blunt gentrification’s impact

Kingston hopes 'land bank' will blunt gentrification's impact

Trending News

  • Onteora faces “unfathomable” choices as district’s enrollment dwindles 1.4k views
  • Stockade FC will play at Marist College’s Tenney Stadium while Dietz Stadium is being renovated 887 views
  • Who is Howard Harris, and why is he so angry at Woodstock town supervisor Bill McKenna? 825 views
  • Hunter Mountain’s ski weekend nightlife is staging a post-pandemic comeback 700 views
  • Saugerties to host inaugural Snow Moon Festival February 3 to 5 643 views
  • Top 10 free sledding hills in Ulster County (if it ever snows) 579 views

Weather

Kingston
◉
34°
Fair
7:13 am5:04 pm EST
Feels like: 30°F
Wind: 3mph SW
Humidity: 66%
Pressure: 30.09"Hg
UV index: 1
SatSunMon
46/30°F
46/30°F
37/28°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Holiday Gift Subscription

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing