Barely six weeks after being nominated by Republicans, Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley has withdrawn as a candidate for county comptroller. Reached on Tuesday, Quigley said he has received an offer to rejoin the private sector. A certified public accountant, Quigley was a senior partner in a New York City-based real estate investment firm before entering politics.
“That phase of my life as a public official is over,” Quigley said Tuesday, only a week after confirming his candidacy.
He said he will not seek re-election to a third term as town supervisor. Ulster town Republican chairman James Maloney was unavailable for comment on who might be endorsed to succeed Quigley.
Quigley, 57, who was elected to the first of two terms in 2009 as town of Ulster supervisor, also cited unspecified health issues as a factor in his decision.
Absent a GOP committee on vacancies finding a replacement before the Friday deadline, Quigley’s withdrawal leaves the way clear to a third term by incumbent Democrat Elliott Auerbach of Ellenville.
“Whether I am opposed or unopposed, it won’t change a thing about how I serve Ulster’s taxpayers,” Auerbach said in a release Tuesday afternoon.
“There is no Democratic or Republican way to do this job…When I established this Office five years ago, my goal was to reward the trust of all Ulster County taxpayers by independently representing their interests by holding their government accountable, and by making the business of government transparent,” Auerbach said. “I remain excited about the opportunity to continue that solemn commitment. However things play out between now and November, that will continue to be my purpose.”
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