Democrats vow to retain majority

Platform unveiled outside headquarters on Broadway

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — Following a strategy that swept them into the majority four years ago, Democratic candidates for the legislature banded together to unveil a platform for the coming elections.

Gathering in front of their newly opened headquarters on Broadway, located next door to the Republican headquarters, Democrats promised to retain the majority on the Sullivan County Legislature, and pledged to “continue moving Sullivan County forward.”

Now enjoying a seven-to-two majority in the legislature, some observers believe it is likely that the Democrats will maintain the majority for the next four years.

The six-point platform included promises of “accountable, efficient, open and fiscally responsible government,” and stressed the intention to broaden the tax base of the county with the promotion of projects such as the Liberty Agricultural and Light Industrial Park.

The platform mentioned as accomplishments agreements reached with two Indian tribes on the details of opening casinos, and the commitment of $100,000 to fight the power line project proposed by New York Regional Interconnect.

County chairman Chris Cunningham, who is not running for another term and thus will not be part of the legislature next year, said, “Despite what anyone on the opposite side says, this county is in better shape now than it was four years ago, and it’s going to continue to get better with the Democrats in charge.

Jonathon Rouis, vice chairman of the legislature said, “We made assurances during the last election season and we came through over and over.”

The races are as follows: District One features Democrat Patrick Harrison, the owner of Rasmussen’s Funeral Home and Rasmussen’s Upper Delaware Furniture in Narrowsburg, against Republican David Sager, a county coroner and chiropractor; in District Two, Republican Charles Penna, the current supervisor of Mamakating, is challenging incumbent Democrat Kathy LaBuda; in District Three incumbent Democrat Elwin “Woody” Wood is running against challenger Republican Tony Leone, a retired businessman; in District Four incumbent Democrat Jonathan Rouis is running unopposed; in District Five incumbent Democrat Frank Armstrong is being challenged by Republican Allen Hauser, a businessman; in District Six, Democrat Pete Gozza, a retired municipal planner, is running against incumbent Republican Jodi Goodman; in District Seven, incumbent Republican Leni Binder is being challenged by Democrat Mark Sherman, a businessman; in District Eight, incumbent Democrat Ron Hiatt is being challenged by Republican Robert Kunis, who was defeated by Hiatt four years ago; in District Nine, incumbent Democrat Sam Wohl is being challenged by Republican Alan Sorensen, the former Sullivan County planning commissioner.

The other county-wide races include one for county judge pitting incumbent Republican Judge Burt Ledina against Democratic challenger Justice Cindy Barber; for one of the four county coroner’s positions there is a race between Democrat Victor Marinello, trustee of the Village of Monticello and Republican Alan Kesten, owner of the yellow cab company in Monticello; in the race for county clerk incumbent democrat Neil Gilbert, who was appointed to the office in February, faces Republican Dan Briggs, former county manager.