NEW YORK CONGRESIONAL DISTRICT 19 — Republican Congressman John Faso twice voted to move the American Health Care Act (Trumpcare) forward, and if it becomes law, according to the Congressional Budget Office, 24 million Americans will lose healthcare coverage over the next decade.

In the wake of those two votes, and the chaos of the early days of the administration, a total of eight possible Democratic candidates have announced that they are considering challenges to Faso in 2018, resulting in a range of people with widely varying backgrounds. Below is a brief bit of information about each of them.

Jeffrey Beals says in his website (www.jeffreybeals.com) “I’m a former diplomat now teaching high school history in Woodstock… My family has had a farm in the Hudson Valley since I was a boy…”

The following information from March was posted on the website of Indivisible NY19 (tinyurl.com/lnchfzl). “Jeff Beals, a volunteer canvasser in Saugerties who is also an organizer for Swing Left and a member of the Woodstock Democratic Committee, states, ‘On Sunday we knocked on many doors. Several of the people in Saugerties are worried that they will no longer be able to make ends meet without the protections offered to their families through the American Care Act.’”

Steven Brisee has a website (www.stevenbrisee.com) that says, “Professionally, Steven works as a Policy Architect to keep big banks in line.”

He says on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BriseeForNY19), “After watching the American Health Care Act pass in the house, we had several people who reached out to volunteer on the campaign!

“Who would have thought that in addition to being a really complicated issue, people also want to lose it?”

David Clegg, according to his website (davidjclegg.com/attorney-profile), is a practicing trial attorney in Kingston; he is also a commissioner on the Ulster County Human Rights Commission.

According to an article in the Daily Freeman (tinyurl.com/ldave5y) He is also a deacon at the St. James United Methodist Church in Kingston. The article says, “Deacon Clegg hopes to lead the congregation ‘into the community to do what the gospel says and help the poor and the oppressed... I can do work which involves that crossover between law and social justice and community work.’”

Antonio Delgado, according to his website (www.delgadoforcongress.com), is exploring a run for the seat because, “Like many people in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, I am deeply concerned about what is going on in Washington.”

According to an article on HudsonVal ley.com (tinyurl.com/k3dd8jj), Delgado is a lawyer and Rhodes Scholar and also a “hip-hop performer and a chief executive of Los Angeles-based music company, Statik Entertainment.”

Delgado issued a statement to HudsonValley.com that said, “As someone who grew up in this area to a family that worked hard to rise into the middle class, I’m exploring a run because I cannot stand by and watch the American dream become unattainable for people in the Hudson Valley.”

Brian Flynn’s website (www.BrianFlynn.us) says he is “a small businessman and entrepreneur who has created hundreds of jobs across industry sectors over the last 25 years, including the last 10 years in manufacturing.”

His Facebook page (www.facebook.com/brianflynn.us) says, “We need to protect and fortify healthcare and retirement. The Affordable Care Act was a good first step, but we need single payer with Medicare for all. Also, we not only need to protect Social Security, we need to come up with a new solution that actually prepares society for an aging population, including universal pensions.”

Gareth Rhodes, according to an article in the New York Daily News (tinyurl.com/l7zmlfn), is a one-time press aide for Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The 28-year-old is attending Harvard Law School, but plans to take a leave of absence to run for the seat.

He posted on www.facebook.com/RhodesForCongress, “Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to strip 24 million Americans of their health care…

“Here in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, more than 65,000 people may lose their health care because of last week’s vote. And our so-called ‘representative’ John Faso refuses to hold a town meeting. Our community has zero tolerance for this failed leadership and we will not be silenced.”

Patrick Ryan, according to the website for The Center for a New American Security (www.cnas.org/people/patrick-ryan), is the president of Praescient Analytics, a firm that specializes in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to national security, intelligence and homeland defense customers.

Ryan has referenced healthcare on his Twitter page (twitter.com/pkryan04). One post referenced a New York Times article about Trumpcare. Ryan wrote, “Very good perspective on real rationale behind AHCA – The House Health Care Disaster Is Really About Taxes.

“Proud to see the resistance in full effect in my hometown of Kingston #NY19 #noShowFaso cc @NY19votes @Rep SeanMaloney.”

Another post referenced a segment on “The Rachel Maddow Show” about Trumpcare, writing, “Absolutely awesome—Democrats on offense over unpopular Republican health care bill.”

Susan Sullivan has a LinkedIn account (tinyurl.com/klkmzdd) that says she is president of iSER Consulting, LLC, a “Hudson Valley based social sector firm providing excellence in client service.”

In an interview with HudsonValley.com (tinyurl.com/lxznwp8) she said, “Like others, the day after elections I woke up and was very troubled.”

After the Women’s March on Washington in January, Sullivan said her mother challenged her to run for office. She then began exploring a run, studying prior elections, opponents and Faso.

“This was not part of my life’s strategic plan,” Sullivan said.”