Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General - Primary Tuesday Sept 14th

On Tuesday September 14th Democrats will head to the polls for primary day. This year's biggest primary is the five way race for Attorney General.

In the Attorney General race 

we urge all Democrats to vote for 

Eric Schneiderman

Senator Schneiderman was endorsed for Attorney General by the Columbia County Democratic Committee and was unanimously endorsed by the Hudson City Democratic Committee. 

But that was only the start of the endorsements!

In the NY Times Endorsement of Mr. Schneiderman the Times editorial board said:

 ...Mr. Schneiderman has courage, a strong voice and a deep commitment to ethical government. During his 12 years in the Senate, he championed important laws protecting women’s rights and repealing the overly harsh Rockefeller-era drug laws, and he challenged his party’s leaders when they chose expedience over conviction...

Thanks to him, New York now has laws that will make it easier to prosecute fraud in government contracts and end the cynical practice of prison gerrymandering. Other efforts — promoting transparency in Albany and curbing the power of dirty money — have been blocked by political leaders eager to protect the sleazy status quo. His willingness to keep pushing is crucial.

This year, he again bucked his own party leadership, and demonstrated his legal skills, by crafting and pressing the case to expel Hiram Monserrate from the State Senate after the Queens politician was convicted of domestic abuse...

Mr. Schneiderman has the backing of many of the state’s unions, which too often have resisted reforms. He also has bucked these unions — for example, supporting a less-costly pension plan for new state employees...

But he also scored major victories with union endorsements and the ground operations that they bring with them. He has received the endorsements of United Federation of Teachers, 1199, SEIU  and 32BJ, the Hotel Trades Council (HTC), the United Food and Commercial Workers and even the Freelancers Union. With the endorsements of HTC, 1199, and 32BJ, Schneiderman has assembled the support of the three most highly coveted field operations in New York.
 
In addition to the New York Times endorsement, he has won the Albany Times-Union endorsement, and even in The Nation. He has been endorsed by scores of elected officials and other public leaders. He also won the endorsement of the good government group, Citizens Union and is also supported by the largest LGBT rights group in New York State, the Empire State Pride Agenda.

View this campaign ad to see the diversity and strength of the coalition supporting 
Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General.

We urge everyone to make sure

that they get to the polls.

Tuesday, September 14th
  and take the first step in electing

Eric Schneiderman
New York's next 
Attorney General.

Pride Agenda Endorses Didi Barrett for New York State Senate

The Empire State Pride Agenda, the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Rights organization in New York State, has endorsed Didi Barrett for State Senate. 

She will face Senator Stephen Saland who recently voted "no" on the Marriage Equality bill.  Ms. Barrett is a strong supporter of Marriage Equality and of equal rights for all.

The Pride Agenda is a civil rights organization which works toward achieving equality and justice for the LGBT community. One of the functions of the organization is to work toward electing candidates who support their public policy agenda.

See the Pride Agenda's announcement.
Learn more at Didi Barrett's website.
See also: Legislative Gazette

Hudson Democrats Endorse Donahoe and Davis

At its July meeting, the Hudson City Democratic Committee (HCDC) officially endorsed Peter Donahoe for Columbia County Clerk and Roberta Davis, R.N., for County Coroner.

Mr. Donahoe is an Information Technology specialist and photographer. Roberta Davis is a Registered Nurse and the wife of the late Dr. Baruch Davis, a former Coroner's Physician in Columbia County.

Committee members agreed that Mr. Donahoe, with his background in information technology is perfectly suited to bring the County Clerk's office into the 21st Century. Ms. Davis, who is a registered nurse, went on every call with her husband in his role as the Coroner's Physician under Coroner Angelo Nero. Her experience in the field, writing reports and assisting in the investigation of deaths, makes her an ideal candidate for County Coroner.

"The County Clerk's office is in complete disarray," said Victor Mendolia, chair of the HCDC, in further explaining the Donahoe endorsement. "Columbia County ranks at the bottom in the state in online accessibility to records and data. The Clerk's office should be at the forefront of technology, and it simply is not. Holly Tanner is a personable official and a nice person, but one need only look at the Clerk's website to see that she simply has not brought the county into the 21st century. The records of this county are being stored on paper in boxes in very expensive buildings. They are poorly archived, and many have been damaged and lost forever. The costs of storing data in this way are astronomical. This is no way to run a modern government."

"The technological deficiency on the county level is a major detriment to the economic development of Columbia County," Chairman Mendolia continued. "Businesses and investors must be able to access government data in an instant. The fact that the clerk still has virtually no records online severely holds back the economic development of Columbia County."

Regarding Roberta Davis' candidacy for Coroner, Chairman Mendolia said, "We could not ask for a more qualified candidate for Coroner. With her experience as a registered nurse, her years assisting her Coroner's Physician husband, and her years on the bench as Austerlitz Town Justice, Roberta Davis is uniquely qualified to take the newly created, third County Coroner's position."

The Hudson City Democratic Committee enthusiastically endorses these two highly qualified candidates.

Full Slate of Democratic Candidates Announced

The Columbia County Democratic Committee has announced that there will be a full slate of candidates on he ballot this Fall.  
Didi Barrett will be challenging 20 year incumbent Stephen Saland for the 41st District State Senate seat.
Susan Tooker N.P. will be challenging Marcus Molinaro in the 103rd Assembly District.
Peter Donahoe is contesting the Columbia County Clerk position currently held by Holly Tanner.
Roberta Davis R.N. is running for the newly created third County Coroner position.
The Hudson City Democratic Committee will meet on Tuesday July 6th at 7pm at 401 State Street, to endorse Tooker, Donahoe and Davis.  The committee has previously endorsed Didi Barrett.

Hudson Democrats to Sponsor Hudson Pride

The Hudson City 
Democratic Committee 

is one of over 40 official co-sponsors of the 

1st Hudson Pride 
Parade and Festival. 

From the Columbia Paper article Hudson Pride, a Celebration for All

“Absolutely,” said Mayor Rick Scalera responding to an invitation last week to march in the parade. “I’m glad that they are stressing that it’s for everybody. It’s just a fun day. I have no reservations. I’ll happily be there and it should be fun.”

“I think celebrating Hudson’s pride is a wonderful idea. One of the strongest characteristics of Hudson is its diversity and I am always happy to celebrate our diversity,” said Don Moore, President of the city’s Common Council.

“The event will honor the contributions that the gay community makes to the city and will celebrate the diversity and openness that makes Hudson so great,” said Victor Mendolia, Chairman of the Hudson Democrats, and one of the organizers of the event. “One reason we are having the rally at the end of the parade route on Promenade Hill with venders and local groups, is we want it to be good for local businesses,” he said.

PARTICIPATING ELECTED OFFICIALS/CANDIDATES

Hudson Officials

Mayor- Rick Scalera

Common Council President- Don Moore

Treasurer- Eileen Halloran

Supervisor- Bart Delaney

Supervisor- William Hallenbeck Jr.

Supervisor- William Hughes Jr.

Alderman- Wanda Pertilla

Alderman- Sheila Ramsey
Alderman- Sarah Sterling

Alderman- Ellen Thurston

Alderman- Chris Wagoner

Other Officials

Greenport Supervisor- Ed Nabozny

Elections Commissioner- Virginia Martin

State Senate Candidates

Didi Barrett

Luke Martland

Find out more at HudsonPride.com

Read more at Columbia Paper

Ellen Thurston - Citizen of the Year!

Alderman Ellen Thurston

Ellen Thurston has been named 2010 Hudson Area Citizen of the Year by the Hudson Rotary Club.

The Hudson City Democratic Committee salutes Ellen for her tireless work for the citizens of Hudson. The Rotary Club is to be commended for choosing such a deserving citizen for recognition.

Ms. Thurston is Third Ward Alderman and Majority Leader of the Hudson Common Council. She is also Vice President of the Hudson Opera House Board and for years was the principal organizer of Winter Walk. 

Her events calendar, "Much to Do About Hudson" is a must, for anyone wanting to know what's happening in Hudson and beyond.

There will be a reception in her honor to be held at the Hudson Opera House on Thursday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. Please join us as we thank Ellen for her service.

Although not required, please RSVP to Joel Allen at hudsonallens@verizon.net or (518) 828-4729.

Read more at The Gossips of Rivertown