7 Ulster Legislature candidates unopposed

Seven candidates for the Ulster County Legislature will get free rides to election in November, while another seven will battle in September primary elections for spots on the general election ballot.

Republicans are giving free rides to five Democratic candidates, however in one of those races, Democrats will vie among themselves for the party’s line. Democrats, meanwhile, have let three GOP candidates go unchallenged.

In all, 21 incumbent legislators are seeking reelection. In two legislative districts newcomers will square off in races to become county lawmakers.

There are 23 seats on the Ulster County Legislature.

County Democratic Committee Chairman Frank Cardinale said that Democrats were able to field 20 candidates in the upcoming election — three more than Republicans and one more than Democrats ran in 2015. That, he said, speaks to a “renewed interest and energy” in the Democratic party.

“This is more candidates than we’ve fielded in some time,” said Cardinale. “We’ve left more seats vacant in the past. These are clearly winnable seats that we’re going after.

“People saw what happened last year and want to get involved,” he said. “Everyone is very excited and enthusiastic and we sure hope that translates to a better turnout this year.”

Roger Rascoe, the Republican Party chairman, said district demographics played a role in deciding in which districts to field GOP candidates.

“The demographics of several of the city (Kingston) districts and other districts throughout the county are such that it just doesn’t make any sense to run a candidate,” said Rascoe. “The demographics of the districts are very clear,” he said, pointing as an example to District 20, which comprises the village and a portion of the town of New Paltz.

“That district is 63 percent Democrats,” he said. “Why would a Republican want to run down there?”

Rascoe said that with the 18 candidates the party is fielding, he believes the GOP has a strong enough lineup to maintain it’s current majority.

Republicans hold a working 12-11 majority, however that includes Legislator Richard Parete, a registered Democrat who caucuses with the Republicans.

Democrats running unopposed for re-election are Hector Rodriguez of New Paltz; Manna Jo Greene of Rosendale; Jonathan Heppner of Woodstock; and James Delaune of New Paltz.

In five legislative districts, Democrats will battle among themselves for the party line in November, while Republicans candidates will face off in primary elections in two districts.

In the city of Kingston, incumbent Peter Loughran will square off against Lynn Eckert, who was tapped by the Democratic Committee for the District 5 seat, in a September primary. The victor in that primary election will be unchallenged in the November general election.

Loughran was one of three incumbent Democrats running for re-election to be passed over by the Democratic Committee. The Democratic Committee also endorsed Doug Adams over Richard Parete for the District 18 race and Kathy Nolan over John Parete in the District 22 race. Like Loughran, the Paretes have launched primary challenges in the hope of capturing the Democratic lines on the ballot.

Democratic newcomers John Gavaris and Julius Collins will battle in the September primary for the Democratic line for the District 15 seat being vacated by incumbent TJ Briggs. Briggs is running for a seat on the Wawarsing Town Board. The victor will face off against Republican Cathy Spoor in the November general election.

In Saugerties, incumbent Chris Allen will face a write-in primary for the Democratic line.

GOP incumbents running unopposed are Dean Fabiano of Saugerties; Richard Gerentine of Marlborough; and Ken Ronk of Wallkill.

In District 8, which comprises the town of Esopus, former Republican Legislator Laura Petit, will run on the Democratic line against, Ira Weiner, who is running on the GOP line.

Republicans have tapped two registered Democrats in the Paretes as the party’s candidates for those district seats. It will be the second time that Richard Parete has run as a Republican; in 2015 he defeated Adams, who ran on the Democratic line.

This year, the GOP has also offered its line to John Parete, who was passed over by the Democratic Committee. However, he will face a write-in primary challenge from Cliff Faintych.

“John’s voting record many times agrees with Republican values,” said Rascoe. “The chair from Olive and the chair from Denning nominated him at the convention. No one nominated Cliff, so we’re going to let (Parete) be on our line.”

Incumbent James Maloney will also face a write-in primary challenge for the GOP line.

Several candidates also face challenges on the Conservative, Green, Independence and Reform Party lines.

Candidates filing petitions to run for Legislature seats, and their party lines, are as follows: District 1 (Saugerties): Incumbent Mary Wawro, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Michael MacIssac, Democrat;

District 2 (Saugerties):

Incumbent Chris Allen, Democrat, Working Families; Joseph Maloney, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 3 (Saugerties, Ulster): Incumbent Dean Fabiano, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 4 (Ulster, town of Kingston): Incumbent James Maloney, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Laura Hartman, Democratic, Working Families;

District 5 (city of Kingston): Lynn Eckert, Democratic, Working Families; Peter Loughran, Democratic;

District 6 (city of Kingston): Incumbent David Donaldson, Democratic, Working Families; Jean Jacobs, GOP, Independence;

District 7 (city of Kingston): Incumbent Jennifer Swartz Berky, Democrat, Working Families; Brian Woltman, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 8 (Esopus): Laura Petit, Democrat, Working Families; Ian Weiner, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 9 (Lloyd, Plattekill): Incumbent Herb Litts, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Pamela Krimsky, Democrat, Working Families;

District 10 (Lloyd, Marlborough):

Incumbent Mary Beth Maio, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Russell Gilmore, Democrat, Working Families;

District 11 (Marlborough):

Incumbent Richard Gerentine, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 12 (Plattekill):

Incumbent Kevin Roberts, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Glenn Geher, Democrat, Working Families;

District 13 (Shawangunk):

Incumbent Ken Ronk, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 14 (Shawangunk,

Wawarsing): Incumbent Craig Lopez, GOP, Conservative, Independence; Andrew Theodore Zink, Democrat,

Working Families; District 15 (Warwarsing):

John Gavaris, Democrat Conservative; Julius Collins, Democrat; Cassie Spoor, GOP, Conservative;

District 16 (Gardiner Shawangunk): Incumbent Tracey Bartels, Democratic and Working Families; Kathy Miller, GOP, Conservative, Independence;

District 17 (Esopus, New Paltz): Incumbent James Delaune, Democrat;

District 18 (Hurley, Marbletown): Incumbent Richard Parete, GOP, Conservative, Independence, Democrat; Doug Adams, Democrat, Working Families;

District 19 (Marbletown,

Rosendale): Incumbent Manna Jo Greene, Democrat, Working Families;

District 20 (New Paltz):

Incumbent Hector Rodriguez, Democrat, Working Families; Ismail Shabazz, Green Party;

District 21 (Rochester, Wawarsing): Incumbent Ronald Lapp, GOP Conservative, Independence; Lynn Archer, Democrat, Working Families;

District 22 (Denning, Hardenburgh, Olive, Shandaken):

Incumbent John Parete, GOP, Conservative, Independence, Democrat; Kathy Nolan, Democrat, Working Families; Cliff Faintych, GOP;

District 23 (Woodstock):

Jonathan Heppner, Democrat, Working Families.