CSEA shuns candidates endorsed by Democrats

The Kingston unit of the Civil Service Employees Association, a union representing about 150 city employees, has taken the unusual step of endorsing only Republicanand Conservative-backed candidates for Kingston Common Council seats.

The Kingston CSEA typically has supported Democratic candidates in city races.

Troy Ashdown, a member of the CSEA committee that recommended the endorsements, said the union shares some of the nationwide disillusionment with Democratic leadership.

“I would say it seems to me that our community is following the trend that has carried over from the presidential election, where huge swaths of traditional bluecollar communities have crossed over party lines,” Ashdown said. “Our bargaining unit has been decimated by attrition and layoffs for the past decade, specially under Democratic leadership.”

Kingston has not had a Republican mayor or a Republican majority on the nine-member council for about the past 25 years. The council’s current makeup is eight Democrats and only one Republican.

Three of the five council candidates endorsed by the CSEA are not registered members of either of the Republican Party or Conservative Party. The two who are are Republican Michael Russell, who is vying for the open seat in Ward 1 against Democrat Jeffrey Morell; and incumbent Deborah Brown, who is being challenged in Ward 9 by Democrat Andrea Shaut.

The other Republican/ Conservative-backed candidates endorsed by the union are Teryl Mickens, a member of the Independence Party who is running against incumbent Democrat Bill Carey in Ward 5; James Rodden, a registered Democrat who is running against incumbent Democrat Steve Schabot in Ward 8; and Patrick O’Reilly, who is not enrolled in a political party and is running against registered Democrat Bryant “Drew” Andrews for the open seat in Ward 7.

The union made no endorsements in Wards 2, 3, 4 and 6.

Fran Fagan, president of the Kingston Civil Service Employees Association, said party affiliation had nothing to do with his union’s endorsement of candidates.

“I think that they are the people are the best who will work for the betterment of the city of Kingston and the CSEA,” Fagan said. “They are the ones we think will do the best job.”

When asked about the CSEA endorsing candidates backed by Republicans and Conservatives, Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, a Democrat, noted that most of them are not members of those parties.

“I think that it is also unique that a number of candidates running as Republicans are not registered as such,” said Noble, who is not up for reelection this year. “My administration has found success by working with the Common Council and all elected officials, not against them.

“I look forward to continuing this cooperative relationship with the new council members in 2018,” Noble said.

Election Day in Nov. 7.