Legislators at odds over filling vacancy
The Democratic candidate for the late James Maloney’s seat is expected to be appointed to it this week.
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Democrats who control the Ulster County Legislature are poised to appoint Democratic candidate Brian Cahill — over the objection of Republicans — to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Legislator James Maloney.
The Legislature will meet in a special session at 6:15 p.m. Thursday to appoint a successor to Maloney, R-town of Ulster, who died July 11 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Legislature Chairwoman Tracey Bartels and Majority Leader Jonathan Heppner said the 12-10 Democratic majority will nominate Cahill, a former legislator.
“Brian Cahill is qualified, he’s represented Ulster County before, and he can hit the ground running,” said Bartels, a nonenrolled voter from Gardiner who aligns with Democrats. “I know he can step into the role and begin work on Day One.”
Heppner, D-Woodstock, said it’s especially important to appoint someone familiar with the county’s inner workings because the Legislature will begin its review of the administration’s budget in November.
Republicans, though, want Maloney’s wife Brenda appointed to the interim position. Republicans have tapped former Kingston Alderwoman Andi Turco-Levin to run in November against Cahill.
In a letter to lawmakers, county GOP Chairman Roger Rascoe urged
that Brenda Maloney be appointed to her husband’s seat rather than someone who is running for it.
“No other potential candidate can come close to matching the enthusiasm, passion and dedication to Ulster County Legislative District 4 that Jim had other than his wife Brenda,” Rascoe wrote. “To appoint either Andi Turco-Levin or Brian Cahill would surely reek of political gamesmanship.”
District 4 comprises part of the town of Ulster and all of the town of Kingston.
Minority Leader Ken Ronk called Brenda Maloney “a really great option” that would be in keeping with the Legislature’s past practice of appointing the spouse of a legislator who dies while in office. In 2003, the Legislature voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Alfonso to the seat left open by the death of her husband, Daniel Alfonso, R-Highland.
Ronk, R-Wallkill, aid Democrats, are playing politics with the vacant seat.
“This is one of the most despicable decisions I’ve
ever seen in politics, and that’s saying something,” he said.
Ronk accused Democrats of hypocrisy over what he said was a reversal in the position Democrats took when considering a replacement for former county Comptroller Elliott Auerbach, who stepped down midterm to take a job with the state. At that time, Bartels opposed appointing an announced candidate to fill the vacancy because she didn’t want to influence the outcome of the election.
“I’d like them to explain to me what’s changed except politics and power,” Ronk said.
“They’re trying to use the death of one of my friends and colleagues to gain a leg up for the rest of this year, and to me, that’s abhorrent,” Ronk said.
He said appointing Cahill, who announced his candidacy in April, after Maloney was diagnosed with cancer, is “disgracing [Maloney’s] memory.”
Bartels replied: “I don’t think we’re disgracing Jim’s memory, and I don’t think our actions could do anything to disgrace Jim’s memory. Jim’s legacy is Jim’s legacy, and I think it diminishes
that to suggest that something we do could impact that.”
She said the difference between filling the comptroller’s job and Maloney’s seat is that, at the time of the comptroller’s vacancy, there were two Democrats vying for the party’s nomination for the position and Republicans had not fielded a candidate.
Cahill served in the county Legislature from January 2006 until December 2009. He was chosen by Democrats in April to run against Maloney after Democrat Ronald Miller declined the nomination.
Cahill declined to comment about Ronk’s remarks. He said he was asked by the legislative leadership to accept the appointment and he agreed.
“It’s about keeping District 4 represented fairly,” Cahill said. “As someone who knows the district, has represented the district before, has the knowledge and the ability to serve, I agreed.”
Whoever is appointed to the position Thursday will serve through the end of the year. The winner of the November election will serve for two years starting Jan. 1, 2020.