7 Democrats file ballot petitions

The seven Democrats who announced their intention to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Faso in New York’s 19th Congressional District have filed petitions to appear on the ballot.

The Democrats are Jeffrey Beals of Woodstock, David Clegg of Woodstock, Erin Collier of Cooperstown, Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck, Brian Flynn of Elka Park, Gareth Rhodes of Kerhonkson and Patrick Ryan of Gardiner, according to the state Board of Elections. The deadline to file was Thursday.

Due to the crowded field of candidates, the Democrats will face off in a primary June 26. The winner will earn the right to appear on the Democratic Party line during the Nov. 6 election.

Also filing petitions was Steven Greenfield of New Paltz, who is seeking the Green Party line.

For his part, Faso, RKinderhook, said his campaign submitted more than 9,600 signatures to the state Board of Elections for the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Reform party

lines. He is seeking his second two-year term.

“I appreciate the support of the citizens of the 19th District and all those who signed or worked to collect this record amount of petitions,” Faso said in a press release.

In a press release, Beals said he received 3,200 signatures to appear on the ballot. He said his campaign ran a completely volunteer-driven field operation throughout

the petition season, using hundreds of volunteers.

Collier said in a statement she was “thrilled” to be on the ballot for the primary and was “proud to be one of the thousands of women running for office this year, and I’m looking forward to a spirited primary.” She said she filed more than 2,700 signatures.

Delgado’s campaign said in a press release that he received nearly 6,000 signatures.

“This is a powerful moment that shows how much grassroots support this campaign has built across the

Hudson Valley and Catskills,” Delgado said in a statement. He added that his campaign went to all 11 counties and knocked on more than 30,000 doors.

Flynn, in a press release, said his campaign submitted more than 5,000 signatures on petitions. He thanked the more than 100 volunteers who carried his petitions, all of whom were voters from the district.

“Not only did they gather signatures from all 11 counties, they did it by going door to door, neighbors talking to neighbors — often during

snow storms, frigid temperatures, and even power outages,” Flynn said.

Rhodes said in a press release his campaign turned in nearly three times the number of signatures required, from all 11 counties, to appear on the ballot. He said it was a 100 percent volunteer effort. The 19th District comprises all of Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Sullivan, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties; most of Dutchess County; parts of Rensselaer and Montgomery counties; and a small section of Broome County.