A CANDIDATES' FORUM

Approximately 200 Democratic activists attended a full-day forum on April 8 in Poughkeepsie, to meet and hear Democratic candidates for the 19th, 20th, and 22nd Congressional Districts and for New York State Attorney General. The event was presented by the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, with the cosponsorship of the Town of Poughkeepsie Democratic Committee and the Vassar College Student Democrats.

In the morning candidates for Attorney General Richard Brodsky, Mark Green, Charlie King, and Denise O'Donnell gave brief presentations and fielded some challenging questions from the audience. Candidates Andrew Cuomo (www.andrewcuomo.com) and Sean Patrick Maloney (www.seanmaloney.com) had declined the invitation early in the planning stages due to other commitments.

Denise O'Donnell (www.odonnell2006.com) is the only career prosecuting attorney among the candidates. She has served as a federal prosecutor for 17 years and is currently the U.S. Attorney for Western New York. O'Donnell feels strongly that the Attorney General has greater potential for making a positive difference in New Yorkers' lives than almost any other state official.

Mark Green (www.markgreen.com) is an experienced politician with particular and strong experience in the field of consumer protection. His 35 years of public service include the positions of Public Advocate and of Commissioner of Consumer Affairs for New York City.

Charlie King (www.king2006.com) is a lawyer who served as a regional HUD director in the Clinton administration and, in the private arena, as a litigator in a prestigious New York law firm. His public service includes defending whistleblowers who reported EPA violations and, most recently, defending the interests of Katrina victims threatened with eviction due to loss of FEMA support.

Since 1975 Richard Brodsky (www.brodsky2006.com) has served the Westchester area, first as a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators for four terms and, since 1982, as a member of the New York State Assembly. In his career he has focused on reform of state government, environmental protection, and the investigation and reform of the state's public authorities.

Questions from the audience addressed by these candidates concerned enforcement of HAVA (Help Americans Vote Act), same sex marriage, immigration and undocumented workers, health care, the Rockefeller drug laws, closing Indian Point, and the minimum wage. Their responses were articulate and almost uniformly acceptable to liberal Democrats, so the competition in this primary could be keen.

Following lunch attendees regathered to listen to the ideas and positions of three candidates for the 20th Congressional District - ours - currently represented by Republican John Sweeney. Kirsten Gillibrand (www.gillibrand2006.com) is currently a partner in a prestigious law firm and lives with her husband and child in Hudson. She has established a commitment to public service through pro-bono cases and a wide range of political and civic activities. She seems the more conservative of the three candidates, stressing cutting taxes for the middle class.

We learned little about Edwin Pell (users.bestweb.net/~edpell) himself, but his positions are clear: energy independence, protection of our Social Security system, a balanced budget, friendly relations with foreign powers, an end to our participation in wars in the Middle East, and job protection. He had some difficulty expressing support of pro-choice.

Doug Walters (campaign@dougwaltersforcongress.com), from Milan and a former NYC social worker, law enforcement operator and probation officer, has evidently come a long way; according to several listeners who had heard him at earlier local meetings and events, he has polished his delivery and learned to focus. Of the three he is the most interesting and gets high marks for thoughtfulness and intelligence.

The most telling question directed to the candidates concerned funds raised to date (early April). Edwin Pell has raised $1,000 (of his own money), Doug Walters $2,300 (of which $1,000 is his own), and Kirsten Gillibrand $700,000. In addition to fund raising power, Ms. Gillibrand has connections, intelligence, and presents herself very well. It's not hard to predict who will win this Democratic line in the primary.

There is much energy and activity in the 19th Congressional District, the Westchester-Putnam district of incumbent Republican Sue Kelly. It is generated primarily by a coalition of organizations known as Take 19 (www.take19.blogspot.com). Six candidates for this job made their presentations at the forum. It wasn't possible to guess who might have the edge at this point.

Finally, the proceedings were blessed by Maurice Hinchey, Democratic incumbent of the 22nd Congressional District who is running for reelection, unopposed (to date) in the primary. In his address he targeted the current "inept and corrupt administration," citing the national debt, the deficit, the level of poverty, decline of the middle class, and tax cuts for the wealthy.

A WAKE UP CALL:
Can We Sustain a Spirit of Activism Among Rhinebeck Democrats?

Democrats achieved a great deal in the 2005 town elections, becoming the majority party in Rhinebeck government for the first time in local history. The energy, dedication, and inventiveness we displayed in that campaign is essential if we are to turn back the Republications in the all-important state and national elections of 2006 and 2008.

Yet we are almost half-way through 2006, sliding quickly toward the congressional bi-elections, and there is little evidence of the resourcefulness that Rhinebeck Democrats displayed last year, fired up by particular local issues and fed up with Republican misrule.

As a local party, we are blessed with important attributes: a formal town committee, good leadership, a well-designed and well- maintained website, and an email newsletter which reaches 300 Democratic voters 5-6 times yearly.

But more than 1700 voters are registered as Democrats in this township and attendance at committee business meetings and events is, to say the least, discouraging. Our Yahoo Group list, comprised of activists and supporters who want to keep informed of relevant events and issues, numbers only 38.

What is missing? It has been suggested that our formal organization, the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee (RDC), needs to reform its structure and rethink its strategies, becoming more of a "membership" organization, in which members share their contact information and agree to participate as voters, active supporters, even candidates -- the level of participation to depend on each individual's circumstances.

So RDC is answering the call and is sponsoring a brainstorming session this coming Saturday, May 13, from 9 to noon at Town Hall. Please come, bring another Democrat, and share your ideas for revitalizing our party at the local level, where it all begins.

There will be refreshments!

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS
by Debi Duke

Community In Support of Public Education (CISPE) urges Democrats to join them in voting "yes" on the proposed school budget, Tuesday, May 16, 2-9 p.m., at Rhinebeck Middle/High School. The campus is one block beyond the Lion Club's mini park. Turn east at the intersection of South Parsonage and North Park.

Overall, the proposed increase in the budget is less than 10%, and the tax levy increase needed to fund it is less than 8.4% -- only about two-thirds of last year's increase despite the fact that energy, fuel, and insurance costs continue to rise at breathtaking rates.

"Fixed" operating costs constitute the biggest share of the increase. For instance, fuel and bus service costs are up 11%, liability insurance up 10%, and the cost of utilities has nearly doubled. Employee benefits, including health insurance and teacher pension fund contributions, are up more than 10%. Administrators and the school board have no control over these costs and districts throughout the nation face similar increases.

The budget provides for improvements costing about $130,000, which represents less than 1% of the budget increase. They include:

---- one full-time and one part-time teacher to provide extra help for K-12 students struggling with reading;

---- a part-time elementary school psychologist to support the growing number of students with special needs;

---- an additional custodial worker to help ensure that our new facilities are well maintained;

---- an intramural sports program for secondary (grade 6-12) students, who now have few extracurricular options.

Debt service for the facilities improvement and expansion, approved by the voters in 2004, accounts for approximately 2.8% of the budget increase, but only 0.8% of the tax levy increase. This is because we begin receiving state aid in the second year of a two-year phase-in of new debt service. In the fall and winter of 2006 we will see the results of this investment: new classrooms and a multipurpose room at the elementary school; improved space for secondary school art, science, and music; an auditorium; a new gym and locker rooms at the middle/high school; and a new track and athletic fields.

If you have questions or can help get out the vote to support the budget by making phone calls, writing letters, etc., please email <CISPE@frontiernet.net>. Or phone steering committee members Debi Duke (876-4461), Polly Kaplan (876-1544), or Janet Stetson (876-3120).

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"When it comes to government, never confuse conspiracy with incompetence."

Former New York City Council Chief of Staff Kevin McCabe, speaking of the dangers of attributing calculation and forethought to the actions of many government officials and operatives. Quoted in the New York Times, section B, 1/28/06.

WE HONOR THEIR HONORS

On a rainy Sunday, April 23, the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee honored the village's past and current mayor at a luncheon at the Terrapin Restaurant.

John Costa served as a village trustee from 1994-1997 and as mayor from 1997 to 2005, following many years of service in the military. He retired from the Army in 1989 as a Brigadier General and has lived here with his wife Teddy ever since. The couple has five children and has resided at many different Army bases in this country, as well as overseas. For two years John administered a community of over 12,000 Americans in Germany. A commission from West Point and a professorship there in foreign languages add to the richness of his experience. Active with the Democratic Committee, his church and the cultural life of the community, John has contributed much to Rhinebeck.

Our current mayor, Carol Mielich, served as a village trustee from 2002 to 2005, acting as liaison to the Planning and Zoning Boards. In March 2005 Carol was elected Mayor, capping an active life in Rhinebeck. She was born and raised here, as were her husband George and their three daughters and five grandchildren. Carol is a long time member of the Rhinebeck Fire Department and a past president of the Auxiliary. She has also served as president of the Mid Hudson Orchid Society and as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Anticipating a well- deserved retirement, Carol and George are planning to retire from their business in Red Hook - F&M Printing - and move to North Carolina later this year.

If Carol is not able to fulfill her term, the village trustees will select an interim mayor - from within the board or from outside village government - to serve until the next village elections in March 2007.

LEGAL AID:
THE NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS COUNCIL

The Council, a project of the New York State Democratic Committee, is a coalition of lawyers and others who are dedicated to voters' rights, specifically to ensuring that those eligible to vote can register easily, can vote without intimidation or frustration, and can have their votes counted in open and reliable voting systems. Members feel that they are working to overcome decades of systematic suppression of Democratic voters by Republicans who take advantage of national and local laws to favor Republican candidates.

A young organization, the Council has been active in the national elections of 2000 and 2004 and in the New York state municipal and county elections of 2005. In addition members have served as observors in Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Rwanda.

A first fundraiser is planned for May 16. See our "Calendar" section in this issue. Email fundraising@NYDLC.org or call 212-725-8825 for more information.

BRIEF:
RDC Website Revisions

Check the website of the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee at <www.rhinebeckdemocrats.org> for updates and revisions. New figures for Rhinebeck political party affiliations have been posted and there is a new feature, "Who's Who?" It continues the fine tradition of RDC's flyer, "Know Who Your Elected Officials Are . . ." (10th edition, 2001) and will be very helpful when you need the name, title, or term of a village, town, county, state or national official.

CALENDAR

The information below is subject to change, so please call the contact number provided for confirmation. All events listed are open to the public.

MAY

May 11, Thursday --- The Rhinebeck Democratic Committee (RDC) meeting normally scheduled for this time will be replaced by the brainstorming session on May 13.

May 13, Saturday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (RDC) BRAINSTORMING SESSION, 9 am to noon at Town Hall. Come and bring a fellow Democrat. We will discuss future directions for the RDC and refreshments will be provided. Call Co-Chairs at 876-5707 or 876-7771 for more information.

May 16, Tuesday --- RHINEBECK SCHOOL BUDGET AND BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS, 2 to 9 pm at the Bulkeley Middle School cafeteria. Call the district office at 871-5522 for more information.

May 16, Tuesday -- FUNDRAISER FOR THE NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS COUNCIL, 7:30 to 9:30 at the Yale Club in Manhattan. Guest speaker will be Howard Dean. Email <fundraising@NYDLC.org> or call 212-725-8825 for ticket information.

May 22, Monday -- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409).

JUNE

June 2, Friday --- FUNDRAISER: RECEPTION AND DINNER cosponsored by the DUTCHESS DEMOCRATIC WOMENS CAUCUS and Orange County Democratic Women, 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the Quality Inn in Newburgh. Guest speaker will be Silda Wall-Spitzer. For ticket information, call 876-6581 or email <clarebrandt@ddwc.org>

June 8, Thursday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (RDC) meets, 7:30 pm at Town Hall (876-7771).

June 12, Monday --- TOWN BOARD MEETING, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409).

June 13, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD MEETING, 7 pm at Village Hall (876-7015).

June 26, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409).

JULY

July 10, Monday --- TOWN BOARD MEETING, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409).

July 11, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD MEETING, 7 pm at Village Hall (876-7015).

July 13, Thursday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (RDC) meets, 7:30 pm at Town Hall (876-7771).

July 24, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409)

PREVIEWS

September 12, Tuesday --- PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICES. Rhinebeck Democrats will have interesting choices to make in the races for Attorney General and Congressperson for the 20th CD.

October 6-7, Friday & Saturday --- WOMEN'S VOICES PILOT WORKSHOP, sponsored by the Dutchess Democratic Women's Caucus (DDWC) and designed to help potential candidates with message formation and voice development. For more information call 845-876-6581 or email <clarebrandt@ddwc.org>

Our snail mail address is The Rhinebeck Demogram, c/o McKellen, 22 Violet Place, Rhinebeck 12572.

OUR SUBSCRIBER LIST IS SECURE. We do not give, trade or sell your email address to any individual, business or organization. Our list will not be used for any purpose other than to distribute The Rhinebeck Demogram.

WE HONOR THEIR HONORS

BRIEF: RDC Website Revisions

CALENDAR

BRIEF:
RDC Website Revisions