Hein: "... absolutely essential"

KINGSTON – Ulster County Democrats hope their party will regain the majority in the county legislature riding on the coattails of popular County Executive Michael Hein. He is running unopposed in next month’s general election.

Hein told a Democratic Party dinner in Kingston that the party must recapture the majority in the county legislature.

“We have a unique opportunity and that opportunity is to take back the legislature and it will only happen in the people in this room embrace the idea that not only is it possible, it is absolutely essential,” Hein said.

He told the party faithful that a Democratic win is about the people. “There is nobody that can compare to the Democratic Party of Ulster County – because we give it its heart.”

Congressman Maurice Hinchey a fellow Democrat said Hein has “certainly set the bar very, very high, “so high, in fact, that the Republicans have not been able to find anyone qualified to replace him.”

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli attended the dinner. “Do you realize Mike Hein is the only incumbent county executive that we have on the ballot – and the only one really then, in New York State?” The state comptroller told fellow Democrats that they “need to prove at every level of government, that we understand what it means to balance a budget, to manage finances during a tough time, to be creative about how we look at for the public interest.”

DiNapoli insisted, “Mike Hein’s leadership is one we can point to across the state, as an incentive for other counties to start electing Democrats to be county executives as well, so Mike Hein is not alone.”

In an effort to collectively sweep this year’s election for his party, Hein pledged $10,000 of his own money to the county Democratic committee.

Among the top goals for November 8, Democrats seek to have challenger Jonathan Sennett win the district attorney’s office from incumbent Republican Holly Carnright.

In the wake of fiscal allegations concerning the management of confidential bank accounts, Sennett is considered by Democrats as a much-needed reformer to the entrenched Republican control of Ulster County’s prosecutor’s seat.