Schriebman (file)

KINGSTON – Former Ulster County Democratic Party Chairman Julian Schriebman announced he is filing as a candidate for US Congress.

The Kingston native said he is running “to carry on Maurice Hinchey’s efforts for the people of our communities.” The long time congressman recently announced his retirement at the end of the year.

“Maurice has had a laser like focus on the needs of the real people who live in our communities, which is something that is rare in Washington,” Schriebman said on Tuesday. “The voices of regular folks are drowned out by interests with money and influence and as a result of that, you get people like Mitt Romney and hedge fund managers paying half the tax rate of regular folks, banks getting bailed out and homeowners not.”

Schriebman, who previously served as an assistant US attorney and Ulster County senior assistant district attorney, was also an assistant general counsel at the CIA. He assisted in the prosecution of four al Qaeda terrorists for the bombings of two US embassies.

Schriebman said he is for a “strong economy built on good jobs; for a fair tax system in which the wealthy don’t pay lower rates than American workers; for effective oversight of our financial industry; and opposition to hydrofracking, which threatens our environment and local economies.”

Woodstock Democratic Chairwoman Terrie Rosenblum praised Schriebman’s “integrity, work ethic, and commitment to his principles.”

The vice chairwoman of the Ulster County Democrats, Karen Markinsenis, will serve as chairman until a party convention is held in the next few months.