Ruggiero congratulates Smith

POUGHKEEPSIE - After nearly eight long hours of balloting, counting, and some arguing, the Dutchess County Democratic Committee elected current Vice Chairwoman Jane Barber Smith to its top seat in the committee during a reorganization meeting Wednesday night.

The Democrats elected Smith as their new chairwoman by a margin of roughly three-to-two over Robert Gephard, for the seat vacated by former Chairman Joseph Ruggiero, who resigned from the post due to a career change.

Smith said her first priority will be bringing the party together in time for the 2008 elections, and working on getting more Democrats into office.

“I think we need to work really hard in our towns and I think we still have strides to make in our county legislature,” she said. “I know we took the majority this year, but we don’t have a super majority yet, and I think that’s important to work for.”

Other county party seats filled included a new Treasurer, Dan French, re-elected Secretary Barbara Jeter-Jackson, and Vice Chair Elisa Sumner.

The election process began with roll call at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, and didn’t conclude until nearly 2:30 this morning.