Bernardo and Hein (right) both say they would not single out any group

KINGSTON - Democrat Michael Hein and Len Bernardo, the Independence and Republican candidate, both said Monday night that they will be strong advocates for all minorities, and not single out any individual group, if elected to the county’s new top position.

The candidates for Ulster County Executive met with members of LGBTQ, an equal rights advocacy group headquartered on Wall Street in Kingston, where they discussed civil rights, among other topics brought up in the public forum.

Bernardo said the county needs to keep an open-mindedness.

“Having organized people doing organized things together, that is being a good advocate, for every group, whether it be the gay and lesbian group, or the XYZ group, it doesn’t make any difference,” said Bernardo.  “We should be inclusive of all.  That’s the open mindedness that we need in this county government.”

Hein continued to boast about his vast governmental experience, noting his healthcare reform for county CSEA employees over the past few years, among other programs.

“I’m also very excited to have been the administrator when domestic partnership healthcare went in, where everybody gets treated the same on a level playing field when it comes to healthcare.  And you know what?  Because we went about it in a business-like manner, we were able to do all of those things and save millions of dollars in the process.”

LGBTQ Community Center President Ginny Apuzzo said their priorities for whoever wins this race are clear. 

“What I think we need to do is address the mission of every county agency.  If it’s a health agency, let’s look at the mission and see how well they fulfill their mission as it pertains to the lesbian and gay community,” she said. “Little by little, we’re making in-roads now, little by little, we’re providing cultural competency education to providers.  The more people I talk to, the more people I realize are willing to be educated about this, and then they go back and pull others in their agency in.”

An upcoming LGBTQ event on November 11 will feature cultural competence training at the center’s headquarters to promote that goal of equality in healthcare; Apuzzo said over 50 social service providers had signed up for the free institute.

The vote for Ulster County’s first ever county executive is now just 21 days away.