Democrats take Legislature --
votes follow town lines

By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO -- Republican Rodney Gaebel of Jeffersonville appeared to be the exception to at least two rules in this week's race for Sullivan County Legislature in this, the first year voters have chosen candidates under the new form of government.

Named by some to have chaired a Republican dominated board, Gaebel handily carried his native Callicoon, and also ran unusually well in adjacent town to the east. But he was one of three Republicans to win.

At press-time -- in a surprise turn -- Democrats appeared to have taken control of two thirds of the 9-member county board. "I was sort of convinced that we were going to take control of the new Legislature," said Republican chair Greg Goldstein.

"Obviously, they'll control what's going to be," he added.

As votes were being counted and tallies posted on wall-charts at the Board of Elections, Oppenheim commented on an emerging pattern. "The thing that interests me most is how geopolitical the vote was," noting that wins went mostly to local candidates.

Oppenheim noted that in District 2 the only precinct which Daniel Lamberti (D-EJ) carried was his home town of Forestburgh, losing badly to Robert Lander (R-C-F) of Narrowsburg. Likewise, Richard Levine (D-EJ) carried Fallsburg, lost in Liberty to Joanne McPhillips, but carried the race by a slim margin.

Oppenheim mulled aloud over the long-term impact of this "geopolitical effect."

"It'll be interesting what small towns feel about the legislative form of government. I can conceive of there being a backlash. Will people feel unrepresented and will that produce any call for a change in the system?" he asked.

This won't be answerable for years, but Oppenheim doubts voters will ever return to the controversial system of weighted voting on the old Board of Supervisors.

In District 8, Oppenheim noted Robert Kunis (D-EJ) "killed" Bill James (R-C-F) in Fallsburg and also "held pretty well" in Thompson, which James barely carried, Oppenheim noted. Kunis has roots in Fallsburg, with both men now residing in Thompson.

But Goldstein pinned James' defeat on a heavy Democratic anti-Ingber turnout in Fallsburg. Ingber is a former Democrat who changed his enrollment."They got the people out to vote," said Goldstein, referring to opponents of former supervisor Brian Ingber (R-F), imprisoned 10 years ago for mail fraud.

Democratic election commissioner Tim Hill gloated that Ingber's decision to run in '95 "was the biggest political mistake of his life, and I'm glad I was here to see it."

Oppenheim remarked on the pivotal importance of Fallsburg in county politics historically, now, and in the future -- due to its "cohesive" nature.

"The strongest candidate for county office is a Republican from Fallsburg," he asserted, listing such names as current district attorney Stephen F. Lungen, the late Bucky Mintz, Ben Newburg, and others, who have won county-wide by carrying the predominantly Republican vote in the western end of the county and also a large share of Jewish Democratic votes in their home town. "Only if you're a Cooke," said Oppenheim, does this rule not hold true.

The race in Legislative District 9 was still too close to call after midnight on Election Day. Candidates Steve Kurlander (R-C-F) and Steven Sharoff (D-EJ), both of Monticello, were at the Government Center. Kurlander held a slight lead Monday night, with a reported 156 absentee ballots uncounted. District 9 includes parts of the towns of Fallsburg and Thompson. Jodi Kurlander, Steve's wife predicted the results would be decided in court within a week or two. Goldstein projected Kurlander would hang onto his lead.

Oppenheim voiced disappointment with the supervisor's race in Cochecton, where Sal Indilicato (D-C-TFC) lost to incumbent Robert Grund (R-F) by a hefty margin, despite working hard and registering a number of new Democrats in the town.

County Democratic secretary Betty Friedland expressed satisfaction with the overall results, though she noted turnout was light in Thompson. "I'm pleased with the outcome of the majority of the races. The Democrats put up some excellent candidates and I think the people recognized that," she exulted.

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