By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - Opposition to Thompson supervisor Anthony Cellini appeared on the horizon even before Cellini had a chance to throw his hat in the ring. Cellini announced interest in running for re-election on the Democratic ticket on St. Patrick's Day. It is not known whether the Thompson town Democratic committee will support him in the fall, or if there will be a primary race first.

Cellini's request for appointment to the Democratic committee was rejected in a March 26 vote. In a press-release issued two days later under the fax-heading of United Way of Sullivan County, Cellini publicly blasted Democratic leaders for refusing to seat him on the committee. Cellini's wife, Linda Cellini, is United Way's executive director.

Democratic committee members, including county chair Robert Krutman, have expressed anger at Democratic office-holders -- including Cellini -- for giving active support to Republican county court judge Burton Ledina last fall; Republican Mamakating supervisor Donald Trotta in 1995; and Republican Monticello mayor James Kenny in 1996.

Two years ago, Cellini got a free ride when Republicans did not put up a candidate to oppose him, after he cut a deal to appoint a staunch Republican as town attorney. Cellini may have to fight for his seat this time around, though whether a strong candidate will emerge remains to be seen.

Gary Sommers, a Monticello village trustee since 1993, said in March that he is thinking of running, and is waiting to hear from the Republican and Conservative committees whether he can expect each party's support. Sommers claimed to be the only candidate who has submitted his name to the Republican search committee. He said he was unsure about the Conservatives.

Political newcomer Jose Salado announced interest in running against Cellini as early as last November, after an unsuccessful bid for the post of Monticello mayor last March. Defects in his nominating petitions kept him off the ballot. Sommers said he spoke with Salado a few weeks ago, and Salado said he had begun collecting petitions to run for supervisor.

Sommers has not yet begun collecting signatures himself. He said people have asked why he would want to oppose Cellini when the town has not raised taxes recently. "It's really easy for the taxes to not go up when you haven't done anything. There's been no real changes to our quality of life in the Town of Thompson," Sommers said.

"We have a lot of projects that have been put out there. We don't have a lot of projects that have been completed," he said.

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