In November 1994, voters mandated creation of a county legislative form of government, replacing the outmoded weighted voting still in use today by the Board of Supervisors. While boundaries of some districts may be revised in court, depending on the outcome of lawsuits by the towns of Fallsburg and Neversink, some new faces at the government center are inevitable.
County Republican chair Greg Goldstein said he will announce an entire slate in approximately four to six weeks. The only Republican to announce thus far, Goldstein said, has been Thompson town council member William S. Orestano, -- commonly known as Bill James, 45 -- of Harris, news director at WSUL radio in Monticello. James has been building support for a county bid since he was defeated for supervisor in November 1993.
Goldstein said he would not release any further information until the party committee unitedly endorses a slate.
Bethel town council member Christopher A. Cunningham, 32, formerly a staff writer for The Times Herald-Record, revealed in November 1994 he would be a candidate from District 1, comprising the towns of Cochecton, Delaware and Bethel. Describing himself as "an open meetings advocate," Cunningham said "people need more access to government."
Cunningham enumerated a long list of priorities which he has thought through, including consolidation of government services, scheduling legislative meetings at night, and taking charge of the ongoing annual series of Woodstock concerts. Cunningham makes his home on Hurd Rd. in Bethel, near the concert site.
Last week two Liberty Democrats announced through supervisor Jack Simons, who also chairs the town Democratic committee, that they would run. Businesswoman Naomi C. Frumess, 49, co-owner of a video rental outlet, will run for District 6. Retired school administrator Peter M. Stettner, 60, of White Sulphur Springs threw his hat in the ring for District 5.
Frumess targeted tourism promotion, and creation of an Internet node for Sullivan County computer users as key issues for economic development. She questioned the wisdom of a plan to plan a casino run by Oneida Indians at Monticello Raceway. Frumess ran twice for village posts in Liberty -- for justice in 1991, and for village trustee in 1992. She lost both times.
A vocational guidance counselor who retired January 1 after 20 years at BOCES, Stettner has publicly supported casino gambling as a means to bring jobs to Sullivan County. He also discussed seeking non-traditional funding sources for schools. This is Stettner's first bid for elective office.
Betty Friedland, vice-chairperson of the Town of Thompson Democratic Committee, named four potential candidates who have expressed interest in running.
Friedland named: past Thompson supervisor John L. Barbarite, 49, owner of Barbarite Construction Co.; village trustee Gloria Cahalan, 43; Monticello lawyer William Rosen, 53; and former Monticello trustee David Rosenberg, 41. County Democratic chair Robert Krutman of Woodridge said Cunningham, Frumess and Stettner are the only Democrats who have formally announced. "But it's early yet. The picture really hasn't congealed," he added.
Krutman listed potential candidates who have either contacted him or he has heard of their interest, including: Barbarite; Rosenberg; Rosen; Highland supervisor Andrew Boyar, 50; Rockland supervisor B. Elton J. Harris, 38; Leni Binder, 52, of Fallsburg; county Civil Defense coordinator Harold Kronenburg, 64; Ruby E. Gold, 35, of South Fallsburg, Callicoon town council member Nancy Lew Lee, 45; Rockland town council member Raymond N. "Rusty" Pomeroy II, 28; and a woman from Thompson who Krutman said asked him not to release her name.
And last but not least -- "I'm flirting with the idea myself," said Krutman.
The bottom line, it would seem, is the field remains open.