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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, February 6, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
Calendar..........................................12
Classifieds...................................... 24
Highland..........................................19
Marlboro.........................................18
Obituaries...................................... 23
Opinion.............................................8
Police Blotter...................................4
Sports............................................40
County Executive race heats up
PUBLIC AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
WHAT: Lloyd Town Board
WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHERE: Lloyd Town Hall
12 Church St., Highland.
WHAT: Plattekill Town Board
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte. 44/55, Modena.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
WHAT: Marlboro School Board
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Marlborough Town Hall
21 Milton Tnpk, Milton.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 11
WHAT: Marlborough Town Board
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Marlborough Town Hall
21 Milton Tnpk, Milton.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
WHAT: Plattekill Planning Board
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte 44/55, Modena.
HOW TO REACH US
OFFICE:
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Newburgh, NY 12550
PHONE: 845-561-0170, FAX: 845-561-3967
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WEBSITE
www.timeshudsonvalley.com
The Southern Ulster Times (USPS 022-586) is a weekly
newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh,
NY 12550, with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court,
Newburgh, NY. Single copy: $1 at newsstand. By mail
in Orange, Ulster or Sullivan Counties: $40 annually,
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Southern Ulster
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Pat Courtney Strong
Continued from page 1
taken Ulster County from, “the brink
of bankruptcy to what it is today,
which is unrecognizable both in county
government and the country as a whole.”
As Deputy County Executive Rider
directly oversees 10 departments with
about 500 employees.
“I work with them on their budgets.
I work with them on policy that we put
forth to the legislature and overall half
of the day to day operations of county
government,” he said.
Rider’s special focus is on public safety
and infrastructure - the Departments
of Public Works and Emergency
Management.
“Basically, when most people are
going home to take care of their families,
I’m making sure that the county is
continuing to be maintained and run
safely,” he said.
Rider said the current county budget
is $329 million and residents have seen
their county tax bill go down for the last
seven years, which he attributes to better
Marc Rider Patrick Ryan
management of the overall budget.
Rider said that as he has moved up
in county government, Hein has given
him more responsibilities coupled with
higher expectations.
“I believe I have a bold vision of where
I want to take the county and I think now
we need to focus on affordability and
bringing in some higher paid skilled jobs
and retraining people so when those jobs
get here we have the skilled workforce in
place,” he said.
Rider stressed that more affordable
housing must be built in the county. He
would start by demolishing the old jail
facility and building new market rate
housing there but would ensure that up to
30% of the units be set aside for low and
moderate income families.
Rider said he is the only Democratic
candidate for County Executive who has
county government experience.
“I believe I’m uniquely qualified,
I’m ready to go and I’m excited for the
opportunity. If I am so lucky to be chosen
by the voters, I believe that I will make Ulster County proud,” he said.
Pat Courtney Strong is President
of Courtney-Strong Inc, “a full service
marketing communication firm serving
the government, not-for-profit and the
corporate sectors. CSI specializes in
providing outreach and education on
behalf of clients who are leading the
transition to a clean energy economy.”
Their principal client is the New York
State Energy Research and Development
Authority [NYSERDA].
Strong presently is helping local cities,
towns and villages convert to LED street
lights in the Mid-Hudson region, “which
produces about 65% in energy savings for
a municipality.”
Strong said if elected County Executive
she will bring her unique perspective as
a long time, local business owner and
her understanding of the challenges that
other business owners face, especially in
their tough first few years. She founded
the Business Alliance of Kingston in 2009
and served as its President from 2010 to
2017.
Strong also has worked with a cross
section of people in local and county
government, “to bring people information
and resources and move them to action.
That is very similar to what the County
Executive must do; he or she must engage
with the business community, find out
what their needs are and how they are
contributing to the economy and what
they need to make more and stronger
contributions and help them get there.”
Strong said the most pressing problem
in the county is that 4 out of 10 people are
living paycheck to paycheck.
Meet the candidates at the Train Station
The
Marlborough
Democratic
Committee, in association with the
Plattekill Democratic Committee,
invites the public to meet the Democratic
candidates running for Ulster County
Executive, on Thursday, February 7 at 7
p.m. at the historic Milton Train Station,
located at the end of Dock Rd in Milton.
The three Democrats – Pat Ryan,
Mark Rider and Pat Strong – are vying
for the newly open seat held by Mike
Hein since 2009.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for
the community to meet these Democratic
candidates,” says Phil Schacter, Chair
of the Marlborough Democratic
Committee, “especially, since this year
the date for the Primary Election has
been moved up from September to June,
allowing only a very short period of time
to get to know the candidates.”
For more information, call 914-260-
4112.
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