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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Legislator recalls friendship with Senator William Larkin
By MARK REYNOLDS
[email protected]
Ulster County Legislator Richard
Gerentine said without hesitation that
the NYS Sen. William “Bill” Larkin [1928-
2019] was “definitely” a mentor to him.
“He was very attentive to me and
guided me in many different ways,” he
said.
Gerentine first got to know Larkin
after he graduated from college in 1975.
“I was getting involved in politics and
I helped him on his campaign and we just
developed a relationship over the years,”
Gerentine said.
Gerentine said Larkin was a very
genuine person and a politician who
helped his constituents regardless of
their party affiliation.
“He took everybody’s issue as
important and looked into it to see what
he was able to do and a lot of times he was
very successful,” Gerentine said.
Gerentine said Larkin was very
responsive to many people seeking his
help. He said even in his latter years
Larkin would continue to attend many
political functions; “Two or three and
sometimes four in one evening, he would
go in and say hi and make his rounds and
go to another one and another one. It was
amazing.”
Gerentine said Larkin will be
remembered for helping to solve issues
for his constituents.
“If you had a problem he was the
first one to go to,” Gerentine said. “Over
the years he developed relationships in
Albany with department heads who he
was able to call directly.”
Gerentine said Larkin was particularly
helpful when controversy arose with the
assessed values with Dynegy.
Ulster County Legislator Richard Gerentine [L] is pictured with fellow Legislator Mary Beth Maio and the late NYS Sen. William Larkin.
“We met in his office with [the late
NYS Assemblyman Frank] Skartados and
members of the NYS Board of Assessment
Review and we were able to move things
along a little bit quicker than it would
have taken a much longer period if he
wasn’t active.” Gerentine said.
Gerentine called Larkin a true friend,
as a person and as a human being.
“I think sometimes we lose sight of all
that and helping people out was his true
intent in life,” he said. “He was a true
public servant in may different ways.”
Gerentine said he often called Larkin
to get his advice and guidance on issues in
New York that impacted the Mid Hudson
region.
“He was there in many ways and he
Jacobson to hold pop-up office hours
at Highland Public Library
Assemblymember
Jonathan
Jacobson
(D-Newburgh)
has
announced
“Pop-up
Office
Hours” in the Town of Lloyd. The
Assemblymember will be available
to meet with constituents both by
appointment and on a drop-in basis
at the Highland Public Library at 14
Elting Place on Wednesday, October 2
from 6 - 8 p.m.
Jacobson said, “I’m holding office
hours throughout the district because
most people work 9 - 5 Monday through
Friday and can’t take time off their
jobs to visit my offices with issues or
concerns they might have. I want the
residents of the 104th to know that my
staff and I are here for them.”
Jacobson has two district offices:
47 Grand Street in Newburgh and
One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101 in
Poughkeepsie.
Both offices offer free notary public
and Spanish language assistance by
appointment.
To make an appointment to meet
with the Assemblymember in Lloyd,
call his Newburgh office at 562-0888.
will be sorely missed,” Gerentine said.
Gerentine said the late Senator had a
very quiet way about him, letting people
have their say on a given issue, “and
whatever he had to do, he took it upon
himself to do...He was well liked and very
respected in many different ways and for
many years.”