NYS GOP CONVENTION

I had the privilege this past week to attend as a guest, the New York Republican State Convention held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, L. I.

The purpose of the convention was to designate candidates to run for:

GOVERNOR

LT. GOVERNOR

ATTORNEY GENERAL

COMPTROLLER

US SEANTE

The convention lasted two days from May 31-June 1st.

On day one the state commiteemen present selected Jeanne Pirro, the fomer Westchester County District Attorney as our Attorney General candidate. Jeanne was chosen without any opposition and will not face a primary.

However, that was not the case for US Senate. Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer faced off against former Reagan administration official K. T. McFarland of NYC. In the end Spencer received the official designation with over 60 percent of the vote. However, McFarland won more than 25 percent of the vote. According to the rules of the convention if a candidate receives more than 25 percent of the vote the race goes to primary in September. Watch for a nasty primary race between Spencer and McFarland.

That evening there were hospitality suites and cocktail parties at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City. I attended briefly the suite for Jeanne Pirro, and John Spencer and also attended the cocktail reception for Governor candidate John Faso.

The following day was the big contest, that of Governor. Former Assembly Republican Leader John Faso of Columbia County faced off with Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld of Suffolk County. Orange County GOP Chairman William DeProspo nominated William Weld, something that apparently had little effect on the Orange County delegation which voted 5 to 3 for John Faso. Two of those Weld votes were proxies carried by DeProspo. It has been widely rumored that DeProspo is with the Weld camp in an attempt to be Weld's choice for State GOP Chairman. I think Mr. DeProspo should be focusing on our parties problems here at home such as our hair thin majority on the County Legislature and the increasing amount of towns that are going over to the Democrats, as well as the ever decreasing GOP enrollment numbers. I believe the chair needs to fix those problems here before he can fix the State GOP's problems.

In the end Faso won, with over 60 percent of the vote. This was big, as Weld looked like he had the nomination locked up just a couple of months ago. Weld did however garner more then 25 percent of the vote. So, there will be a primary for this race. I am supporting John Faso and I encourage everyone to as well.

On the Lt. Governor front, Mr. Faso's choice was selected. C. Scott Vanderhof, the County Executive of Rockland County received the official designation. However, Mr. Weld's choice, NYS Secretary of State Christopher Jacobs received 25 percent of the vote. So there will be a primary for this race as well. Unlike in the General Election the Governor and Lt. Governor candidates run separate in the primary. So, there is a possibility Weld could end up running with Faso's running mate and vice versa.

I was very impressed with our Comptroller candidate. J. Christopher Callaghan of Saratoga County. Chris gave a very spirited speech and seemed to know what he was talking about. He was very likeable and I think he could be a contender in November. Chris is the elected County Treasurer of Saratoga County. He was elected at convention without opposition.


In the end I was very happy to attend the convention. It was quite interesting and I am very happy with our GOP ticket.

ORANGE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CONVENTION-5/24/2006

Republican Committeemen from all across Orange County gathered at the Meadowbrook Lodge in New Windsor for the annual convention on Tuesday, May 24th.

Woodbury had a pretty decent showing of it's members.

Present were yours truly, Gerri Gianzero, Sheila Beadle, Desiree Potvin, Holly Gubernick, Carmen Gubernick, Jeanette Caruso, Pete Stabile, Chairman Ralph Caruso and Don Siebold arrived later.

Town Councilwoman Lorraine McNeill also joined us at our table as our guest.

The purpose of the convention was to designate candidates to run for:

US Congress

NYS Senate

NYS Assembly

Orange County Judge

Orange County Sheriff

Orange County Coroners

Delegates to the Judicial Convention

Woodbury 's representative in Congress, Sue Kelly, and representatives in the State Legislature, State Senator William Larkin and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun were endorsed without opposition.

The two incumbent Orange County Coroners Tom Murray and Shaun Parker were endorsed without opposition.

The two big contests of the night were for Orange County Judge and Orange County Sheriff.

In the County Judge race there were four candidates seeking our support to be designated as the endorsed Republican candidate. They were Wallkill Town Justice Robert Freehill, Warwick Town Justice Peter Bartlet, Port Jervis City Judge Robert Onofry, and former Newburgh City Judge Jeanne Patsalos.

Two rounds of voting occurred on this race. The final round was as follows:

FREHILL 1377
ONOFRY 607
PATSALOS 346
BARLET 73

Therefore, Judge Robert Freehill was designated as the endorsed County Judge candidate.

The votes are "high" because each committeeman casts a weighted vote reflecting the showing of the 2002 GOP Governor candidate in their district. Our District, District 4 in Woodbury has a total of 8 weighted votes. The vote is then split between myself and the other committeeman for this district, Don Siebold. Therefore, both Don and I each cast 4 weighted votes at the convention.

In the Sheriff race only one round of voting was needed and it was not even close. Incumbent Sheriff Carl Dubois walloped challenger Tom Carton.

DUBOIS 2036
CARTON 291

The next step in the process is the circulating of designating petitions which will place these candidates on the ballot formally.

WOODBURY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEETING-5/23/2006

The May meeting was not supposed to be held as a separate meeting as the Orange County Republican Convention was originally scheduled for the same night. However, the convention was re-scheduled and the committee proceeded to meet on it's regularly scheduled night. Convention was moved to the following night, May 24th.

WOODBURY REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE
MEETING OF MAY 23, 2006
8:00 PM

A meeting of the Woodbury Republican Town Committee was held on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 8:00 PM at the Woodbury Senior Center on Co. Rte 105 in Highland Mills.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ralph Caruso with the Pledge.

The following Members of Committee were present IN PERSON:

Jim Booth, Dist 4, Don Siebold, Dist 4, Sheila Beadle, Dist 7, Russ Ferdico, Dist 9,
Jeanette Caruso, Dist 5, Veronica Quercia, Dist 9, Buddy Mickolajczyk, Dist 3, Ralph Caruso, Dist 5, Pete Stabile, Dist 2, Carmen Gubernick, Dist 1, Holly Gubernick, Dist 7.

Also Present by Proxy Held by Mrs Beadle were: Karen Queenan, Dist 6, Mike Queenan Dist 10, Desiree Potvin, Dist 2, Gerri Gianzero, Dist 5. Present by Proxy held by Chairman Caruso: Joan Sullivan, Dist 3

Minutes of the Meeting of April 25th: Mrs. Quercia, the Secretary had a problem with her computer and was unable to print the full minutes. Chairman Caruso said perhaps we should wait until the next meeting to approve them. Motion by Mr. Booth we hold off vote on April minutes until next meeting. ALL VOTING AYE.

Treasurer Karen Queenan was not present to give the Treasurer Report.

Chairman Ralph Caruso reported on the recent May 8th OCRC Executive Committee Meeting. US Senate candidate K. T. McFarland was allowed to give a presentation. Some discussion on the US Senate race followed.

The two Orange County Coroners seeking re-election gave a presentation at the May 18th regional meeting to interview the County Judge candidates. Discussion on their presentation as well as the pros and cons of replacing the Coroner system with a Medical Examiner system. Committee discussed the change.

The Orange County Republican Convention will be held the following night (May 24th) Coroner candidates have no opposition. However, there are contested races for the endorsement for County Judge and Sheriff. Committeemen will choose from the candidates.

Chairman Caruso asked who will be marching with the committee in the Memorial Day Parade on May 28th. Chairman Caruso and Mrs. Caruso appear to be the only ones present without a scheduling conflict that day. Some of the other members are also elected officials and will march in that capacity.

The committee purchased a ticket for the Orange County Republican Federation of Women Brunch. Guest Speaker to be US Senate Candidate McFarland. Treasurer Karen Queenan will be asked to cut a check for $35.00 from the treasury.

300 Club Tickets: 3 sold, 3 still available for purchase. See Pete Stabile.

Chairman asked if there were any comments from members of the committee.

Mrs. Gubernick spoke at length about unity on the committee. She would like to see us work together. United we stand divided we fall. We must put aside differences.

With no further business to come before the committee, Committeewoman Holly Gubernick motioned and Committeeman Jim Booth seconded that we adjourn.

ADJOURNED

WOODBURY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEETING--4/25/2006

Sorry for the delay...the notes of the April 25, 2006 Woodbury Republican Committee Meeting.

WOODBURY REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2006
8:00 PM


A meeting of the Woodbury Republican Town Committee was held on Tuesday, April 25th, 2006, at 8PM at the Woodbury Senior Center, Co. Rte 105, Highland Mills.

Chairman Ralph Caruso called the meeting to order with the Pledge.

The following Members of Committee were present IN PERSON:

Jim Booth (Dist. 4), Gerri Gianzero (Dist. 5), Karen Queenan (Dist. 6), Pete Stabile (Dist. 2), Veronica Quercia (Dist. 8), Jeanette Caruso (Dist. 6), Ralph Caruso (Dist. 5), Buddy Mickolajczyk (Dist. 3), Joan Sullivan (Dist. 3), Sheila Beadle (Dist. 7), & Don Siebold (Dist. 4)

4 members of the committee were present by proxy (I don't have their names)

Chairman Caruso welcomed the newest member of the committee Sheila Beadle representing District 7.

Official minutes of the March 28th meeting were read by Jeanette Caruso.

Motion by Mrs. Queenan second by Mr. Stabile that the minutes of the March 28th meeting be approved. ALL VOTING AYE except Mr. Mickolajczyk and Mrs. Quercia who abstained.

Mrs. Queenan gave the Treasurers Report. It was approved as read.

Chairman Caruso and Mr. Siebold gave the report of the recent meeting of the OCRC Executive Committee Meeting. Several candidates spoke at the meeting who are running for Supreme Court or State Offices. No endorsements were made.

To date we have not heard back from the candidates for County Coroner as to whether they wish to be heard from or endorsed by the Woodbury Republican Committee. No endorsements made.

Members of the committee are invited to attend a regional meeting on May 18th in New Windsor to interview the candidates running for County Judge. The candidates are Warwick Town Justice Peter Barlet, Wallkill Town Justice Robert Freehill, Port Jervis City Judge Robert Onofry, and former Newburgh City Judge Jeanne Patsalos. The members of the committee will choose one of those to be our endorsed candidate at the OCRC convention at the end of May. This is all due to the resignation of County Judge Stewart Rosenwasser.

Chairman Caruso as well as members of the committee received letters of thanks from Sheriff Carl DuBois and Tom Carton for allowing them to address the committee in March.

The Orange County Board of Elections is seeking Election Inspectors. If members of the committee know of any Republicans who would like to serve please submit names to the chairman.

Calendar of Events was read to the committee.

Chairman Caruso mentioned that volunteers are needed to march in the Memorial Day Parade on May 28th.

The committee has been given 300 Club tickets by the County Committee to sell. Mr. Siebold suggested that the committee buy one of the tickets and a volunteer sell the remaining ones.

Motion by Mr. Booth and seconded by Mrs. Caruso the committee buy one of the tickets at $100.

Chairman Caruso asked if the members of the committee had anything to add.

Mr. Booth asked if there would be a meeting of the town committee at the convention since the meeting falls on the same night. Chairman Caruso said we will likely meet at convention to discuss some pending business like the Memorial Day Parade.

Mr. Stabile has been put in charge of selling the 300 club tickets. He asked if anyone wished to purchase one.

With no further business to come before the committee, Mrs Caruso motioned and Mr. Stabile seconded that we adjourn.

ADJOURNED.