This article appeared in the Townsman, September 11 edition
Woodstock, September 9, 2008
The composition of the Woodstock Democratic Committee was markedly changed as a result of Tuesday's primary. Nine of ten candidates generally perceived as collegial won their races. Each of Woodstock's nine election districts are represented on the committee by two members.
In District 3 incumbent Tom Ocker's 37 and Jane Valand's 18 votes edged out Ralph Goneau, 13 votes and perennial loser Mike Veitch, 13 votes. Valand is a new comer to the local political scene.
District 4 voters returned Steve Knight to the committee with 31 votes, and Thurman Greco's 27 votes were far more than enough to deny David Lewis, 11 votes and Adam Pollack, 7 votes. Lewis, currently serving on the Woodstock Environmental Commission, in 2005 and 2007 went for the Democratic nod for town supervisor, coming up short in both attempts. Pollack recently came up short in his bid for a seat on the Onteora school board.
In District 5, Woodstock Councilwoman Terrie Rosenblum, current chair of the Woodstock Democratic Committee, grabbed 21 votes with Woodstock Environmental Commissioner David Gross picking up 18, thereby knocking back the husband-wife team of councilman Chris Collins, 11 votes and incumbent committee member Sheila Eisenberg, 11 votes.
The race in District 6 returned to the committee incumbents Fran Breitkopf, 32 votes and David Corbett, 36 votes, who ran against the husband and wife team of Linda Miller Gregorius, 21 votes, and Ulster County legislator Don Gregorius, 28 votes.
The evening's blockbuster was District 9, where Sam Magarelli, 33 votes in tandem with with Sasha Gillman, 35 votes, denied legendary vote-getter Tobie Heilbrunn, 30 votes and councilman Jay Wenk, 27 votes from continuing to serve on the committee. It is not known whether Wenk was financially supported by the Committee For Woodstock's Future, the shadowy group that has raised and dispersed moneys last year for Wenk's and other local political races while not registering with either the state or county boards of election.
The remaining election districts had no contests. Ulster County legislator Brian Shapiro and Marcia Panza, both incumbent members of the committee, were unopposed in District 1. In District 2 incumbent Jeff Moran, who is also serving his first term as Woodstock town supervisor, and former Woodstock town board member Bill McKenna were unopposed. Councilwoman Liz Simonson, current District 2 representative, had not petitioned for another two-year term. Long time committee member and former commissioner of the Ulster County Board of Elections Harry Castiglione was unopposed along with Cathy Magarelli to represent District 7. Magarelli has served as the committee's treasurer. In District 8 incumbents Rennie Cantine and former Woodstock councilman Gordon Wemp were also unopposed. Cantine was instrumental in arranging the many open-air music concerts in town, and Wemp currently serves on the Woodstock Recreation Commission.
Comment was difficult to understand in a phone call to Rosenblum's residence, where sounds of jubilation were obvious. Sam Magarelli said he was "thrilled that Woodstock Democrats decided to vote for unity." Rosenblum said, "We are invigorated by the results of the vote in our quest for a more inclusive, open and competitive Democratic Committee. Now let's get Democrats elected!"
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