Showing posts with label Fair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fair. Show all posts

Saturday, August 02, 2008

ULSTER COUNTY FAIR: MEET AND GREET


Friday night, I went to the Ulster County Fair in New Paltz, and by the looks of the weather, I picked the right night to go.

The evenings at any county fair are just like we all remember them, the colorful rides, the 4H Competitions, the bad carnival food and the smell of livestock. Conjures up fond memories doesn’t it?

Well, the fair also provides a terrific venue for county wide candidates to meet thousands of potential voters. Both major parties have information booths and solicit new registrations. Those of us enrolled in the respective committees take turns stationed at the cubicle and get to interact with people we would otherwise never meet.

Not all candidates are on hand each evening; I had the privilege to share the booth with Elliott Auerbach the UC Comptroller candidate and Frank Skartados, the 100th Assembly candidate. Both excellent choices for their intended positions and if voters weigh qualifications as they vote this November, both will serve us well.

Frank and I discussed the issues facing Dutchess and Ulster counties regarding economic stimulus, and how inter connected the whole region is when it comes to attracting quality jobs to the area. He got to meet plenty of his future constituency throughout the day. The 100th district includes some of southern Ulster and some of Dutchess.

Elliott was his usual animated self, greeting everyone like family. Indeed, if any of us are to survive the economic downturn that the White House has provided us, we have to consider all UC residents as one big family. Cahill, Delarose, Skartados, Hein and Auerbach all recognize this.

One thing you all missed if you weren’t at the fair Friday night, we got Blaber to wear the Sponge Bob costume. Yes, as if he couldn’t be more of a spectacle, he greeted the youngsters and took pictures with families, actually contributing a positive action to the community. It was a sight to see.