Tyner, Bunnell Support New DMV Policy

If there was award of who is the most principled Democrat adhering to the true liberal values of the Democrat party, Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner would win that award hands down.

Joel Tyner is the most liberal of all his fellow Democrats in the Dutchess County Legislature. Be it walking for causes or advocating for any liberal leaning causes under the sun, promoting costly entitlement programs, or progressing the need for more efficient florescent light bulbs.

However, now it seems County Legislator Tyner has another Democrat Legislator to compete with on who is the most liberal outspoken Democrat in the Dutchess County Legislature. That colleague is Legislator Fred Bunnell.

This competition came as Tyner and Bunnell recently reinforced their support of Governor Spitzer’s recent landmark decision changing DMV policy. This new change does not require individuals to have a social security card when applying for a drivers’ license.

County Legislator Tyner and Bunnell held a rally with a group of four from local clergy supporting the Governor’s new policy. This is not Bunnell first time in speaking in favor of the new policy. In this Poughkeepsie Journal article he said

County Legislator Fred Bunnell, D-Poughkeepsie, said the Republicans are unnecessarily injecting politics into an issue of public safety. The immigrants who stand to benefit from the new policy, he said, are here to work and should be able to acquire driver's licenses.

“They're here because there's a lot of employers in the county who want them here,” Bunnell said. “They are seen by our business community as critical to our economy.”

Many lawmakers are calling Spitzer’s new policy as detrimental to the safety, security and a slap in the face to open government and the democratic process. In addition it promotes illegal aliens to be in the United States…Illegally.

Yet Bunnell believes they should be rewarded for their courage for the role they play in the economy. Forgetting the fact that not requiring social security numbers opens the door wide open for abuses and only can be classified as very risky

Bunnell, Tyner and other proponents of the pro illegal alien policy say that critics are invoking politics into this issue. However, it seems Spitzer and supporters of the new policy invoked politics long before by not allowing for a free open discussion in the light of day.

In addition, Spitzer contends the DMV is not INS and therefore shouldn’t be concerned with illegal aliens. This is what happened before when the 9/11 terrorists obtained drivers’ license even though they were here illegally. Do Bunnell and Tyner support this policy change even if it allows possible criminals and terrorists to obtain drivers’ license? Does Tyner and Bunnell support Spitzer’s decision not to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies?

At the very least Democrats, who pride themselves in clean and open government, should be at odds with Spitzer’s decision. So does Joel Tyner and Fred Bunnell support Governor Spitzer decision even thought it came void of public discussion, input and was made unilaterally with no legislative review?

Supporting Spitzer seems very risky though. Polling data shows that the public is extremely irked by the new policy.

What is a Rubber Stamp?

Elections are won in many ways. Most campaigns spend the bulk of their money in an attempt to win the minds of the moderate or independent voters.

In that notion, this story illustrates Congressman John Hall as “middle of the Road” with a 95% loyalty rate to his own Party on House floor votes. I thought this interpretation to be a bit peculiar. One would think that voting in the middle of the road would mean a much lower loyalty rate.

The Congressional Quarterly website rates the loyalty of each Congressperson to their party. Truly, the lowest rating on loyalty that anyone has is at best in the 60% range. Other members of the Dutchess County Congressional Delegation rating include Gillibrand at 88% and Hinchey at 99%.

Democrats engaged many different tactics in showing the GOP missteps and mishaps in the 2006 elections. One such method was exploiting when Republicans voted the party line, or being a “Rubber Stamp”

However, now it seems the tables have turned.

Last year, Sue Kelly was coined by many as being a “Rubber Stamp” of Republican policies. However, comparatively speaking to John Hall’s 95% ranking, this article shows that at her beginning in Congress her loyalty was 76% and toward the end 85%. If John Hall is middle of the road at 95%, Sue Kelly ranking makes her out to as a maverick beholden to no party while in Congress.

Yet newspapers and opponents painted Sue Kelly as a lockstep Republican. Ironically, those guidelines do not apply for John Hall who the media paints as a middle of the road independent.

Maybe John Hall is just on a probation period from the media before any subjective articles arise.

Know Your District: Dutchess County Legislature District 1

Much of any media attention for local elections this fall center around the continuing battle of Bill Steinhaus versus Joseph Ruggiero for County Executive. As such, races for Dutchess County Legislature are vastly being overlooked.

That being said, although Legislators do not hold as much power as the head of the County, the contested races should be explored.

Dutchess Politics will fill this void and feature races for County Legislature. With that, it is time to know your district. What better place to start then District 1.

The 1st District of the Dutchess County Legislature encompasses most of the north side of the Town of Poughkeepsie. The most notable feature is Marist College, home to a transient population of students mostly from the Northeast.

The school has been known for high STD rates contrasted with boasting graduate Jared Jordan who was recently drafted in the NBA. Democrat feared right wing journalist Bill O'Reilly has emerged as the most famous Marist product though.

Republican Patrick Nesbitt currently represents District 1 in the County Legislature. He is not seeking reelection. Thus opening the flood gates of candidates.

The GOP has chosen Jeff Magee, an IBMer and previous losing candidate for a Town Council in Poughkeepsie. Democrats have endorsed Jim Doxsey, a Conservative, who said he would caucus with the Democrats if elected. Magee has been endorsed by the Independence Party and Doxsey by the Conservative Party.

Before they can face off this November each must overcome a tri-party primary showdown on September 18.

Registered Democrat Leonard Babiarz is challenging the Conservative Jim Doxsey for the Democrat line.

An opportunity to ballot was filed for the Conservative and Independence lines. A registered Conservative or Independence voter can now write in the name of someone running against the endorsed party candidate. This transcribes to Magee having an advantage on the Independence line and Doxsey with a leg up on the Conservative line.

With the County Executive race 2 months away, it is unfortunate that much attention has been misplaced from elections as interesting as this one.

Sadly, with primaries hosting low turnouts, turning out voters will prove tougher then an underage Marist student at a house party attempting to get the few last drops of beer out of an empty keg.

Will the Real Anderson Please Stand Up?

Lawn signs touting for the reelection of Anderson are popping up throughout our fair county. With two candidates running for countywide positions with that same last name, who is the sign for? In today’s entry, we will get to the bottom of this mystery.

At first glance, one would think it is in reference to Sheriff Anderson who is seeking reelection this November, as he is the only incumbent with the last name. In most cases using “re-elect” is employed by current incumbents seeking another term in office, not for challengers.


However, the Anderson seeking the post of County Clerk is not the incumbent. Democrat Richard Anderson was once the Dutchess County Clerk until the voters ousted him from office in 2003.

So is employing the diction of re-elect an attempt to fool voters? Does it play off Republican Sheriff Anderson’s name in hopes voters associate the Democrat Anderson name with his?

The first notion seems to make sense as Richard Anderson is trying to even the playing field by making voters think he is incumbent. The other may hold some credence as Sheriff Butch Anderson’s name is somewhat respected as he is running unopposed. So why not play off a popular name if you can?

Nonetheless, it epitomizes shrewd politics.

The Odd Couple, Conservative Party Endorses Democrats in Poughkeepsie

The upcoming November election will surely be filled with mudslinging from both sides leading up to judgment day. However, in order for some candidates to be on ballot this November they must first conquer the primary on September 18.

In the upcoming primary election, a battle is brewing for Conservative and Independence lines in all parts of Dutchess County.

The race for Supervisor and Council spots in the town of Poughkeepsie for the Conservative Party exposes in a vacuum this trend.

Under the leadership town of Poughkeepsie Conservative Party Chairman Jim Killian, Supervisor Patricia Myers and Deputy Town Supervisor George Finn received the Conservative endorsement. Both are Democrats. Both have a primary from Republican candidates facing these and other Conservative endorsed Democrat candidates in the town of Poughkeepsie. The hurdle challengers to the endorsement have is their name must be written in by voters.

The endorsement of Democrats is somewhat uncharacteristic as Democrat principles clearly differ from Conservative ideals. Conservatives usually are Pro-Life, for immigration reform, for lower taxes and less government. To Conservatives, government isn’t the solution, it is the problem.

In the case of Poughkeepsie, this fairly odd couple has become strange bed fellows. This is illustrated in a letter sent to registered Conservatives in the Town of Poughkeepsie by Jim Killian urging support for Democrat Patricia Myers and other Conservative endorsed candidates in the primary.

Still others feel the Conservative endorsement of Democrats is motivated by something else as shown in this story alleging strong arming by Conservative Chairman Jim Killian for support of a football field on vacant town owned land.

It will be nothing short of interesting to see what Conservative voters decide.

An Introduction

The launching of this blog will shed light on the good, the bad and the ugly of politics that makes Dutchess County spin. With an election months away for countywide and local government races, the mood in the political realm in Dutchess County is nothing less then contentious.

Democrats are hoping to continue riding a national wave of discontent against Republicans. This surge helped elect Democrat John Hall and Kirsten Gillibrand to Congressional seats including parts of Dutchess County that were thought to be Republican or at least lean that way.

However, this wave was not overreaching as no Democrat challengers locally won in last fall elections in Dutchess County.

Republicans, on the other hand, are hoping to fend off any Democrat advance and continue holding all Countywide positions and the majority in the County Legislature.

With much to chance by all, much to lose by Republicans and a lot to win by Democrats, anything can happen.

Please stay tuned.