ORANGE COUNTY, NY — An activist who has helped lead opposition to the Competitive Power Ventures electricity plant under construction in Wawayanda has petitioned to get on the ballot in November as a Democratic challenger for Republican state Sen. John Bonacic.

Pramilla Malick, a resident involved with the Protect Orange County citizens group, filed an “opportunity-to-ballot” petition on July 21 that will allow supporters to write in her name as a Democratic candidate for the 42nd Senate District when state primaries are held on September 13. She would then appear on the general election ballot in November as Bonacic’s opponent, as long as her petition withstands any challenges.

Bonacic had no Democratic opponent in the last two elections and would have had none again this year, if not for Malick’s write-in effort. Malick, who also fought the Minisink compressor station, said that she and her group wanted to make sure important issues are aired in the Senate race, and found out too late that no challengers would file a Democratic petition before the July 14 deadline.