Republicans choose candidates

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Sullivan County Republican Committee met on February 15 to determine its endorsements for the 2023 county elections. 

Its endorsements for county legislature seats, according to committee chairman Gary Maas, are as follows: Rob Doherty, District 1; Joanne Jasper, District 2; Mike Brooks, District 3; Nick Salamone, District 4; George Conklin, District 5; Joe Perello, District 7; Amanda Ward, District 8; and Terry Bernardo, District 9. The committee did not have a nomination for District 6, leaving Democratic incumbent Luis Alvarez to run without (at present) a Republican challenger. 

The committee additionally endorsed Alan Kesten for county coroner, and Russel Reeves for county clerk, said Maas. It endorsed Tom Cawley for district attorney, says Maas (see right for a press release from Cawley’s campaign); the committee also granted Brian Conaty a Wilson Pakula authorization allowing him to run in a Republican primary against Cawley. 

Sullivan County Democratic Committee endorses slate

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Sullivan County Democratic Committee held its annual convention recently, and made the following endorsements for the November 7, 2023 General Election:

Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty for District Attorney

Matt McPhillips for County Legislator, District One

County Legislator Nadia Rajsz for re-election in District Two

Liberty Town Councilperson Brian McPhillips for County Legislator District Three

Businesswoman Catherine Scott for County Legislator District Five

County Legislator Luis Alvarez for re-election in District Six

Businessperson Justin Picciotti for County Legislator District Eight 

Monticello Village Mayor George Nikolados for County Legislator District Nine

County Clerk Russell Reeves was given a cross-endorsement, as was County Legislator Joseph Perello for District Seven. 

Anne Hart, chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, said, “I’m proud of the Democratic committee’s ability to assemble a great team of Democratic candidates for this very important election year.  Brian Conaty will continue to bring the office of District Attorney into the future, and, in his words, ‘promote equity, to marshal and lead our law enforcement community with integrity and honor and to grow a great team of prosecutors.’

“It’s time that Sullivan County elects legislators who will act in the best interests of all county residents, and will return to conducting its business in a transparent, respectful and collaborative manner.

“Our county has many great challenges, and we need a legislature that will proactively work to overcome them, not only with each other, but with the employees in county government, leadership in our 15 towns, and our legislators at the state and federal levels.  Our candidates are what this county needs.”

Cawley for DA

MONTICELLO, NY — County Republicans, meeting in convention last week, unanimously endorsed Thomas Cawley for Sullivan County District Attorney. 

The office become open when Meghan Galligan was elected to the State Supreme Court.

“I want to thank my fellow Republicans for their unanimous support and endorsement,” said Cawley (R). “I will bring 30 years of experience to this job. In fact, it’s a job I have been preparing for my entire life. Residents will be able to fully rely on me to keep them safe and stand up to the progressive radicals in Albany, and their allies here in Sullivan County, who want to undermine respect for police and the law, and side with criminals instead.”

Cawley was admitted to the Bar in New York in 1993, and received his Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University. He worked in the District Attorney’s office from 1993 to 2000, and has worked in the office of the Sullivan County Attorney ever since, with the exception of a brief stint in private practice.

“Tom Cawley works for me in the County Attorney’s office, and I can say with full confidence that he will be an outstanding District Attorney for Sullivan County,” said Michael McGuire, Sullivan County Attorney. “Tom has represented our county in Federal court and before the State Supreme Court in numerous matters, handling every aspect of those actions from inception to conclusion. He is the only candidate in this race with the length and breadth of experience needed to handle both the administrative and legal demands of the District Attorney’s office. I am proud to support him.”

Cawley plans to pursue the Conservative Party’s endorsement, and hopes to appear on both the Republican and Conservative lines this November.

He further promised that when he is elected District Attorney, he will be an ally of lawful gun owners. Said Cawley, “Conservatives and gun owners will have a friend in the DA’s office when I am elected. No one will ever have to question where I stand. I am the only one in this race who can credibly make such a promise. You can take it to the bank.”