With Pat Ryan stepping down as Ulster County Executive to head to Congress to represent NY19, the Ulster County Democratic Committee (UCDC) will select the Democratic nominee for County Executive who will appear on the November 8 ballot to finish Ryan’s term, which ends on December 31, 2023.

In an open letter to registered Democrats published on the UCDC’s website at ucdems.org, County Chair Kelleigh McKenzie, explained that the Ulster County Charter and NYS Election Law have strict time requirements for selecting the party’s nominee, throwing the nomination to the County Committee.

“Normally, nominees for a countywide election are decided in a primary, which is the best and most democratic process,” said McKenzie. “The good news is that we have three well-qualified Democratic candidates seeking the nomination. The bad news is we cannot choose the nominee via primary.”

At this time, there are three candidates—March Gallagher, Jen Metzger and Marc Rider—vying for the Democratic nomination for County Executive. Instead of a primary, the UCDC members will vote to choose the Democratic candidate at a nominating convention at Kingston City Hall on Saturday, September 17, at 4:30 p.m. The convention is open to UCDC members and the press. Members of the public may be permitted to observe, if space is available (room capacity is limited); that decision will be made on site.

McKenzie’s open letter describes the party’s nomination process in detail and includes information on how the County Charter might be revised to change the County Executive vacancy timing requirement. “We hope to provide clarity and transparency to this complicated and consequential nominating process,” she said, “and believe that the upcoming Charter Revision Commission should take steps to ensure that all voters have the chance to participate fully in their party’s selection of a County Executive nominee in the future.”

Rider is currently a Deputy County Executive for Ulster County served as both an Assistant County Attorney, and Director of Purchasing.

According to his Linked In profile, he is experienced director Of Purchasing with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry and is “skilled in Policy Analysis, Criminal Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Government and Trial Practice. Strong purchasing professional graduated from Pace University School of Law.”

Rider ran for county executive once before, dropping out of the 2019 race to support Ryan.

Gallagher, current Ulster County Comptroller, has the endorsement of a number of current and former elected officials and Democratic Party leaders in Ulster County including: Al Lanzetta, Former Marlborough Town Supervisor; Betty Diorio, Plattekill Democratic Committee Chair and Scott McCarthy, Lloyd Democratic Committee Chair.

“I congratulate Pat Ryan on his win in the Special Election,” said Gallagher. “I believe that I am the right candidate to build upon Pat’s good work here in Ulster, and lead us into the future making Ulster County the very best place to live, go to school, work, raise a family and retire. Prior to my experience as Ulster County Comptroller, I gained a deep and broad understanding of county issues serving in multiple agencies and in County government. I know what it takes to effectively manage our County government, and what our working families, retirees, students, local governments, and businesses need in order to thrive.”

Gallagher also worked as the committee clerk for then-Assemblyman Maurice Hinchey, as a budget analyst for the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Chief Strategy Officer of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, and President & CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

Metzger, a former state senator, has the support of now-Congressman Pat Ryan, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, and Ulster County Legislature Chair Tracey Bartels, among others.

“I’m greatly honored by the endorsement of Pat Ryan, who has done so much for our county, and who will be the kind of leader we need in Congress at this critical moment for our nation,” said Metzger. “I hope to have the opportunity, if elected County Executive, to build on his work here to create a sustainable, resilient and thriving local economy that leaves no one behind.”
To date, no Republicans have expressed interest in the position.