Last week the Marlborough Republican Party held their caucus to elect a slate of candidates for the November election.

 

Councilwoman Sherida Sessa nominated Scott Corcoran for Town Supervisor. She said, “This man has gotten more done in the last year than I ever would have imagined as Supervisor.” She spoke of a number of his accomplishments as Supervisor: putting the TOMVAC renovations out to bid that moved the project forward; negotiated a 30-year docking deal with a cruise line in Milton that will bring revenue into the town; worked with the Highway Department to redo the overgrown baseball fields at the town park; repaved the park and had the pavilion repainted; fountains were added to both ponds at the park; revitalized the summer camp for children; established a new recreation committee; hired a new ambulance provider for 24/7 coverage in town and secured a $500,000 water and sewer grant.

 

Board member Dave Zambito seconded Corcoran’s nomination, saying, “He brings us all together and I look forward to him being our boss for a very long time.”

 

Corcoran said, “I try to give my all, 100 percent, every day to this community and to the town board and that doesn’t happen without family support; my wife and my children are my rock and they help me get through everything that I do; they allow me to do what I love and that’s to help the community in every way.”

 

Corcoran likes to see how problems can be solved and how to do it in a way that saves the taxpayers money. He often puts in 80 hours a week between his town position and his other full-time job but, “I do it because of the love of my community and the love of the people in this room. We have a great [town] board, we have a great community and we are run by Republicans, this whole town, so let’s keep it that way and let’s keep moving forward.”

 

Corcoran took a moment to thank Deputy Supervisor Gael Appler, pointing out that he is part of a team that helps the town out at every turn.  

 

Sgt. Justin Pascale nominated Daniel Jackson for re-election for Town Justice. He began by criticizing the recent bail reform changes in the state but, “Judge Jackson makes every effort and navigates through it to protect everybody to the best of his ability and has successfully done so,” adding that the town’s PBA has unanimously endorsed Jackson for re-election.

 

Matthew Jackson seconded the nomination of his father.

 

“He enjoys it, he’s doing a great job, and I hope we can give him another four [years],” he said.

 

Judge Jackson said he is proud, “to have served as your Town Justice for the last seven and a half years. I’m happy to report that our court is running very well. I feel it’s one of the most professional and efficiently run courts anywhere around. I’ve really enjoyed working in the court, and I look forward to continue this job, hopefully for another four years.”

 

Frank DeMarco nominated his life-long friend Dave Zambito for re-election as Town Councilman, noting that Dave embodies the terms, “integrity, fairness and common sense. His commitment to doing what is right has earned him respect as a prominent businessman and a good friend to many that know him. He is hard-working, extremely charitable with his time and has been an asset to this town in any capacity he has served.”

 

In accepting the nomination Zambito said, “It’s been a great two years that I’ve served and I look forward to serving further. I just want the town to progress for a better future, and up to this point that’s what we’ve done [on the town board] and what we are striving for and together we going to continue to do that.”

 

Tom Corcoran is an Ulster County Legislator representing District 11 and is up for re-election in November. He stressed that he represents everyone in the Town of Marlborough. He pointed out that the Marlborough Democratic Party chooses not to hold a caucus.

 

“They go behind closed doors, hand pick who they want and get 60 signatures of family and friends and that’s who they decide to put up, he said. “We come out and give everybody a fair opportunity to get nominated and elected and to be a voice of the community.”  

 

Corcoran nominated Ed Molinelli for the second open Town Council seat, a position that he has served in for the past 16 years.

 

“He is a respected member of our community and has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility and ambition. His good judgment and local practical approach to his job as a Councilman has made him an unreplaceable asset to this town.”  

 

Molinelli said although the current board is made up of all Republicans, “people who are on that board work hard and they work together but we don’t always agree. We have our own opinions and respect each others opinions, which I love. My voting record speaks for itself and I love the Town of Marlborough. I think the board that is there right now, I definitely want to be a part of going forward and do whatever I can to get us to the goals that we have; I think we’ll get there.”

 

Before closing the caucus, Republican Party Chairman Tom Coupart said, “what I’ve heard tonight, what I see [in] the past two years, we have some amazing people that represent you here in the Town of Marlborough.”

 

Coupart recalled that two years ago Republicans, “had a tremendous victory in town and we need to keep this momentum going this year. I believe we’re going to have another clean sweep this year, next year and in the following years so you’ve got to remember come election day you’ve got to get yourself, your friends and family out to vote.” He reminded everyone that on the backside of the ballot in November there will be a resolution to vote on whether to change the term of the Town Supervisor from a two year term to a four year term.  

 

The caucus invited Michael Kavanagh, who is running for Ulster County District Attorney. After losing the 2019 race for the position by 78 votes out of 53,000, he has decided to run again.

 

“I decided that I could really do some good and I think I could turn that office around. I’d love to use my experience to bring people back to that office after a mass exodus where they lost 80% of the staff and replaced them with people with almost no experience...I’m facing an uphill battle, so please tell people to come out and vote. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I was going to win, but I need your help.”