Saturday, February 06, 2016
Herrmann wants to bring local voice to Albany
Bill Herrmann never expected to find himself in politics. But now that he’s in, he’s not shying away. After just two years and one month as the Town of Mamakating supervisor, Herrmann has decided to run for the New York State Senate, for a seat held by 17-year incumbent, Senator John Bonacic.
Most politicians in Albany have never run a small government body, said Herrmann, who's running as a Democrat and Rural Heritage Party member. They haven’t seen the strain caused by unfunded mandates, he said, and don’t often hear the public’s complaints face-to-face. After handling every possible complaint, Herrmann is confident he can take residents’ voices to Albany as senator for the 42nd District, which covers Sullivan County and parts of Orange, Ulster and Delaware counties.
“I think that I have a real hands-on, grassroots idea… of what’s going on,” Herrmann said. “And you know, I’m not an Albany insider. I am in touch with what’s going on here.”
Herrmann, who owns a home inspection business, first ran unsuccessfully for supervisor in 2011, when Mamakating was reeling from what he says were fraudulent dealings between local officials and developers of a 396-unit Hasidic housing development in the 400-resident Village of Bloomingburg. Herrmann changed his major party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in order to run for the independent Rural Heritage party, which opposed the development and the circumstances behind it. Herrmann is married to Republican Sullivan County legislator Catherine Owens, who won an upset victory in her first election in November.
“If I go to Albany, I’m not going to be walking in lockstep with the Democrats, but I’m not going to turn around and walk in lockstep with the Republicans,” Herrmann said.
Brett Broge, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Committee, said he met with Herrmann last week and thinks the supervisor is a strong candidate despite his lack of experience. Herrmann has taken on some tough fights in Mamakating, Broge said, and will fight government corruption.
“I think the culture in New York right now is to not have career politicians who are tainted by the corruption in Albany,” Broge said.
Broge's committee will make an official endorsement later on, once it's clear whether Herrmann has a primary challenger. Sullivan and Ulster Democratic committees did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Bonacic has not announced a re-election bid.
"I love my job and I love serving the people,” he said in an emailed statement. “At the appropriate time, I will announce my intentions, as I always have in the past."
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20160204/NEWS/160209673/3330/FRONTPAGE
Most politicians in Albany have never run a small government body, said Herrmann, who's running as a Democrat and Rural Heritage Party member. They haven’t seen the strain caused by unfunded mandates, he said, and don’t often hear the public’s complaints face-to-face. After handling every possible complaint, Herrmann is confident he can take residents’ voices to Albany as senator for the 42nd District, which covers Sullivan County and parts of Orange, Ulster and Delaware counties.
“I think that I have a real hands-on, grassroots idea… of what’s going on,” Herrmann said. “And you know, I’m not an Albany insider. I am in touch with what’s going on here.”
Herrmann, who owns a home inspection business, first ran unsuccessfully for supervisor in 2011, when Mamakating was reeling from what he says were fraudulent dealings between local officials and developers of a 396-unit Hasidic housing development in the 400-resident Village of Bloomingburg. Herrmann changed his major party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in order to run for the independent Rural Heritage party, which opposed the development and the circumstances behind it. Herrmann is married to Republican Sullivan County legislator Catherine Owens, who won an upset victory in her first election in November.
“If I go to Albany, I’m not going to be walking in lockstep with the Democrats, but I’m not going to turn around and walk in lockstep with the Republicans,” Herrmann said.
Brett Broge, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Committee, said he met with Herrmann last week and thinks the supervisor is a strong candidate despite his lack of experience. Herrmann has taken on some tough fights in Mamakating, Broge said, and will fight government corruption.
“I think the culture in New York right now is to not have career politicians who are tainted by the corruption in Albany,” Broge said.
Broge's committee will make an official endorsement later on, once it's clear whether Herrmann has a primary challenger. Sullivan and Ulster Democratic committees did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Bonacic has not announced a re-election bid.
"I love my job and I love serving the people,” he said in an emailed statement. “At the appropriate time, I will announce my intentions, as I always have in the past."
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20160204/NEWS/160209673/3330/FRONTPAGE
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