Wade

Here is the story I wrote in Saturday's print edition about the Rensselaer County Dems picking the candidates for this November.
One thing stands out in my mind, that they dissed Keith Hammond, a former legislator from Poestenkill running for the 107th Assembly District against Steve McLaughlin. Instead they went with an attorney from Columbia County, Cheryl Roberts.
Hammond is tenacious, as is C.B. Smith, who is working on the campaign, so we can expect a primary in that one. Actually, we can expect a battle when the full committee meets on Monday as I'm sure Hammond and Smith will be working the committe memebers through the weekend.
One would think the Democrats in this county would back one of their own, but they didn't and one would think some Democrats aren't too happy with that, and they aren't.
We'll have to see Monday how upset they are and if Chairman Tom Wade can hang onto the full committee and keep the support behind Roberts or if Smith and company can wrest it away and get Hammond the endorsement.
In the end, it won't matter much becuase they will both get the signatures and there we'll have yet another primary this fall.

Here's the story:
The Rensselaer County Democratic Party endorsed its slate of candidates for the upcoming election season during a full committee meeting on Monday.

The Democrats picked one candidate – Cindy Doran, a former school teacher – to run for the Legislature’s two seats that are up for grabs. She and a candidate yet to be named will run against Republicans Harry Tutunjian and Henry Bauer, who were appointed to the Legislature to fill vacancies created when Democrats Lou Rosamilia and Peter Ryan left to be Troy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. County Chairman Tom Wade said he expects to announce a second candidate soon.

In the 107th Assembly District, the Democrats endorsed Cheryl Roberts, an attorney from Austerlitz, to run against incumbent Steve McLaughlin, of Melrose. The Democrats picked Roberts over former Legislator Keith Hammond of Poestenkill, who is expected to run and force a primary for the Democratic nod. The 107th covers the majority of Rensselaer County — minus the City of Rensselaer, portions of Troy and North Greenbush — six towns in Columbia County and two in Washington County.

“It was more a vote for Cheryl than a vote against Hammond,” Wade said.

It also endorsed Cohoes Mayor John McDonald to take over for the retiring Ron Canestrari in the 108th Assembly District. He is running a primary against Carolyn McLaughlin, who got the nod from the Albany County Dems.

For the state Senate, the committee also endorsed Neil Breslin for his re-election bid in the 44th Senate District. Shawn Morse, chairman of the Albany County Legislature from Cohoes, has said he will primary Breslin.

In the 43rd, the committee endorsed Robin Andrews, the supervisor in the Columbia County Town of Claverack. The two Republicans, Sen. Roy McDonald and Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione, are in a primary for the Republican line.

For Congress, the Rensselaer County Democrats endorsed Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and Julian Schreibman, an attorney from Kingston, to run against Rep. Chris Gibson in the 19th Congressional District.

The committee endorsed Amy O’Connor for family court to run against Catherine Cholakis, a Republican.

As per the Judicial Screening Committee recommendation, the Executive Committee did not endorse anyone for the county court seat that will open with the retirement of Judge Robert Jacon at the end of the year. Those interested are Troy City Court Judge Chris Maier, Rensselaer City Court Judges Kathleen Leahey Robichaud and Carmello Laquidara and attorney Brian Premo.

“I’m very pleased with the caliber of candidates we will be presenting to the voters of Rensselaer County in this presidential election,” Wade said.