2012 Copake Election Returns

2011 Election Returns for Copake

Senator Gillibrand Makes Endorsements in Copake Elections

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Linda Gabaccia: "I'm pleased to endorse Linda Gabaccia for Supervisor for the Town of Copake. Linda brings the right kind of experience and leadership to the Town Board and will make an excellent Supervisor. I encourage the voters of Copake to vote for Linda Gabaccia on November 8th." - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Susan Winchell-Sweeney: "I'm pleased to endorse Susan Winchell-Sweeney for Copake Town Council. The dedicated activism Susan has shown in the past proves what a great member of the Town Council she will be. She will work with our local businesses to keep Copake moving in the right direction. I encourage the voters of Copake to vote for Susan Winchell-Sweeney on November 8th." - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Rachel Collins Kelly: "I'm pleased to endorse Rachel Collins Kelly for Copake Town Clerk. Rachel has the fresh energy and new ideas that we need in Copake. I'm confident she will do a fantastic job. I encourage the voters of Copake to vote for Rachel Collins Kelly on November 8th." - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Expect More - Copake Deserves It!

The Strongest Team In Decades.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

This year in Columbia County, voters are going to have a real choice. They can choose whether to support the same old bunch of people, who don't seem to get much done. Or they can chose the incredibly qualified Democrats who are running Countywide this year.

Competency!

(l-r) Richard Koweek, Peter Stoll, Eugene Keeler, Dr George Davis

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Judge Richard Koweek for County Judge

Richard Koweek grew up and has lived is entire life in Columbia County. He raised great kids here too.

He's practiced most every kind of law that is handled at County Court. He was also elected City Judge in 2009 and currently sits in Hudson City Court. That experience will serve him well on the bench. It will also serve the people of Columbia County well. His opponent is sorely lacking the broad based experience that Judge Koweek brings to the bench.

County Court jurisdiction is broad and diverse, and the position of County Court Judge is multifaceted. It requires a person who can deal with emotional family issues with sensitivity and understanding yet is firm and forthright when dealing with people who have harmed others. He also understands the legal complexities of estate and civil practice. But most of all, he is fair and respects all who come before the Court.

Judge Koweek’s background, temperament, and experience uniquely qualify him to be the next Columbia County Court judge

Visit Judge Koweek's website.

Judge Koweek has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee,  Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Peter Stoll CPA for County Treasurer

Peter Stoll is a Certified Public Accountant licensed and registered in New York State with extensive audit and income tax experience. He also has an extensive knowledge of information technology, financial systems, and internal controls. Skills that have been sorely lacking, as our county has thrashed back and forth from one unthought out scheme after another.
Peter Stoll has managed the finances for several mid-size businesses for the past 35 years. In this way he has developed the skills required to manage, monitor, and control the way public money is spent in Columbia County. He has a record of implementing major cost savings. Something that the next few years are going to require. He is eager to put his skills to work for the benefit of all of us, and to help reduce the cost of managing the County’s government.

These times require that we seek out and hire only the best people we can find to help solve our financial situation. That is what elections are supposed to be about, hiring the best person for the job at hand. We have found the best person for the job. He is Peter Stoll, the only CPA in the race.

Learn more about Peter on his website.

Peter Stoll has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee,  Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Eugene Keeler for District Attorney

Gene Keeler is an institution in Columbia County. He is a former elected district attorney and has held the positions of public defender, conflict public defender, and, currently, director of legal and advocacy services at COARC. Gene holds a J.D. degree from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. He is an attorney with 30 years of general practice that includes criminal law and elder law, and is a licensed master’s-level social worker.Gene Keeler knows what is wrong with the system, because he has seen it from every side.

He has been telling the people of this county that the system is rotten and broken for years. Everyone knows about the cronyism, favoritism and shoddy work at the DA's office. But only one person was willing to stand up and call it out for what it was. That man is Gene Keeler. Lots of people have no problem with what goes on there. Because they figure that if they ever need to get off of a DWI or a domestic assault, that there familial, business or political connections, will get them off. When they have issues with the police or the DA's office, everything is just taken care of, with easy sentences if it even goes to court and rarely does anyone read about it in the paper.

But the regular Jane or Joe, who work hard, pay their taxes try to be good citizens, get the book thrown at them, in order to keep the conviction rate high at the DA's office. Political connections should not buy you a "get out of jail free card". Gene has promised to end the “get out of jail free” program for the well-connected. Instead he will give all citizens equal treatment under the law.  Isn't that what we should all expect?

He cares about justice, not statistics. While at the same time, he will make sure that all evidence gets to court and will ooperate fully with the police and community agencies. He will work full time to save the taxpayers money, and will work especially hard to assist victims and to lock up hard-core criminals.

It's time to clean up the mess at the District Attorney's office and stop playing political games with people's lives. Gene will make it a place where all of the citizens of Columbia County will feel that they have an impartial and fair person sitting in the prosecutors chair. Eugene Keeler is the right person for District Attorney.

Eugene Keeler has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee  Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dr. George Davis for County Coroner

Dr. Davis has served one four year term as County Coroner. He is also the only doctor in recent memory to serve as Coroner. Shockingly, the Coroner's position does not require any medical training at all. All that is required is getting the most votes on Election Day. 

Not many people understand what a corner does. Most people think that the coroner pronounces people "dead". In fact the coroner often gets to the scene quite a while after a person has died. What the coroner mostly does, is investigate why or how the person died. In essence the coroner is the advocate for the deceased.

Dr. Davis has four years experience as County Coroner. He has 30 years’ experience in family practice medicine in Columbia County. He has done extensive training in death investigation. He has a detailed knowledge of the legal system and ethics, and holds a Master’s Degree in bioethics, along with extensive experience in grief work.

He is the advocate for those who have no voices. He is the compassionate doctor who tends to the grieving families. He is the only candidate in the race for coroner with the education, experience and medical training to do the job properly.

He has earned the thanks and apprecaition from so many people in Columbia County, because he was there for them at one of the worst times in their life. He's earned their respect and he should have your vote. Keep the doctor at the corner's office.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Copake Town Board Passes Resolution on Rights of Second Home Owners

Copake Town Board Member Robert Sacks read the following statement to the full Board. The resolution which follows was then passed unanimously.

There is a crisis happening in Columbia County, a crisis of historic proportions.  One of the most fundamental American rights is currently under attack.  That is the right to vote. 

Our next door neighbors in the town of Taghkanic are having their right to vote challenged by the County Republican Party.  They are saying that second homeowners do not have the right to choose where they can vote.  They have gone so far over the edge, as to question the right to vote of a blind WWII veteran of the United States Marine Corps.   They have challenged this man's right to vote because this blind veteran wished to vote as an absentee.  Does that make sense to you?

These are very dangerous times in my opinion when any American has to wonder if they still have the right to vote.

I have been to the Supreme Court four times in the last ten days, and I have learned a great deal about our election law.

I have listened very carefully in court. The process and rules to register to vote are very simple. To register to vote requires only three qualifications -- citizenship, age, and residence.
 
So, why is this so important to Copake?
Copake is filled with citizens and voters who have legitimate second residences. They pay taxes here, they spend money here, they sleep here, they attend our churches, join Copake committees and attend our town meetings here. They are emotionally and actively involved to Copake. 

As the blind veteran from Taghkanic, Red Meier, who I mentioned earlier said it much better than I could. in a letter to the paper he said, "I never expected to live out my life in a town/county/state that at best should be called an oligarchy and at worst a fascist state. This is not my idea of Democracy. Please join me in speaking out against this clear violation of the basic American right to vote."

I agree with Red.

The Taghkanic case is just a test case and Copake will be next.  If the County Republicans have their way, 50% of the homeowners in Copake will not be allowed to vote in the next election.  It is critical that this town board stands up to this challenge and support everyone's right to vote.

I am asking this town Board to pass the following resolution and that the town board take a stand and protect the rights of our citizens.


RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, litigation is currently under way in the New York Supreme Court in Hudson challenging the right of second home owners to chose which home they may select as their residence for voting purposes; and

WHEREAS, the plaintiffs in that litigation are attempting to suppress votes cast by absentee ballots from second home owners on the theory that their second home is not their residence,

WHEREAS, half of the residences in the Town of Copake are owned and occupied by second home owners; and

WHEREAS, more than half of the Town and School taxes collected from  properties in the Town of Copake are paid by other than full time residents; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

1.        The Copake Town Board supports the right of second home owners to choose to vote in the county where they maintain a residence.

2.        The Copake Town Board opposes the attempt to disqualify voters on the basis that their second home is not a residence.

Dated this 12th day of December, 2009.


REGINALD CROWLEY
DAN TOMPKINS
WALTER KIERNAN
ROBERT SACKS
LINDA GABACCIA

Copake 2009 Election Returns

Copake - 1

Copake - 2 and Town Totals