HE IN!
Historic swearing-in cements Hein’s place
in Hudson Valley history
By Steve Hopkins
It was the best of times, amid the worst of times. Nearly a month before the historic inauguration of the nation’s first African-American president, another political first was achieved, a bit closer to home.
As latecomers languished in the hallways and stairwells out of eye- and earshot, hundreds of history-conscious people — including a powerful U.S. Senator and a fast-rising Congressman — swarmed the impossibly tight quarters of a second-floor courtroom in the venerable 1818 county courthouse in Kingston on Thursday, January 1 to witness the inauguration of former county administrator Mike Hein as Ulster’s first-ever county executive. As political theater the event, which also marked the swearing-in of former Ellenville city manager Elliott Auerbach in the newly-formed position of county comptroller, foreshadowed the hopeful and emotional spirit of the much larger presidential inauguration three weeks later — at least for those who could see and hear. For those who couldn’t, and who thought all they had to rely on were the dutiful but perfunctory news reports trotted out by the knee-jerk local media after the event, this report is for you.
Deep background
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Ulster County struggled over the past few years in the wake of a devastating jail construction fiasco to come up with a new county charter, changing the form of government from the purely legislative format that many blamed for all the bungling to one headed by a strong, elected county executive, who presumably would never let anything so stupid happen again. The new charter was approved by public referendum in 2006, with implementation to commence at noon on January 1, 2009. In the right place at the right time as a Republican-turned-Democrat occupying an already significant post in county government, and enjoying the tacit support of the bipartisan political center, Hein ran for and was elected to the county executive position in November 2008.
Hein announced his candidacy very early in 2007. Looking back, it seems almost magical the way the opposition, initially quite fierce among Democrats, completely melted away. No sooner would a party stalwart like Dave Donaldson or Susan Zimet announce with a flourish that he or she was in the race and would wage a hearty battle to the bitter end, than a few days or weeks later the candidate would do a surprise 180, dropping out with nary a whimper.
Early speculative favorites like Assemblyman Kevin Cahill never even bothered, adding to speculation that Hein was indeed the anointed banner-carrier. The GOP threw up a sacrificial lamb in skating rink entrepreneur Len Bernardo, who wasn’t even a real Republican. The only fly in the ointment was loose cannon Allan Wikman, who might have drained a few votes had he managed to get himself on the ballot. A small battalion of political operatives, lawyers and a state Supreme Court judge successfully prevented that from happening (see Chronic Vol. I, No. 1 for details), not that it would have mattered.
When the history books for this time and place are written, I predict that the record will reflect well on Mike Hein. He is an aggressively capable administrator, a fast learner and from all indications a decent, stand-up guy. Not really needing the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that greased the skids of his victory, he was clearly the most qualified person for the job among the available candidates. Hopefully, as when someone is elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court, he will be able to rely on his inner pilot and steer the county away from the numbing stasis that in the past has been the favored environment of the good-old-boy network that many presume helped get him the job.
We’ll see how he asserts himself down the road. Like Barack Obama and Kirsten Gillibrand — a couple of other young, well-connected fast climbers who’ve leapfrogged over the competition into seats of power during this historic season of political change — he’s been deftly deflecting criticism and forging an activist agenda. He’s moved quickly to address the county’s economic woes in typically non-partisan manner; even before taking office he appointed a panel to update the Ulster Tomorrow crew’s work, which was already getting dated as a result of the new economic reality. He’s got an economic development team in place, headed by his deputy, Budget Director Arthur Smith, aided and abetted by the preternaturally talented and politically savvy March Gallagher, who will leave no stone unturned. He has been insinuating himself into some heady company of late, even showing up onstage in Albany as one of just 22 invitees at Gov. Paterson’s announcement naming Gillibrand New York’s next U.S. Senator. Including his inauguration, the Gillibrand fest and a recent gathering at TechCity announcing redevelopment plans there, he’s had more face time with the powerful U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in the last month than do most local politicos in a year.
People who need people
Meanwhile, the import of his inaugural event was not lost on Hein, whose eyes at close range could be seen tearing up a number of times behind the toothy politician’s smile. It was not lost on his wife and son, whose love, regard and pride for the man was obvious and heartwarming to observe. It was not lost on Senator Schumer and U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who buried whatever differences they may have and comported themselves like a pair of reunited war buddies, sitting together and sharing private thoughts, heaping accolades and political starshine on their party’s new regional golden boy, and even going so far as to hold hands in response to an exhortation by the Rev. James Childs Jr.
Always politically aware, Hein used a piece of his moment in the spotlight to give Mo a plug for the vacant U.S. Senate job, buttonholing Schumer into giving a positive response that he would have to backpedal on later in the day (as borne out a few weeks later, Schumer was already lobbying the governor heavily for Gillibrand, whose centrist appeal fits in with his long-term strategy for consolidating national political power back in New York, where it belongs. See article, Page 1).
Schumer and Hinchey headed up a long list of public officials, local leading lights and upright citizens on hand to witness the classic spectacle. Standing in for a makeshift dais was the jury box, the front row of which was populated by the senator and the congressman along with Surrogate Court Judge Mary Work; Bruderhof senior pastor Johann Christoph Arnold and his wife Verena; Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum and Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht of Chabad of Ulster County and Congregation Agudas Achim of Kingston. Behind them sat the two robed judges presiding over the swearing-in ceremonies — State Appellate Justice Michael Kavanagh and Kingston City Court Judge James Gilpatrick — along with Rev. Childs; county legislator and number-one legislative Hein supporter Alan Lomita; soon-to-be-freshman state senator Frank Skartados (who was to take his own decidedly less historic oath of office two days later at a diner in Newburgh); Ulster Town Supervisor Nick Woerner; and county legislator Gary Bischoff, with his wife Marge sitting on his lap.
Manning the door to the dangerously packed courtroom was newly minted Ulster County Democratic Chairman Julian Schreibman, who generously steered this grateful journalist past a surly outer hallway crowd through a back door into the judge’s chambers, where I was able to gain entrance to the front of the house and get you all these juicy photos. Also sprinkled around the courtroom were a number of recognizable faces, including Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack; Undersheriff Frank Faluotico; former Daily Freeman and now Ulster Publishing journalist Hugh Reynolds and his old buddy Ed Palladino; former Kingston alderman Sheldon Zimbler; Mary Work’s husband Vic, the county’s buildings and grounds administrative manager; local real-estate mogul Joe Deegan; Bop to Tottom owner Karen Clark-Adin and AVR Realty spokesman Ron Marquette. Reportedly there were other unseen notables somewhere on the premises, including District Attorney Holley Carnright; Supreme Court Appellate judge Karen Peters; SUNY Ulster President Don Kott; Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan; Marbletown Supervisor Vin Martello; Family Court Judge Tony McGinty; Kingston City Clerk Kathy Janiczek; Kingston Alderman Mike Madsen; and Ulster County legislators T.J. Briggs, Brian Cahill, Frank Dart, Don Gregorius, Wayne Harris, Glenn Noonan, Jeanette Provenzano, Ken Ronk, Susan Zimet and the chairman, Dave Donaldson.
Touching moments
After the spotlight-shy Sheriff Van Blarcum managed to lead the assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for the troops, and after the Hudson Valley Youth Chorale sang the Star Spangled Banner, Rev. Childs placed the Christian deity’s blessing on the event, on Hein and Auerbach and their families, and on everyone else within earshot, including this undeserving sinner.
“I’m gonna ask you to touch someone that’s next to you,” began the preacher. “Either hold their hand, put your hand on their arm …”
The request elicited a roomful of nervous laughter when people looked to the left and right and realized whom they might have to hold hands with. The tittering escalated into a communal belly laugh when Schumer and Hinchey made a show of holding hands and mugging for the crowd, breaking the embarrassed tension.
“That’s exactly why I asked you to do that, because it’s very enjoyable,” said Childs, whose point was that “we’re going to touch people we don’t normally touch” in order to get ourselves out of the current economic morass. He continued with the theme by asking the Lord to put a guiding hand on Hein and company as they take the reins of county government. “Touch Mike Hein, God, and allow him to be able to look to those that are around him; to reach across differences and to be able to touch those that will be able to help. Those whose opinions may be different, those who may see things differently.”
Judge Gilpatrick, who touched Judge Kavanagh on the arm during the interlude but couldn’t quite get him to hold hands or touch him back, was then called up to administer the oath of office to a grateful Auerbach, who gave special thanks “to those 174 voters” who put him over the top in his razor-thin recount victory over Republican Jim Quigley. Speaking as much for Hein as for himself in the comptroller’s slot, Auerbach promised the creation in Ulster County of “a government that is open, is honest, and is ethical.”
Standup Rabbi
Rabbi Hecht, whom I’ve met a number of times and have never before thought of as particularly funny, was a regular laugh riot in eliciting Jehovah’s blessing on our individual and collective success, pulling a routine out of his yarmulke that could have given Henny Youngman a run for his money.
With a tough act to follow, Alan Lomita managed to hold his own in both the comedy and gravity departments. “This is the first Mike Hein event that we didn’t have to pay at the door,” he began. As sustained peals of laughter began to fade, came the well-timed follow: “Although I did get a little bit nervous, Mike, when they made us empty our pockets” at the security checkpoint at the courthouse entrance. His closing stanza was almost Obama-esque: “These are difficult times for our country, and for our county. Some of our problems seem insurmountable. It’s also a once-in-a-generation opportunity — to rethink the role of government; to find innovative solutions to our problems; to move our country and our county in a new direction. Americans have been turned off by government. We roll around with the same tired solutions to problems, with the same results. But there’s a noticeable excitement in this country, and a noticeable excitement in this county — that maybe, just maybe, we can get it right this time. Mike Hein has demonstrated that he is a bright, innovative, dynamic leader. Mike, Elliott, let’s all work together and make people proud of their government once again.”
The new Dem-ographic
In the new national and statewide political reality that is emerging as a result of the tectonic electoral shift that took place in November, Schumer and Hinchey have both emerged as heavyweight players in their respective houses, and Schumer is arguably the most powerful political figure in New York at this moment. To have them both present to give ringing endorsements to the young county executive at his inauguration augurs well for Ulster County’s status in the inevitable pecking order.
Attempting to put things into context, Hinchey compared the 2008 election season with the one that blew FDR and the New Deal into office in 1932, and proceeded to build an imaginative if not entirely logical oratorical bridge to the afternoon’s proceedings in Ulster County. “We now have in Washington a much stronger Congress, and a new President of the United States, who has the capability to provide the direction, the leadership, the insight, the intelligence, the honesty that we need, and should take for granted in every president,” said Hinchey, going on to praise Hein as a leader cut from the same capable, intelligent and honest cloth as Obama.
Aiming a little lower and making a more clear-cut case, Schumer contented himself with stating what a great day it was — for Hein, for his family, for the county, and for the good old U.S.A. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he intoned, “if Benjamin Franklin or George Washington or Thomas Jefferson were looking down on this courtroom today, they’d smile. This is the Republic they wanted and created.”
Justice Kavanagh then got in his own ringing endorsement of Hein before swearing him in ably and cleanly, with none of the marble-mouthed oath-mangling perpetrated by Chief Justice John Roberts on Barack Obama three weeks later. For the curious, here is the oath:
“I, Michael Hein, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of New York, and the Charter of the County of Ulster, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of County Executive for the County of Ulster to the best of my ability, so help me God.”
'Heady stuff'
Following a very loud, 40-second ovation, Hein took the podium. “I will tell you, this is very heady stuff for a farm kid from Esopus,” he began, before putting in his failed plug for the governor to consider Hinchey as Senator. In keeping with the largely historical nature of this piece, his inaugural speech will not be sampled or paraphrased, but will be printed here in its entirety:
“I’d like to thank my wife, Christine. The truth is, she’s the best person I have ever known. She’s provided unwavering strength and support for our family while making countless sacrifices. She is a spectacular mother and the one who makes this all possible.
“And I’d also like to thank my son, Mickey. Like all parents, I’m proud of my child. But Mickey’s story is a little unusual. He was born four months premature, weighing only a pound and a half. Mickey wasn’t supposed to live, and if he lived surely he was not supposed to thrive — but he has. He has completely defied all odds, and through him, I’m reminded daily that the impossible really is possible. I’m truly blessed.
“We are here today at the beginning of a new government, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a strong foundation, a privilege provided to us by hard-working, brave and visionary people who pushed for the Charter. These people asked for no thanks, but we will all forever be in their debt. They, too, believed the impossible was possible.
“I stand before you as Ulster County’s first county executive, both humble and honored. I take very seriously the core principle of the Charter: one person ultimately accountable to you, the people of Ulster County. So I do not take lightly the authority or responsibility that comes with this role.
“And becoming county executive at this time, in the middle of a deep recession, will undoubtedly present added challenges. But it is precisely those challenges that make this time so critical. You see, I envision an Ulster County well beyond economic troubles, a leader in alternative energy, a place where natural beauty is preserved and our children have the opportunity to stay and prosper, a place with a thriving tourism industry, vibrant arts community and countless strong, locally-owned businesses. Today is the day we take our first step in that direction.
“And as we begin, I am reminded of words of President John F. Kennedy when he said, ‘All of this will not be accomplished in the first hundred days, nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. ... But let us begin.’
“And, so today, let us begin. Let us begin in our quest to make Ulster County the finest place anywhere to live, work and raise a family. We do this together because Ulster County’s greatest asset is our people. We are proud, hardworking and incredibly diverse — and in that diversity is our strength.
“I look forward to taking on the challenges we face with a well-respected, reform-minded cabinet in conjunction with a talented workforce. The members of the CSEA, PBA, CWA and Ulster County Staff Association are your neighbors, your friends and the backbone of a better Ulster County. They too are fully committed to a better county government.
“As county executive, I’m committed to being a strong advocate for the people of Ulster County. We will speak with one single strong voice to Washington, the State of New York and just as importantly, to potential and current business owners.
“I look forward to working with this Legislature and our talented new comptroller, Elliott Auerbach. Working with the county Legislature over the last three years, we have shown that working together, departments can be consolidated, accountability can occur, and transparency can take place.
“I want to take this moment to remind everyone that it was this Legislature that showed the courage and wisdom to pass a charter that forever altered their authority. This type of selfless vision is rare among governments at any level. And for that they should be truly commended.
“As we proceed, there will be adjustments for all branches of government; but I believe with strong communication and a full appreciation of the gravity of the issues we face, highly partisan politics can be set aside and together we will create a model county government in the State of New York.
“As we strive to create this model we will face some of the hardest times since the Great Depression; some may even say our job is impossible — but I know and you know that the impossible really is possible. We will prevail. We will emerge a leaner, more efficient government, tightening our collective belts just like the people of Ulster County already have.
“I am committed to increasing cooperation among all governments in delivering service more effectively and efficiently. And I will be a constant reminder within government that we all work for the same person, the taxpayers of our community.
“I am committed to growing our involvement with SUNY New Paltz, BOCES and the community college to maximize the benefits of our collective expertise.
“I am committed to helping local businesses — not just now, but now and in the future.
“I will continue to reach out to the community for valuable input, reaching across political lines just as I did in my recent Economic Development Task Force. This diverse group provided a wealth of short- and long-term recommendations. Ideas, that when combined with the Ulster Tomorrow Economic Development Plan, give us the best chance to improve our economy and our community.
“I will look to tap experienced and knowledgeable people on a myriad of issues going forward. You will find my style to be collaborative and action-oriented, constantly focusing on improvement and innovation.
“Now in closing, President Woodrow Wilson once said, ‘If you want to make enemies, just try to change things.’ He knew that with change comes both uncertainty and fear. And individuals holding onto the status quo may undoubtedly feel threatened. So as someone committed to change, I do not expect to be without controversy.
“But I also know that with change comes opportunity and hope — the hope for something better, and the opportunity to fulfill the American dream.
“In November of 2008 I was honored to be on the same historical ballot as President-elect Barack Obama. I believe he, more than anyone in a generation, has returned hope to our nation — hope for the American people, and, yes, hope for the American dream.
“As your county executive, I ask for your patience and your prayers as we move to deliver change. And I promise you, I will work with every fiber in my being to make Ulster County the finest place anywhere to live, work and raise a family. Thank you very much.
Tough row to hoe
Hein’s State of the County speech this week contained much more detail than his inaugural opener, and echoed the strident tone evinced by President Obama of late with his get-tough message urging political foes to put aside their petty differences and work together to find ways to mitigate the effects of the Great Recession we’ve sunk into. Before closing out in what is becoming his trademark warm and fuzzy manner, he hit hard on the problems of dwindling sales taxes and steep cuts in federal and state largesse, and what they might mean in dollars to the already overburdened property taxpayer.
He asked for intermunicipal help in fighting these problems, partly by streamlining and sharing government services and speeding up the sometimes glacial progress of siting and approving development projects. He had no answer as of yet for the $6 million annual “jail tax” that must be paid to cover the debt incurred from the star-crossed facility’s going so far over budget.
Hein seems to be on top of it. I’m personally giving him his 100 days and more, and will be piping up with what may or may not be helpful suggestions every once in a while. Hein is actively encouraging such citizen participation, and I suggest that if you have anything positive to contribute, you do the same.
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Freshly sworn-in Ulster County Executive Mike Hein celebrates with his wife Christine and son Mickey on New Year’s Day.
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Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Maurice Hinchey take the pastor’s admonition literally.
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