About Paul Andreassen

Two years ago Paul Andreassen (Independence Party) was approached by many individuals, including both current and former political party leaders, all of whom encouraged him to run for the town supervisor position.  Yet Paul, being the gentleman that he is, declined in deference to Jim Bruno, a Republican, and Fred Costello, who is also a member of the Independence Party, since both had announced that they would be running for supervisor. So, instead Paul Andreassen ran for town councilman and received overwhelming support from the Democrat, Conservative and Independence Parties.  In fact, Paul was the big “vote-getter,” garnering 2,799 votes on the Democrat line, 983 on the Conservative line and 520 on the Independence line, for a total of 4,302 votes, beating all the other candidates.  

One of the reasons, among others, that he decided to run for town supervisor this time around is the fact that there was only one candidate running, and Paul rightly feels that the voters deserve a choice.  Paul made it quite clear, from the day that he announced, that he would seek the endorsement from all political parties because it is his intention to represent everyone, not just those from specific parties.  Paul is more interested in serving the people than a political party—in fact, his saying is, “people not politics.”

When Paul announced that he would be running for town supervisor, he went through all the proper channels: interviews, carrying petitions, etc., seeking endorsements from all the parties, just as he had promised to do.   

What I find so ironic is that two years ago those same current and former leaders of the Democratic Committee who had praised Paul up and down for being a “great individual,” with “integrity” and who supported him wholeheartedly for election, this year have denied him even an opportunity to a fair and honest primary, in spite of the fact that he had gone out and collected more than 300-signatures from Saugerties’ Democrats to get on their line. Is this fair? When evaluating the parity of impartial opportunity here, a bit of the background should be taken into consideration: both Paul Andreassen and Fred Costello are members of the Independence Party. One could easily understand Democrats’ support of Costello if he were a registered Democrat, but he’s not. Since both contenders for the nomination are not Democrats, there really is no valid reason to support one and deny the other. A nomination for endorsement under such circumstances should have come by the primary process.  

Then, after denying Paul Andreassen an equal opportunity to vie for the Democrat endorsement through the process, negative letters began to appear in the Saugerties Times, again from the same current and former Democrat leaders, criticizing Paul for petty nonsense. The same people who had so vigorously encouraged him to run two years ago, have now turned their backs on him and in the process have turned theirs back on their very own party members as well. I hope that the 4,377 registered Democrat voters will recognize that it is actually their right to decide whom they want on their line through the primary process that has been taken away from them and that they will see through all these phony, negative attacks against Paul Andreassen. For Democrat voters who agree that Paul Andreassen is the best man for the job but was treated unfairly, their only option is to vote for him on another line.

I’ve known Paul Andreassen for more than forty years and I can honestly tell you that he is a unique and exceptional individual. In all the years that I have known him, he has consistently demonstrated a love for his hometown and its people. Don’t be fooled by the petty, negative attacks that crop up like clockwork every political season.  Paul is a good man of integrity, honesty and pride, who quietly does a damn good job, and I think most people know that.  Accordingly, I would suggest that the contrarians (those who paint everything with a negative brush and go against anything an opponent says or does) stop playing that game and focus on the issues instead of dealing in negativity.

And now, last but not least, the “opponents,” calling Paul out for abstaining on a vote was a very cheap and totally unfair shot at Paul.  Under Roberts Rules of Order (the bible of running a meeting), when someone abstains, it is neither a “yes” vote nor a  “no” vote—it’s not a vote at all. Occasionally the legislator, councilman, or whatever, might just say, “Present.” When a board member doesn’t have all the information necessary to make an informed vote, the only proper and responsible action is to vote “no,” with an explanation, or to abstain.

George Heidcamp

June 25th is the Independence Party Primary

June 25th is also the Green Party Primary


If you are a member of one of those parties, please get out and vote for our candidates. They will work for YOU. Please read Paul Andreassen's message to all voters.


to enlarge and read, click photo below

Photo Albums consist of a maximum of 30-pages, so a third album for Paul Andreassen has been started, beginning with photos from the Farmers' Market and Library Street Fair. To see the newest album, click here

The Stars were out last night, and you came out to meet them—and now it's up to you to come out on June 25th for the Independence or Green Parties and support them (and again on Election Day in November).

In case you were unable to make it to the Meet 'n Greet, photos from the event are available now in a new album, click here

Paul Andreassen's submitted some photos on Habitat-Glasco and a beautiful slideshow, click here

(To see all the listed albums from the current campaign, click here)

And, Conservative Party chairman, George Heidcamp, has brand new signs—click on the picture below to see it in the Campaign Album

Reminder
(click the above calendar and navigate to "June")

June 25th is the Independence Party Primary
—mark your calendar—
June 25th is also the Green Party Primary
—mark your calendar—

There's less than two weeks to the Primary on June 25th. To reiterate, if you are reading this and you're a member of either the Independence or Green parties, please get out and vote for our candidates to receive your party's nomination. If you aren't a member, please pass this around and help us reach every member of the Independence and Green parties before the Primary on June 25th. Every vote counts….please do what you can to help our excellent candidates win the nomination.

Also, regarding the upcoming Primary (for both the Independence and Green Parties), refer to the attached chart (based mostly on Board of Elections information), which contains important information and illustrates how to vote for our candidates

(click on the small chart below to enlarge)

• Tomorrow is your chance to meet the county and local candidates (all in one place) and speak with them—ask questions
• Find out where they stand on the issues that are important to you
• Refreshments will be served
• The event is free-of-charge, although donations to help get the word out will be much appreciated

Click the image just below for the details

Click to enlarge

Important—June 25th is Primary Day for both the Independence Party and the Green Party. If you are reading this and are a member of either the Green or Independence Party, or if you know anyone in either of those parties, please continue reading and then pass the information along to your Green or Independence Party friends:

Reminder
(click the above calendar)
June 25th is the Independence Party Primary
—mark your calendar—

June 25th is also the Green Party Primary
—mark your calendar—


Also, regarding the upcoming Primary (for both the Independence and Green Parties), refer to the attached chart (based mostly on Board of Elections information), which illustrates how to vote for our candidates
(click on the small chart below to enlarge)










See the new photos in Paul's album, click here

See the new photos in Mary Wawro's album, click here



Know Your Rights
The Bill of Rights (Ratified December 15, 1791)
click the image below to enlarge