Recent Press ...

Ulster panel to explore transition
Charter calls for changes in government
Poughkeepsie Journal (Feb 28)

Ulster takes steps toward changing county government
Daily Freeman (Feb28)

 Ulster mulls employee input for '07 budget Daily Freeman (Nov 27)

DPW panel favors single commissioner
Freeman Story November 15, 2006

Charter observers expect approval to stand
Freeman Story November 11, 2006

Ulster County voters approve charter
Freeman Story November 8 , 2006

County lawmakers may have no say over new voting machines
Freeman Story October 15, 2006

Ulster goes green with hybrid bus
Freeman Story August 18, 2006

Ulster residents should speak out on charter
Freeman Story August 17, 2006

Decision day nears for Ulster County charter
Freeman Story July 23, 2006

Decision time
Charter clears committee hurdle; full legislature is next
Woodstock Times July 20, 2006

Charter on course
Committee OK's government changes; full Legislature is next
Highland Mid-Hudson Post July 20, 2006

Ulster County Legislators Gary Bischoff, Dean Fabiano and Joe Roberti voted for a measure that will provide a tax incentive for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Legislator Robert Aiello sponsored the resolution and has been a long time proponent of volunteer incentives.

The legislature passed a home rule resolution asking the State Legislature to allow Ulster County to provide a real property tax exemption to volunteers. The county would then be able to pass a local law allowing active volunteers to register with their local tax assessor for a ten percent reduction in the assessed value of their primary residence. Each volunteer would need to be certified by his or her fire district to qualify for the exemption. Towns in Ulster County would also have the option of offering the exemption to volunteers on their town tax by passing a local law.
Dean Fabiano explained, “Volunteer fire companies and volunteer ambulance companies are experiencing manpower shortages. There are a number of reasons for this including the increased training that is required today, and the economy where many people are working two and three jobs to make ends meet. We are trying to find ways to provide some type of incentive to recruit and retain volunteers.”
Gary Bischoff added, “This is only the first step in the process of getting tax incentives for our volunteers. We have asked the state to act on our home rule request, and then Ulster County will need to pass a local law for this tax break to be effective. We are aware that some volunteers do not own homes, and we would prefer an income tax credit that would apply to all volunteers. However, with the property tax exemption, we are in control. This can be done at the county level, and we don’t need to wait for an act of congress or the state legislature.”
Joe Roberti concluded, “Most of New York and all of Saugerties is protected by volunteer fire companies. Diaz Ambulance works with a mix of paid and volunteer EMTs. As a community, we should be grateful that there are dedicated men and women that get up in the middle of the night or leave Sunday dinner to serve their community when the alarm sounds. Many times they risk their lives. In fact in 2005, 16 firefighters in New York State lost their lives protecting their communities. This tax break is well deserved and long overdue.”
For a copy of the resolution that was passed, go to Gary Bischoff’s web site at www.gary4ulster.com or the Ulster County web site www.co.ulster.ny.us.

Feb 3 press release

We Have a Winner
Bischoff takes seat on legislature
Although the race was a nail-biter, both candidates remained gracious throughout. "I want to thank Alice Tipp for all of her years of service to Ulster County and this community and I sincerely hope she stays active and involved in the community," said Bischoff. story
Letters to the Editor
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Legislative Happenings

In an effort to communicate with citizens in the district, this paper has graciously offered me the opportunity to write a column. It will allow me to inform readers so they can stay informed about county government. In this column, I will cover an important presentation that was made at the June 13 Legislative session.

The Efficiency, Reform committee started a subcommittee to study the possibility of a Vote by Mail system for Ulster County. The committee met every week to research the issue and get to the point where they could make a recommendation to the legislature. The meeting started with a presentation by the vote-by-mail committee.
Here are the FAQs.

What is vote-by-mail?
It is a proven method that allows all registered voters to vote by mail with balloting taking place over a three-week period before Election Day. Each registered voter is mailed a ballot. Returned votes are counted on Election Day by machine or manually at the County Board of Elections.

Isn’t vote-by-mail just absentee voting?
State law requires that a voter either be absent from the county or disabled to vote absentee, but Vote by Mail will allow all voters to vote by mail without any excuse.

Is Vote by Mail used anyplace else?
Oregon has successfully used statewide Vote by Mail. In Washington, 36 of 39 counties currently Vote by Mail, and they are going statewide in 2008. Almost half of California’s voters Vote by Mail. There are also about 20 states that allow “No Excuse” absentee voting by mail.

Why should we implement Vote by Mail?
It significantly increases voter participation. Costs are greatly reduced. There is a built in paper trail for accurate recounts. Voters have more time to study the ballot helping them make a more informed decision. It is convenient and less costly for voters. Elections are not affected by inclement weather or personal adversity.

What is the process for Vote by Mail?
1. All registered voters receive a Vote by Mail packet – ballot, return envelope with unique barcode and secrecy envelope about 20 days before Election Day.
2. Voter completes ballot and can return it by mail, take it to a designated drop site or deliver it to County Board of Election office.
3. County BOE verifies accuracy of information and signature on secrecy envelope and sorts by district.
4. On Election Day, ballots are tallied by machine or manually.

What about Security?
Security is an obvious concern. In actual practice, the system has worked successfully. There are federal penalties for tampering with US Mail. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of election fraud in vote-by-mail elections, varying from risks of multiple voting to the destruction of mailed ballots, but actual incidents are rare in practice and in fact are less likely than with our existing systems. Vote by Mail might increase the pressure of a dominant spouse to make their partner "vote right". However, there are penalties in place for anyone signing any other ballot, even a spouse.

Where can I get more information?
You can get more information about vote-by-mail at my web site – www.gary4ulster.com.

Can I tell you how I feel about Vote by Mail?
Yes. I am very interested in the opinions of voters on Vote by Mail and other issues. Please go to the web site www.gary4ulster.com and email your thoughts or call me at 246-6858.

GO GARY!

To the Editor:This year political free speech and petitioning are protected at the Ulster County Fair.In the past the manager of the Ulster County Fair has made petitioners leave - and even sent uniformed law enforcement officials to force petitioners off the fairgrounds.But thanks to Gary Bischoff, a county legislator from Saugerties, this language was added to the new contract between the Agricultural Society and Ulster County:"The Agricultural Society, in keeping with the past practices at the Ulster County Fair and in furtherance of the Ulster County Legislature's policy of preserving the public's First Amendment rights, shall reasonably permit organizations and individuals to circulate leaflets and petitions upon the Fairgrounds during the Ulster County Fair."Thank you, Gary Bischoff. You deserve a blue ribbon and a blooming onion for standing up for our rights!
Celeste Cleary New Paltz
Saugerties Times August 3, 2006

County mulls ethics panel
 Committee Chairman Gary Bischoff, D-Saugerties, suggested using a seven-member panel with one minority legislative member and two majority members, with Democrats and Republicans also making two appointments each representing the public. Freeman Story

Ulster Legislator Collects Engineering Educator Award

Newly elected Ulster County legislator Gary Bischoff has been chosen as 2005's Engineering Professor of the Year at SUNY New Paltz college. The award was given to Bischoff by Robert Foster, President-Eta Kappa Nu and the Engineering Students who cite Bischoff as inflencing the students in an”exceptional way”. The award will be displayed on a plaque outside the Engineering Department office.
Bischoff has been teaching as a apart time professor since.
Bischoff states, “It’s a great pleasure to work with these students who will take on the daunting challenges of the future. They work hard and I am honored by their recognition.”

IN PRAISE OF BISCHOFF
To the Editor:
Democracy is messy. When it works right, it is open, inclusive, tolerant to differing viewpoints, while working to gain consensus for the community's well-being. I have not seen many of these characteristics of democracy at work with our Ulster County legislature.
Our community needs people like Gary Bischoff as a county legislator. Gary is a good listener, inclusive in seeking others' opinions on key issues to our community and a hard worker. Most of the free time in his life has been spent volunteering, from being a volunteer fireman to soccer coach, all of which has enriched our lives.
Gary would not have his current legal problems if it wasn't for a personal and political vendetta along with a misuse and abuse of our judicial system. I view his case as one we all need to fight to insure the right people run for office without intimidation.
Gary Bischoff is absolutely the right person to vote for this fall for the Ulster County legislature.
Beth Murphy
Saugerties
8/25/05


RUN, GARY, RUN
To the Editor:
The success of a free people is the result of a hopeful and fabulous confluence of events as the existence of this great nation is attested to by its very existence. There will be three distinct forces that must come together.
It requires men and women of great spirit and talent, and this we see in the giants that were our founders.
It requires among these great men and women an opportunity and a desire for public service, to love the world better than themselves, to give beyond what giving could conceive. And then, upon this confluence, this glimmering opportunity, a third force must appear: the people must unite and select these people, must permit them to serve.
With time and fortune and a myriad events, this third event, this selection, must wait and watch and observe for the fortunate meeting of the other two. But one thing will be true: great people given to serve will do great things at every imaginable scale: the soul delights as much in the well tended kitchen garden as it does in the forest of skyscrapers.
Big words, and like the hero in Nathanial Hawthorne's The Great Stone Face, we cannot imagine that such words be directed at us, or even some other we know with familiarity. Ah, my good fortune, I worked with a very fine man, George Plotsky, who recognized that such things do happen to us, who took upon himself a mantle of responsibility and vigorously taught those who worked for him that their time would come indeed, their time had come. "When I was a child, I thought as a child, but oh my father, now I am a man!"
I see today a brief writing supporting Gary Bischoff.
He is a fine man. In him, we have the confluence of great talent and energy with the love of community and the willingness and capability to serve. This is a man incapable of doing anything but serving his community well.
Here, now, two conditions are met. We, the citizens who select and vote, we are the critical third: we should honor the opportunity and bring credit to ourselves by having this man serve in public office.
Run, Gary, run. Vote, people, vote.
There are others you know to yourselves like Gary: do not let them walk past you.
Gerald Berke
Woodstock






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