NEWBURGH – With the general
election just over a month away, Newburgh’s first-term mayor continues
to fight for her political life. Using a recently rehabilitated row house
on Lander Street, about 40 Kennedy supporters gathered to listen to some
prominent people enthusiastically endorse her.
Among those saying the Democrat mayor had done much good for the city
in three and a half years is former three-term Mayor Nicholas Valentine,
a Republican. Valentine had harsh words for Democratic primary winner
Jonathan Jacobson.
“So if we do not reelect her and he does get in, he will do everything
in his power to try to knock this down, whatever way you can,” Valentine
charged. “And by the way, he’s an attorney, he’ll try
to look at every little way to twist and turn to lessen it, cheapen it,
and that would hurt everyone in this city.”
Sometimes outspoken activist Lillie Howard, who ran for mayor many years
ago, said Jacobson, a former county Democratic Committee chair and city
party chair, has little more than titles to his credit.
“Do not allow yourself to get caught up with titles,” Howard
said, during an at times emotional appeal. “Because of what one
does with that title; that’s the bottom line.”
Kennedy adddresses Monday rally in support of her re-election
bid
Howard’s son, Omari Shakur, who placed last in the three-way primary,
put a ‘no politics’ spin on the general election.
“This is not about candidates,” Shakur said. “What’s
best for the City of Newburgh. Because, somebody asked me why am I going
against the Democratic Party? I’m not going against the Democratic
Party. I’m going for the City of Newburgh.”
Kennedy acknowledged what Valentine said earlier, that in Newburgh, elections
are typically not won by one party alone.
“And so when somebody says ‘you’re not supporting the
Democrats’, well, we are,” Kennedy proclaimed. “Are
we supporting the Republicans? Well, we are. Are we supporting the black
community? Yes we are. Are we supporting the Latino community? Yes we
are. Because, that’s the only way this city is actually really going
to build.”
On the November ballot, Kennedy will appear on Line 6, an Independent
line. Jacobson has the Democrat line and John Giudice is the Republican.
