KINGSTON – A mailing from
Ulster County to all county residents informing them of the upcoming vote
on election day concerning whether or not the county Family Court should
be moved out of Kingston and into the Town of Ulster, has come under fire
County Legislators David Donaldson and John Parete, the same legislators
who sued the county over the proposition and lost.
They have written to District Attorney Holley Carnright asking him to
investigate what they called “the recent campaign card.” The
DA has refused, saying there is “no evidence of criminality”
that warrants an investigation.
County Attorney Bea Havranek said the issue has been fully reviewed by
the county and is perfectly legal.
“This information is completely appropriate, provides essential
information for the residents of Ulster County. It is absolutely legal
and it is done in conjunction with the leadership of the legislature and
consistent with legislative policy and the legislature’s resolution
of June 2016 where they chose this option and identified the reasons why,”
she said.
In a written opinion to Havranek, Carnright wrote in his view, “the
flyer is in conformity with two Ulster County resolutions on this issue.
There is no evidence of criminality that would warrant my office’s
involvement.”
Hein, meanwhile, said Parete and Donaldson are engaged in “a desperate
attempt… to distract the voters from reviewing the relevant fact.”
The county executive said the lawmakers “have done themselves, as
well as our community, a disservice by trying to advance their own agenda
in an attempt to influence the upcoming referendum.”
Hein noted the mailing was done in conjunction with the chairman of the
legislature and minority leader and input from other lawmakers.
The legislative minority leader, a Democrat like Donaldson and Parete,
Hector Rodriguez, said he “trusts the opinions” of both the
DA and county attorney. “While I stood shoulder to shoulder with
Legislators Donaldson and Parete on the ballot language, it is clear there
is nothing wrong with the county informing voters regarding this issue.”
