Hugh Reynolds: Another Case of Contradicting Accounts

Opinion By Hugh Reynolds I know readers grow weary of the back and forth between our political class, signifying, all too often, nothing. But... I know readers grow weary of the back and forth between our political class, signifying, all too often, nothing. But this dispute between the county executive and the comptroller over the latter's use of a surveillance camera at bus headquarters merits at least one more pass before it fades from memory. In this case, comptroller March Gallagher was the instigator in placing a camera at the county bus barn on Golden Hill in Kingston based on what she called 'multiple, credible accusations' of theft of services by employees. It had to do, she said, with workers allegedly claiming hours that they didn't work. The strategy, apparently, was to photograph the comings and goings of workers against comparisons of actual time worked. And just in time for the Woodstock Film Festival. As such, that would seem to be exactly what the comptroller is supposed to do: act on multiple, credible accusations. Gallagher's offense was in choosing not to share the information she acquired through what some are calling 'cameragate.' Personally, I am sick and tired of media attaching the word 'gate' to any pending scandal. The original occurred more than half a century ago. County Executive Jen Metzger reacted with the kind of heated alacrity seldom seen in the county office building in accusing her once, and perhaps future, rival of in effect stepping on her sensitive toes. Gallagher, for her part, says she had turned over any information she had gathered to the executive and was still awaiting documentation going the other way. It got ugly for a while before a sit-down between the executive and the comptroller and their respective deputies was arranged at an undisclosed location. What emerged was an agreement by the comptroller that any such 'surveillance' forays would be coordinated with the executive. Let's see if we've got this right. The comptroller, an independently elected overseer of county government, will now, as a matter of protocol, advise the executive whenever she deems it prudent to investigate one of the executive's departments. At this prospect, the drafters of the voter-approved 2008 county charter might well utter a collective 'Huh?' If this be the case, and I find it difficult to believe that the pokey-nosed Gallagher would accept such a restriction on her constitutional power, it would appear the pendulum has shifted in favor of the executive. There is, of course, more than meets the eye here, because in the final analysis, it's about politics. About two-thirds of county workers are represented by the labor union CSEA. CSEA, with its more than 1,000 members, carries tremendous clout in county politics. Mess with CSEA workers, as in this case, and things happen. At the apex of the political chain there has been speculation that Gallagher may be setting the stage for a primary against Metzger, who is on the ballot next year. Gallagher was almost Shermanesque on that subject. 'I don't run against (incumbent) Democratic women,' she said. 'Jen can rest a little easier now.' Footnotes During an interview on this subject last week I asked Gallagher why she used her own camera, with her name and phone number on it, to surveil the bus garage. I thought it kind of stupid, though I didn't say so. 'The comptroller's office does not own a camera, so we used mine,' she said. She added that when her office had to replace a conference table a few years ago, she did not ask the county for funding but rather raised the money through private donations. Notoriously obtuse, I failed to see the connection. Marlborough Squeaker One of the closest elections in county legislature history took place in Marlborough's 11th District last year, where newcomer Laura Donovan defeated multi-term incumbent Tom Corcoran by just 36 votes. Corcoran, a Republican in a Republican stronghold, was dogged by accusations from fellow Republican Joe Maloney of Saugerties over alleged misdeeds in office both as a county legislator and town building inspector, as well as in his role as treasurer for a youth sports booster club. Corcoran denied all allegations and to date has not been charged with anything, but the Maloney albatross proved too heavy to bear. However, Marlborough, one of the last bastions of Republican control, may not be as solid as it once was. The latest enrollment records for District 11 from the county Board of Elections show only a difference of 245 enrollees between the major parties. The key, as in so many other places in the county, is the non-enrolled vote, which totals 1,821, compared to 1,780 Democrats. Out to prove her election was no fluke of fortune (or misfortune), Donovan says her team is working hard and will knock on at least 6,000 doors by Nov. 3. Her opponent, Republican Nick Cracolici, like Donovan a year ago, is a relative unknown, having yet to have held even a town office. However, Marlborough has a large Italian population and they vote. 'The problem for Corcoran,' my former radio cohost Mario Catalano observed, 'was that he had all the vowels in the wrong places.' Corcoran's considerable baggage notwithstanding.