Names surface as potential congressional candidates

Mid-Hudson News ^ | 1/21/12

[Impala64ssa]

MID-HUDSON – Names are already surfacing for potential Democratic candidates to replace the retiring Congressman Maurice Hinchey in the fall. New district lines have yet to be drawn, but that has not stopped political operatives from dropping names.

Among those being mentioned is State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther of Forestburgh.

“It’s really a tremendous, tremendous compliment,” she said. “I love what I do right now; I enjoy the New York State Assembly.”

Ulster County Executive Michael Hein, who just began his second term in office, has also been mentioned, but he too, told MidHudsonNews.com that he is staying put.

“There is a reality and that is that as county executive my focus is on serving the people of Ulster County,” he said.

Right after Hinchey announced he was retiring, State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston was asked if he would be interested in running.

“I consider it a wonderful day to talk about the wonderful career of Maurice Hinchey,” Cahill said.

While there is early speculation about who may run for the seat, New York will lose two House seats and there is talk one of them could be in the Hudson Valley.

Hinchey’s 22nd district wanders from Poughkeepsie, east of the Hudson, to Ithaca in the Southern Tier.

[Impala64ssa]

I live in Aileen Gunther's district. Even though she's a dem, she's consistently endorsed by the Conservatives and she's one of the most gun-freindly pols of either party in the northeast. The NY22 is a classic example of gerrymandering at it's worst.

[scrabblehack]

I would think it would be quite likely to be eliminated.
In ‘10, Hinchey carried Tompkins County (Cornell) 80-20,
then the Hudson Valley counties of Orange 52-48, Sulivan (53-47), and Ulster (55-45). He lost everything in between.