This Tuesday we will be exercising one of our most cherished rights – Our Right to Vote.
This has been an election cycle like no other. The campaign for President has gone above and beyond debating issues. It has been filled with anger, rage and hatred emerging from all sides.
Friendships have been lost, relationships have been broken, and people who once respected one another might never look at each other the same way.
The name calling, cursing, and attacks on social media has been disgusting, shameful and deplorable. It has become a free for all. People see no wrong in wishing evil and bad upon another human being.
Respect for the Presidency and the person who sits in the Oval Office has been flushed down the toilet.
People are so obsessed with this Presidential election – They forget there is life after November 9, 2016 no matter who wins.
Putting all the campaign rhetoric aside, it is vital we come out to vote not only to help elect those whom we feel will best represent us, but also to make a noble statement as to what it means to be able to vote.
Sadly, only a small portion of those eligible to vote are registered, and of them, an even smaller amount vote.
The Presidency of the United States is at stake, and it is important that you have your say. Whether you support Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump your vote counts.
No vote should be taken for granted. The 2000 presidential election was decided by fewer than 600 votes in the state of Florida. In Sullivan County, many local elections have been decided by a handful of votes.
Although local races might be few and far between this year, there are some very important races we must consider.
Besides President, we will be electing a United States Senator, Congressman, two Supreme Court Justices, members of the Assembly and Senate, a County Court Family Judge, and three coroners.
All eyes are on the 19th Congressional District – The seat being vacated by Chris Gibson is the most expensive Congressional race in the United States pitting Democrat Zephyr Teachout against Republican John Faso.
The open Congressional seat is considered a tossup for a Democrat or Republican to win.
Zephyr Teachout shook up the Democratic Party establishment two years ago when she swept upstate New York in her run for Governor in a Democratic Primary against Andrew Cuomo.
I have gotten to personally know Zephyr over the past several years and I am very excited about her run for Congress. She is caring, honest, highly intelligent, and a true independent thinker.
Her critics attempt to smear her by saying she is a carpetbagger living in the District only a short while and that she does not understand our needs. The truth is that she fell in love with our region while running for Governor as she is from a rural area, and she only decided to enter the race after Ulster County Executive Mike Hein decided not to run.
Zephyr Teachout is an outsider from politics – She is not part of the old establishment.
I know firsthand from my private conversations with that Zephyr that she is particularly concerned about issues facing Sullivan County residents such as our need for economic development, our poverty level, and our ranking as one of the unhealthiest counties in New York State.
Zephyr Teachout is also an outspoken advocate for our Developmentally Disabled. When she ran for Governor she made part of her platform passage of Paula’s Law named after my sister Paula Liblick who was raped and sexually assaulted multiple times in her New York State run group home.
Paula’s Law sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther Chair of the Mental Health Committee, Bill # A01059, and NYS Senate Bill # S03623 introduced by Senator Robert Ortt, Chair of the Mental Health Committee, would mandate that surveillance cameras be installed outside New York State run group homes and day programs.
Teachout said in support of Paula’s Law, “Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families overcome the biggest challenges every day. It is tragic and alarming that this population also confront instances of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, all within the confines of our state-run facilities. I believe that cameras are a first step to avoiding and countering this abuse.”
Former Assemblyman John Faso of Kinderhook served as minority leader of the New York State Assembly from 1998 until 2002, and is part of the Albany establishment we all seem to be angry with.
Faso gave up his seat in the Assembly to run for State Comptroller in 2002, losing to Alan Hevesi. Four years later in 2006, he ran for Governor, but was defeated by Democrat Eliot Spitzer. Since then he has been an high priced lobbyist.
Our Congressional district comprises all of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties; most of Dutchess and Rensselaer counties, and parts of Montgomery and Broome counties.
State Senator John Bonacic who yields a lot of power in the State Senate and has continually delivered for Sullivan County is facing a surprising challenge from Orange County Community activist Pramilla Malick who won a write-in vote for the Democratic nomination.
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, County Court Judge Frank LaBuda, and three coroners, Albee Bockman, Elton Harris, and Michael Speer are all running unopposed.
Voting is one of the fundamental processes instrumental in the development of a healthy democracy, please use it Tuesday and vote.
No matter who wins – On Wednesday November 9, 2016 – Our Great Nation will need a lot of healing. We must all respect the outcome of the election, unite as a Nation and move on.
Bill Liblick has made a name for himself on National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the “MOUTH THAT ROARS” Column in THE SULLIVAN COUNTY POST.