Tuesday, November 13, 2007

A Record of Accomplishment

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill represents the 101st Assembly District, which includes most of Ulster County and the Town and Village of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County. He was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Prior to joining the Assembly in January 1999, Mr. Cahill directed a Medicare health plan under contract with the Health Care Financing Administration. He is also an attorney, admitted to practice in New York and in the United States District Court. As a former Ulster County legislator from 1986 through 1992, he served as Minority Leader. Mr. Cahill also represented the people of the 101st District in the New York State Assembly from 1992-1994.

Mr. Cahill is the Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance and serves on the Health, Higher Education, Ways and Means and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committees. Mr. Cahill has previously served on several other committees including Steering, Consumer Affairs, Codes, Real Property Tax, Local Government and Children and Families. He was the Assembly spokesperson for Community Corrections, a member of the task force on Local Government Finance Reform and the longest tenured Chair of the Legislative Task Force on People with Disabilities.

He has a strong record on the environment, civil rights, labor, health care and women’s issues. Mr. Cahill was, and remains, a strong advocate for local real property tax reform. A graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz and Albany Law School, Mr. Cahill is also dedicated to quality, affordable education for all residents of New York State.

Kevin Cahill has two daughters and is a lifelong resident of Kingston, New York.

A Message from Kevin Cahill

Dear Friends,

The 2007 campaign season is finally over. It was at times bruising and others confusing. One thing that is clear is that the new Democratic Party in Ulster County is in need of a little breathing room. That is why I was concerned today when I learned that a candidate has announced for the office of County Executive for the November 2008 election cycle.

It is certainly understandable that some candidates need to get out there early to gather support and commitments, but it does not serve our party or, I believe, the public, well. We need a rest. We need a chance to assess this last season from soup to nuts and to be prepared in 2008, 2009 and beyond to put forth the best slate of qualified Democrats, with unity of philosophy, purpose and -- as we all learned the hard way -- support.

While announcing for office now, before the results of our current election have been certified, the candidate indicated, in a letter to the Democratic Members of the Ulster County Legislature, an awareness of "many gifted potential candidates". On that we agree. There are many qualified potential candidates for the new post of County Executive.

As Democrats we should maintain an open policy and invite qualified candidates to the fore from all over including our town and county governments, private enterprise and our large not for profit business community. We should send a message that the Democratic Party will choose a leader for this highest office in the County based upon merit and what is in the best interests of the citizenry.

In brief, I urge you to keep an open mind and ask you to refrain from making any commitment until the entire field has had a fair chance to form. There is nothing compelling our attention to this matter at this early date. I submit to you that this time, right now, is more valuably spent assessing our results, helping those recently elected to get a good start on their new terms, honoring our Veterans, preparing for the holidays with our families and gathering our thoughts about how to make the Democratic Party stronger and better for the coming years.

Thank you to all who worked so hard in this and many elections past. It has been a very long road and our successes are many, and our brightest days are still ahead of us.

My very best to you and your families.

Sincerely,

Kevin Cahill