From the Ulster County GOP bylaws:

“In the event of the death, disqualification, or resignation of a Chair… the County Chair shall, with the advice of the existing members of the Town… Committee, within fifteen (15) days from the date of the vacancy, make an appointment. The temporary appointee shall be a member of the respective Town, City or Village Committee. The Chair shall call a meeting of said Committee, to be held within thirty (30) days after the appointment, for the purpose of filling a vacancy.”

Rumor has it that Roger Rascoe, the Chairman of the Ulster County Republican Party, is going to appoint Terry Bernardo to fill one of David O’Halloran’s shoes. O’Halloran, the former Chairman of the Rochester Republican Committee, finally announced his resignation on August 12, 2013.

Rumor has it that a merger of the Town of Rochester with the following fourteen cities bearing the same name is imminent:

Rochester, NY (pop. 206,759)
Rochester, MN (pop. 99,121)
Rochester, NH (pop. 30,527)
Rochester, MI (pop. 11,031)
Rochester, IN (pop. 6.447)
Rochester, MA (pop. 5,218)
Rochester, PA (pop. 3,680)
Rochester, IL (pop. 3,171)
Rochester, WA (pop. 1,829)
Rochester, WI (pop. 1,180)
Rochester, VT (pop. 1,135)
Rochester, TX (pop. 328)
Rochester, KY (pop. 187)
Rochester, OH (pop. 182)

Apparently, a plan to also merge with the other four cities named Rochester (two in England, one each in Canada and Australia) has been discarded.

Here is a comment posted last year on the Ulster County Cloakroom blog:

Since Len Bernardo got to be a fire commissioner in Rochester, the game changed. Promise a new fire engine, share a beer keg with the boys, spread a few rumors, and – between firefighters and their family – you control a 500-strong voting block… “See you guys on Tuesday! Don’t forget to vote for Terry!”

Rumor has it that things have changed. Firefighters’ unconditional love for the Bernardos petered out. The 500-strong voting block is getting smaller by the hour, and its size will count – one way or another – in the September 10 primary between incumbent legislator Terry Bernardo and the wannabe asbestos-remover John Dawson.

Rumor has it that David O’Halloran tried to sabotage Manuela Michailescu’s nomination of Carl Chipman at the Republican caucus by replacing her with Tim Bunch. He failed.

No surprise here, O’Halloran tried the same – and also failed – two years ago, when Manuela nominated Judge Babcock.

Rumor has it that the Chairwoman of the Ulster County Legislature Terry Lynn Bernardo-Blosser keeps busy preparing to challenge the incumbent Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (103 AD) in next year’s elections.

It makes sense: after December 31, 2013 she’s going to have lots of time on her hands. And I mean lots!

Rumor has it that David O’Halloran, Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Rondout Valley School Board, Member of the Committee to Fill Vacancies in 2013 local elections, President of the Rochester Republicans Club, former Chairman of the Industrial Development Agency Board, former Vice-Chair of the Ulster County Republican Committee, former Chairman of the Town of Rochester Republican Committee, and probably former member, president or chairman of a few dozen other organizations, is seriously considering getting out of Dodge.

Rumor has it that the Bernardos would be more than happy to unload “Skate Time 209” for $1,400,000. The rumor mentions moving out of town subsequent to a sale. Wouldn’t be funny if the Bernardos end up in the same town as O’Halloran and together start the same s%*t all over again?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco