A present from the past:
Shawangunk Journal – December 13, 2012
Ulster Legislators Need Better Leadership
Daily Freeman – December 10, 2012
Failure at top of Ulster County Legislature
Blue Stone Press – December 7, 2012
(below)
Pride of Rochester?
Considering myself an “accidental” politician – way “too honest” according to a party leader – I thought that upon ending my 4-year term as Councilwoman, I’d be out of politics for good.
I was honored with a plaque recognizing my dedicated service to the Town of Rochester. During the same January 2012 ceremony, Terry Bernardo – freshly elected Chairwoman of the Legislature – received a specially created “Pride of Rochester” certificate.
A few days later it was painful to watch our own Legislator from Rochester voting against the opinion expressed by Town Supervisor Carl Chipman. Later in the year the Legislature’s budget for 23 legislators dwarfed the previous one for 33 legislators. Promises were broken. Ethics conflicts abounded. Finding solutions to important problems took a back seat to unnecessary partisan bickering.
Soon enough I realized how hard it is to keep out of politics when a power-hungry politician bent on taking over the county acts with selfishness, financial irresponsibility and an embarrassing lack of leadership. How long are people going to vote for somebody who casually breaks the laws, hires all her friends on people’s dime, and avails herself of $160,000 in taxpayers’ money, compliments of IDA (Industrial Development Agency)?
It’s time to stop being used for one’s political ambitions. Legislative District 21 needs a true public servant. Rochester and East Wawarsing deserve a Legislator who listens and truly represents them, able to find the best solutions to our local issues. If anybody is tempted to dismiss my concerns because I ran for the same Legislature seat as Terry Bernardo, here is proof of bi-partisan outrage:
William West, former Chairman of Ulster County Legislature wrote to Roger Rascoe, the Ulster GOP chairman: “I would urge that as quickly as possible you meet with Ms. Terry Bernardo and ascertain whose team she is on – is her goal the destruction of the party? In a short two months she alone has caused more damage to our Republican party than any of the 30,000 county Republicans have ever done.”
Jeanette Provenzano, the Democratic Legislator, made her opinion public: “We waited over thirty years for a woman to be a Chairperson. Bernardo has done a disservice to all women in Ulster County.”
The reorganizational meeting for the coming Legislative year will be held on January 2. Bi-partisan predictions were made on Ulster County blogs. From the left (Ulster County Cloakroom): “But when it comes to Bernardo being bounced from her leadership post, I’ll always wager on timidity and entropy. In other words, it’s far easier to chicken-out and do nothing than it is to do hard work.” From the right (Liberty Coalition): “Bernardo gets reelected because none of the Republicans have enough backbone or spine to challenge her even though they are sealing their own fate for next year’s elections.”
Look at the bright side: Terry Bernardo could recycle her 2012 inaugural speech.
Manuela Michailescu
Kerhonkson
Rochester Smoke Out 
With the help of a few Daves, the legislator from Rochester has earned herself DISGRACE.
She is the pride of Rochester that says a lot for Rochester
Whoever gave Terry Bernardo the Pride of Rochester thingy, surely was in a brown nosing mood. IMHO, that was Carl Chipman. What a shame!
Watch Carl’s actions this coming year… He’s the dunce in all of this. More to come.
Just to set the record straight. The Pride of Rochester Award wasn’t my idea. It belonged to one of the councilmen and he even wanted to pay for it himself. So please get the facts straight.
So is Mr. Chipman saying that he does not view Ms. Bernardo as the Pride of Rochester?
Is it possible that Mr. Chipman is finally seeing Ms. Bernardo’s for who she really is?
Stay tuned folks because time will tell!
Mr, Supervisor–Did you create the award? Did you vote yes? Did you present the Pride and smile pretty for the camera? If yes–OWN YOUR ACTIONS. So connected to Bernardo.
Come on Chipman. Is Terry the pride of Rochester or not? Terry said in several meetings that you supported bringing a landfill to Rochester. Take a position and stick by it. You are losing the people with this flip flopping double talk.
I went to town’s website trying to get my facts straight. All I found is this, in the minutes of the January 5th meeting:
Supervisor Chipman presented Legislator Bernardo with a Pride of Town of Rochester award. On 1/3/2011 Bernardo became the first woman chair of the Ulster County Legislature and also the first chair for the Town of Rochester. Chipman stated, “ It was an honor working with Bernardo. We work amazingly well together pushing legislation through to benefit our residents.”
So, how do I get my facts straight? How about asking you directly, Mr. Chipman, who was the councilman who wanted to pay for Terry Bernardo’s Pride of Rochester award? Shouldn’t be a secret when the town was involved. Holding my breath waiting for your answer.
Supervisor Chipman speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Just what does this mean? He LIES!!
Hmmm… let’s see, who among Rochester’s councilmen would have had an interest in pampering the new Chairwoman? I recall Brian Drabkin and Davey O’Halloran submitting resumes and applications for the Golden Hill LDC board of directors. Under the terms of the development corporation’s bylaws, Terry Bernardo, R-Accord, got to make two appointments to the board of directors. Brian Drabkin? He is a councilman, isn’t he?
Bernardo appointed friends of her husband’s Indy line over the two Rochester Republicans to the golden hill Ldc that ended up choosing a group of county good old boys over outside big buck companies. Smells like a Bonacic – Bernardo Deal to me.