Since the Democrats secured the majority in the Legislature, the nightmare of Terry Bernardo’s chairmanship is – thank God! – forever out of question. So much for the newsletter “Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Bernardo” sent to voters before the election.

The 4-pager displays her obsession with power. “Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo” appears over 25 times, attached to issues she does not have anything to do with: more than 1,000 jobs projected at Nevele resort, Williams Lake redevelopment, Belleayre Mountain ski center, the Rainbow Diner fire debris, tourism growing in Ulster County, STAR property tax exemption, NEW YORK SAFE Act…

To give you an idea about the emptiness of Terry Bernardo list of achievements, here is a typical paragraph:

“At the September meeting of the Ulster County Legislature, Chairman Terry Bernardo granted Privilege of the Floor to John Wolham, the Regional Director of the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance Office of Real Property Tax Service.”

Pompous stupidity at its best, but not surprising. Check it out:

Please read the arrogant statements she made in Blue Stone Press (October 18, 2013):

“As chairman of the county legislature, I am in a position to regularly work with our state’s top policymakers – from Governor Cuomo down, to advocate for the Nevele casino project.”

And then, taking un-deserved credit for flood buyouts (which were mostly in a different district than the one she represents), she continues:

“Those are key, meaningful issues that as chairman of the legislature I play a role in helping to advance on behalf of our area.”

It all culminates with:

“My opponent is a nice person but she would be a “back-bench” Legislator without opportunity to work with the region’s and state’s top policy makers for the jobs related changes our community needs.”

As Bernardo’s dream of keeping the chairmanship position was shattered on November 5, we wonder if she wants to play again with the mike on the back bench:

Not that Bernardo stands a chance of being a legislator again. Considering that she is ahead by only 10 anemic votes, Tuesday’s tallying of the absentee ballots favors Lynn Archer.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco