Politics on the Hudson

Democrat Barack Obama’s local supporters will open a campaign headquarters for the presidential aspirant at 6 p.m. Monday at the Indian Rock Shopping Center in Route 59 in Ramapo.

From the storefront headquarters, Obama supporters will press his policies and ideas for the future of the nation during the days leading up to the November election. Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, ideas will be contrasted with his Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

“With a county organization overflowing in intensity and numbers, finding a centralized location was huge for our growing operation,” said Howard Megdal, media director for Rockland for Obama. “People now have a place to go to help Barack Obama capture New York State.”

For more information go to the Obama campaign.

People interested in working for the Obama presidential campaign can e-mail Megdal at hmegdal@yahoo.com.

Rockland artists and entertainers will perform and raise money for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign from 6 to 12 p.m. Sept. 27 at Riverspace Arts along Main Street in Nyack.

The three-part celebration for the U.S. senator from Illinois will begin with a cocktail reception at Murasaki Restaurant on Main Street and ending with ‘after-parties” with a “Get out the Vote” theme at The Nyack Center and other locations.Between the reception and after-parties, there will be a performance at Riverspace.

Headlining will be author Toni Morrison, a Nobel Prize laureate. There also will be performances by modern dance pioneer Bill T. Jones, actor-comedian Bill Irwin of Nyack, composer David Shire and actress Didi Conn of Rockland.

And acclaimed director Jonathan Demme of Upper Nyack will have a screening a short film.

Tickets  for  reserved seating for the performance will be available at the Riverspace Arts  box office only, and will go on sale next week.  Tickets for the cocktail/full evening and afterparties will be available shortly via our event page listing on MyBarackObama.com or at  845.398.8995.

Donations to the Obama campaign will be priced at varied levels:

– For the cocktail reception and admission to all the events:  $500 minimum.

-  For “We the  Artists” performance and the after-parties $250  for priority seating or $150 minimum for limited seating.

– The campaign also is looking for donor “angels” to contribute a minimum of   $1,500 minimum contribution for two people so organizers can offer more  $150 seats for the performance.

For more information, e-mail wetheartists08@gmail.com.

Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer will visit Rockland tomorrow and Thursday to endorse local candidates for office.

Giuliani, the Republican former New York City mayor, will be attending a fund-raiser tomorrow for his candidacy and will endorse the re-election of Republicans Michael Bongiorno for district attorney James Kralik for sheriff and William Sherwood for New York State Supreme Court. Giuliani will start his day at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Blauvelt Coach Diner shaking hands with diners, Rockland GOP Chairman Vincent Reda said.

Spitzer, a Democrat, will visit Haverstraw village at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to endorse Rockland County Democrats running for office.

Spitzer, a Democrat, will back former West Haverstraw Justice Thomas Zugibe for district attorney, Clarkstown Detective Sgt. Tim O’Neill for sheriff, and Surrogate Court Justice Robert Berliner for state Supreme Court justice.

Rockland Democratic Party Chairman Vincent J. Monte said Spitzer will meet with Democrats running for office and public at the Quisqueya Club, 25-27 Broadway, Haverstraw village.

And with a wedding planned in New Square on Thursday night, the governor may stay a bit longer and join other Democrats and Republicans and pay his respect to the village leadership, which controls a powerful voting bloc.

Rockland Democrat Thomas Zugibe added to his list of police union endorsements by getting the support of the New York City Police Department Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

Zugibe, a former village judge and prosecutor, already had the backing of the Rockland PBA leadership and the union boards for the Ramapo and Haverstraw police.

Zugibe is looking to oust District Attorney Michael Bongiorno, a Republican seeking his fourth, four-year-term, in next Tuesday’s election.

Bongiorno also has his share of police union endorsements.

Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno and Democrat Tom Zugibe, each snared endorsements.

Zugibe, a former prosecutor and West Haverstraw justice for 18 years until January, captured the backing of the leadership of the Civil Service Employees Association of Region 3, which represents 40,000 members in the Southern Tier of New York.

Bongiorno, a Republican, won support from the leaders of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers. The union represents more than 6,000 active and retired, uniformed members of the NYS police from the rank of trooper through major.

In backing Zugibe, CSEA Region 3 President Diane Hewitt cited his “dedication to the labor movement and working families.”

 Zugibe was previously endorsed by the leaders of the Rockland Patrolmen’s Benevolent Associations, along with the PBAs in Ramapo and Haverstraw. He has all PBAs in the county behind him. Three PBA presidents – Cyril Kerr of the county PBA, John Lawless of Haverstraw and Dennis Procter of Ramapo- have done ads broadcast on cable television for Zugibe.

 “I am honored to have the support of the CSEA,” Zugibe said in a news release. “The Civil Service Employees Association is an extraordinary union, representing dedicated, hard-working public employees, and I look forward to serving its membership as the next District Attorney of Rockland County.”

 In endorsing Bongiorno, the New York State Troopers PBA leadership also added to the district attorney’s pro-law enforcement credentials.

“We need individuals like Michael Bongiorno in leadership positions to help law enforcement officers better serve the residents of New York State,” union president, Daniel M. De Federicis said. “Michael Bongiorno has proven himself as a tough prosecutor who makes special efforts to support and seek justice for crime victims.” De Federics said. “His work over the years has complemented the work of the men and women who have dedicated their lives to law enforcement. He is well respected by not only the law enforcement community, but also by business owners and residents throughout the county.â€?

Bongiorno, already has been endorsed by the the New York State Police Investigators Association, the New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association, Rockland County Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Rockland County Sheriff’s Deputies Association, New York Supreme Court Officers Association, New York State Court Officers Association, Detectives’ Endowment Association, Westchester County Correction Officers Benevolent Association, the Sheriff’s Officers Association of Nassau County, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Employee Association, and the Suffolk County Correction Officers Association.

Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno opens his campaign headquarter in Haverstraw village tomorrow on New Main Street.

The “Haverstraw for Bongiorno Headquarters� will open at 12 p.m. at 41 New Main St.. according to Ricky Sanchez, a Democrat and former Haverstraw village trustee who is supporting Bongiorno.

And if the usual political speechs and rah-rah talks don’t attract supporters, a few slices of pizza from Mariella Pizzeria might. And there will be no excuse for the pizza not being hot since Bongiorno’s store-front HQ is located next door to the pizzeria.

Bongiorno, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Thomas Zugibe, a former prosecutor and West Haverstraw village judge.

Rockland’s Law Enforcement team – known individually as District Attorney Michael Bongiorno and Sheriff James Kralik – have taken to the Internet by sending out e-mails to potential voters in the Nov. 6 election.

In their joint e-mail this week, the two Republicans remind voters that they both are committed to ensuring the county remains one of the safest places to live and – surprise – they are both running for re-election. They also share what they called their achievements, including crime reduction numbers in Rockland and their anti-crime programs and agencies.

Their e-mail includes praise from others, such as Brian Costello, president of the Rockland Correction Officers Benevolent Association, supporting Bongiorno’s work and former FBI Assistant Director James Kallstrum speaking highly of Kralik’s anti-terrorism efforts.

For more information on their positions and programs, go to “James Kralik”:www.SheriffKralik.com at www.SheriffKralik.com and “Michael Bongiorno”:www.Bongiorno2007.com at www.Bongiorno2007.com

Kralik is being challenged by Stony Point Councilman/Clarkstown Police Detective “Tim O’Neill”:www.Oneilforsheriff.com at www.oneilforsheriff.com

Bongiorno is being challenged by Democrat “Tom Zugibe”:zugibe4da.com at zugibe4da.com

After Sunday’s Columbus Day Parade through West Haverstraw, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., will stop marching and hand-shaking long enough to endorse two Democrats for local offices in the Nov. 6 election.

The senator will put his name behind Thomas Zugibe for Rockland district attorney and Tim O’Neill for sheriff.

Schumer will meet with the two candidates at 3 p.m. in front of the school district building on Railroad and Cosgrove avenues near the firehouse.

In the November election, Zugibe is looking to unseat Republican District Attorney Michael Bongiorno, while O’Neill is taking on Republican Sheriff James Kralik. Zugibe is a former prosecutor and West Haverstraw village justice. O’Neill is a Clarkstown detective sergeant and Stony Point councilman.

Zugibe was pleased with the campaign boost.

“Sen. Schumer is one of the most respected members of the U.S. Senate,” Zugibe said. “I am very honored to receive the endorsement from a man of his stature.”

Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno has received the re-election endorsement of the New York State Police Investigators Association.

The association includes investigators assigned to the state police barracks in Haverstraw

In their endorsement, Troop F delegate Joe Barrett wrote of Bongiorno, “… your office has effectively prosecuted criminal cases developed by both the uniform members and investigative members of our agency. The members of the New York State Police Investigator’s Association who work in Rockland County have found that you and the members of your office are always available to assist with subpoenas, search warrants and other vital investigative functions.”

Bongiorno also was recently endorsed by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Transport & Relief Deputies Association.

Bongiorno, a Republican and former Manhattan prosecutor, is seeking a fourth, four-year term as Rockland’s top prosecutor. He is being challenged in November by Democrat Thomas Zugibe, a West Haverstraw justice for 18 years and a former
prosecutor.

Tim O’Neill officially opens his campaign headquarters for his run for Rockland County sheriff on Sunday.

The Stony Point Democrat opens shop at 6 S. Main Street in New City, directly across from the Rockland County Courthouse. O’Neill’s home-away-from-home will be open seven days a week until Election Day on Nov. 6.

O’Neill, a Stony Point councilman and Clarkstown police detective sergeant, is working to unseat Republican James Kralik, who is seeking his fourth, four-year term as sheriff. O’Neill has been a Clarkstown cop for 29 years, while Kralik has been with the Sheriff’s Office for more than 40 years, including chief of patrol before succeeding Tom Goldrick as sheriff.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception of O’Neill’s campaign headquarters from 2 to 4 p.m.

For further information on the event or to contact the campaign, call 1-800-278-2078.