KINGSTON � An overflow crowd spilled from the ballroom at Kingston's Holiday Inn on Monday evening when Ulster County Democrats gathered at their annual nominating convention to endorse candidates for local and state-wide races.

Democrats nominated both Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach and Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum for re-election. Auerbach was elected as the first Ulster County comptroller in 2008; the position was established as a two-year term for the first race, but will become a three-year term after the 2010 election. Van Blarcum is seeking a second four-year term as sheriff; he'll face challenger George Goodwin, R-Saugerties, a sergeant in the Sheriff's Office, in November's election.

The committee voted 5,922 to 4,961 to endorse former Republican David Sager in his challenge to incumbent Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mt. Hope. Sager recently switched parties and needed the support from three of the district's four Democratic committees. Sullivan and Delaware Counties also voted to endorse Sager.

Ulster Dems also nominated Harley Doles III, a town of Monroe councilman, over Newburgh Democrat Larry Delarose in his bid to unseat Republican State Sen. Bill Larkin, R-Cornwall.

Nominations for other state races included: Andrew Cuomo for governor; U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey; Assemblyman Kevin Cahill; Assemblyman Frank Skartados and NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Lieutenant Governor Hein?
After giving a nominating speech seeking the Ulster County Democratic Committee's endorsement of Andrew Cuomo for governor, county executive Mike Hein acknowledged a report posted Monday on an Albany Times Union's blog that he is on Cuomo's short list to run as his lieutenant governor.

In the blog, posted on Saturday, author Jimmy Vielkind includes Hein on his short list for Cuomo's pick of lieutenant governor and bases his information "on conversations with a number of Democratic sources."

UCSA Contract Passes Legislature
Several of the 45 members of the Ulster County Staff Association, who have worked without a contract or raise since 2005, addressed the legislative body on May 18, urging legislators to pass the resolution that would ratify their long-awaited contract with the county.

Though most legislators prefaced their "yes" vote with admonitions about tough economic times, the resolution was approved. Four legislators, Republicans James Maloney of the town of Ulster, Jack Hayes of Gardiner, Kevin Roberts of Wallkill and Michael Sweeney of Saugerties, voted against the resolution.

The contract, negotiated through the county executive, UCSA members and union leaders, covers the period from Jan.1, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2010. It grants UCSA members a "compression payment" or 13 percent of their base salary and a one-time retro-payment of 60 percent of that 13 percent. According to county personnel director, Brenda Bartholemew, the back payments will cost the county some $520,000, which will be drawn from the county's rapidly-depleting general fund.

In addition, the contract calls for union members to contribute 5 percent of their health insurance premium now, and 10 percent in 2011. New UCSA members will pay 15 percent.