Committee Candidates | Hurley Democratic Co

Bios for the Endorsed Candidates

for the Hurley Democratic Committee

ED1 Ellen Mulkerin

Ellen moved to West Hurley with her husband in 2016 from Brooklyn where she had lived for 8 years. Before that she lived in Norwalk CT. She’s a certified elementary teacher and has worked as a teacher, an administrative assistant, and a sales assistant. She currently works at the Gilded Carriage in Woodstock. She is a lifelong Democrat and grew up stuffing envelopes at the kitchen table with her mom who was always volunteering for the Democrats.

ED1 Peter Humphries

Peter grew up in Woodstock and has lived in Hurley since 2009 and became active with the Hurley Democrats in 2018. He served on the Hurley Town Board for 4 years, and was Deputy Supervisor from 2021-2023. He was instrumental in bringing the Town’s attention to the leachate field at the old landfill, and brought the Transfer Station from operating at a net loss for the town to a significant source of revenue while still charging less than other area transfer stations. He currently is working to elect Josh Riley to Congress to replace MAGA Mark Molinaro.

ED2 Jana Martin

Jana Martin served on the Hurley Town Board from 2021 - 2023 and is a former member of the Hurley Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to serving she was involved in investigating building violations incurred by Cedar’s developers down in Brooklyn. She is an avid believer in the positive power of community.

She’s also a supporter of many environmental, conservation, and animal-related causes, is a writer and editor, and the doting stepmom of two amazing young men. She lives in West Hurley with her husband, a retired teacher and woodworker.

ED2 Joe Letendre

Joe has been a registered Democrat since 1978. He’s lived in Hurley since 2017 and recently retired after 16 years as a Hospice Nurse. He has a diverse education including an AS in Business and Accounting, a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, a BSN in Nursing, and an MDiv (theology). He believes in protecting the environment and providing affordable housing and addressing social justice issues. He’s been on the West Hurley Library Board since 2018. He has also participated in social and fundraising events for the Hurley Democratic Committee.

ED3 Cindy Bishop

Cynthia "Cindy" Bishop embodies a life of democratic values. She serves on the Hurley Democratic Committee, the Onteora Board of Education, and volunteers for Woodstock Immigrant Support and The Table at Woodstock. Cindy lobbies in Albany and here at home for students, education funding, immigrants, affordable housing, food security and more. As a member of the Hurley Dems, she canvasses and fund-raises to get strong Democrats elected at every level of government.

ED3 Aaron Waldner

Aaron has been a volunteer with the Hurley Democratic Committee for the past 2 years and recently became an full member when a vacancy opened. He is active in the Ulster County Democratic Committee’s Youth Outreach Team. Aaron has been engaged with politics since the age of 12 and is excited to work on organizing and campaigning for liberal causes. He’s passionate about voting trends, anti-poverty legislation, and transitioning to clean energy.

ED4 Peter McKnight

Peter has been a Registered Democrat since 1977 (just missed voting for Jimmy Carter!) and has voted in every election since. He has been canvassing and phone banking since he was in college. He had been visiting Ulster county since he was a teenager and moved to Hurley in 2017. He has been Treasurer of the Hurley Democratic Committee since 2020 and became Chairman only recently when our beloved George Rodenhausen had to step down for reasons of health. His goal is to unify the Democratic party in Hurley and to get Democrats elected.

ED4 Gregory Simpson

Town Board member Gregory Simpson is also a member of the Hurley Democratic Committee and looks forward to continued support for Democratic values on the Committee. He is also a scientist and a pastor, and a strong environmentalist.

ED5 Margaret Carey

Margaret (Meg) Carey has been a member of the Hurley Democratic Committee for eight years. A resident of Glenford, and a retired elementary school teacher, she served on the Onteora School Board for two terms, from 1998-2004. “One of our most important responsibilities on the Democratic Committee is to support and help elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”

ED5 Tobe Carey

Tobe Carey is an independent photographer and filmmaker noted for his documentary films about the Catskills and Hudson Valley. He has served on the Democratic Committee since 2020. “I support Democrats running for local, county, state and national office. All committee members should be expected to do the same.”

ED6 Zahava Wilson

Zahava has lived in Ulster County since 1990 and has been working with the Hurley Democratic Committee for the past two years and is currently Vice Chair. She owns a physical therapy practice specializing in children with neurologic impairments and adults with chronic pain. Zahava has worked tirelessly towards engaging Democrats in Hurley to become more informed and motivated to vote in local, county, state and national elections. She passionately believes that the only way for a healthy democracy to flourish and for all citizens to receive fair representation is by voting.

ED6 Bruce Ginsberg

Bruce is a longtime Red Cross volunteer, including Ground Zero after 9/11. He was the former Board VP for Family of Woodstock and a former Commissioner for the Ulster County Human Rights Commission

He’s a new member of West Hurley Fire Department- Ambulance & Firetruck Driver.

Bruce is also a lifelong Democrat and was President of Young Democrats of Nassau County in his earlier years.

Bruce is a NYS -Certified Rape Crisis Counselor and has a long career in public relations, communications and marketing.

ED7 Patricia “Annie” Reed

Annie has been a Registered Democrat for her entire adult life. She served as the Hurley Democratic Committee Secretary for 6 years. She worked at town hall as Deputy Clerk, Clerk, and was elected as Clerk in the last election. She resigned due to the abuse she received from the current supervisor and his cohorts. Her goal is to ensure that the committee represents Democratic Party values, not outside developer values, which our opponents clearly support.

ED7 Melinda McKnight

Melinda McKnight registered as a Democrat in 1987 at age 18 and has remained a Democrat for the majority of the past 37 years. As a lifelong resident of Ulster County, with family roots in Hurley that date back to the 1600s, she moved to West Hurley in 2007. She has decades of public service both as a volunteer and in elected office. For more than 20 years, she has worked to inform and organize local citizens as well as get Democrats elected up and down the ballot.

ED8 Nancy Garneau

Nancy has lived in Ulster County most of her life, and has resided in West Hurley for 25 years.

* Speech-Language Pathologist, now retired.

* Volunteered with the Hurley Democrats' Neighbor to Neighbor program this last summer and fall; it was a valuable and uplifting experience connecting with Hurley neighbors, and working with a great team of fellow Dems.

* Very troubled about the political situation in our country, and welcomes an opportunity to do whatever she can to help maintain and strengthen democracy here in our beautiful community.

She looks forward to representing Democrats as a full committee member after the primary.

ED8 William McKnight

Bill is a Building Scientist and President & CEO of Energy Conservation Services, Inc. as well as the President Board of Directors Good Neighbor Food Pantry of Woodstock, Inc. He is also a BOCES Advisory Board Member. Bill has been active with the Hurley Democratic Committee for several years and looks forward to continuing to represent Democratic and progressive values on the Committee.

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