Has Reynolds been smoking some Cap'n Chronic?

Has Reynolds been smoking some Cap'n Chronic? In his column, Hugh Reynolds admitted that he was pulling just a little bit for Michailescu, the bankrupt County Legislator candidate in UC Leg District 1 Primary Election on 9/15. We at the Fishbowl find that kind of support, by an old-school political reporter, who is well known for holding the feet of politicans to the fire, a little unusual.

Even the silent Democratic Party Chairman Julian Schriebman commented on Michailescu's candidacy that "A public servant should be expected to comply with all the obligations that citizens are expected to comply with. It's a bad sign if they're not paying their own taxes."

We wonder what would happen if someone like that piece of shit Jim Sottile went banktupt and wanted to run for office. Would Hugh Reynolds be pulling "a little" for Sottile like he is for Michailescu?

Unpaid School, Town, and Federal taxes and over $400,000 in unpaid credit card debt AND a $500,000 mortgage and he's pulling for her? WTF Reynolds? We see why the Freeman fired you, you've simply lost touch with the pulse of Ulster County.

And Catalano, have you been smoking the chronic with Reynolds too? You are going to "give campaign money to her, despite not endorsing her before Tuesday's primary." WTF are both of you thinking?

Ulster primary winner defends candidacy despite bankruptcy
By Adam Bosch

Times Herald-Record

Posted: September 17, 2009 - 2:00 AM

KERHONKSON — Manuela Michailescu failed to pay $7,715 in taxes to the Rondout Valley School District, racked up thousands of dollars in credit card debt and declared bankruptcy to the tune of $916,000 this year.

But after winning a spot Tuesday night on the Republican ticket, Michailescu still believes she'd be a great Ulster County legislator.

Michailescu, a 59-year-old Romanian immigrant and Rochester town councilwoman, was bashed by bloggers and politicos this summer when the terms of her bankruptcy became public. Many opponents questioned whether she could run for office here after listing a co-op in Rego Park, Queens, as her residence on bankruptcy papers. Her husband, Jon Dogar-Marinesco, listed their small antique shop in Kerhonkson as his residence.

Rochester officials recently posed the residency question to the state Attorney General's Office, but most believe it will be a moot point because Michailescu is registered to vote in Ulster County and lives mostly in her 1790s historic home on Route 209, which she and her husband bought in 2001 for $385,000. She might also lose that house, she said.

Still, some say the bankruptcy — loaded with credit card bills, income tax debts and attorney fees — makes Michailescu unfit to be a custodian of taxpayer money.

"A public servant should be expected to comply with all the obligations that citizens are expected to comply with," said Julian Schreibman, chairman of Ulster's Democratic Party. "It's a bad sign if they're not paying their own taxes."

Republican Chairman Mario Catalano said the GOP will support Michailescu and give campaign money to her despite not endorsing her candidacy before Tuesday's primary.

Michailescu said bankruptcy was unavoidable. Point Blank, her advertising and tourist marketing company, was battered after the Sept. 11 attacks and more clients left her as the recession hit. When the business suffered, the couple turned to credit cards and made their financial suffering worse. In bankruptcy papers, Michailescu and her husband say they had $1,981 of monthly income, but $10,634 in monthly bills.

The bankruptcy was finished in June, sweeping away most of the couple's debts.

"It's not that I can't handle the people's money," Michailescu said. "We just encountered a total loss of income. Nearly all our clients left."

Michailescu is running for one of four seats in Legislative District 1, which includes Rochester, Wawarsing and Marbletown. Republican Terry Bernardo and Democrats T.J. Briggs, Mary Sheeley and Joe Stockeler are also running.

abosch@th-record.com