Elise Stefanik is definitely no Jerry Solomon
New book chronicles 90 must-read stories of the people and events of region
By Ken Tingley
When you talk about politics in the North Country. When you talk about how it used to be before Rep. Elise Stefanik, the conversation eventually turns to Jerry Solomon.
Ultimately, the conclusion is Elise Stefanik ain’t no Jerry Solomon.
Solomon, who started his political career as a Democrat who was elected supervisor in Queensbury, went on to serve three terms in the state Assembly and 10 terms in the House of Representatives.
Solomon was stepping out of the spotlight as I was taking over as editor of The Post-Star in 1999, so I never met him.
When he passed in the fall of 2001, I was there to chronicle the spectacle of his funeral with local people and Washington power-brokers rubbing shoulders.
That column from Nov. 1, 2001 leads the “People” section of my new book “The Last American Editor, Vol. 2” and is one of 90 stories chronicling people and events in the region.
Here is how I started that column:
For one day, all the flags were for Solomon
November 1, 2001
At least for one day, every American flag on every flagpole in and around Glens Falls was there for Jerry Solomon.
From downtown across the bridge to South Glens Falls and on to Fort Edward and Schuylerville, every single flag hung from a home, or displayed in a storefront window, or attached to the antenna of an automobile, was there for the late congressman who was laid to rest Wednesday at Saratoga National Cemetery.
For one day this region gave up its tributes and remembrances of Sept. 11 and pooled its love and pride in one emotional outpouring for a man who was essentially one of its own, a man who set the standard for patriotism in these parts years ago.
Maybe that was why he was able to let this world go last week at the age of 71. He wasn't needed to carry the torch of American pride anymore. The rest of the country had finally caught up with him.
The political hubs in New York and Washington came together Wednesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church of Glens Falls in a showing of political heavyweights unprecedented in the annals of Glens Falls history. Gov. George Pataki, Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, our current congressman, John Sweeney, and state Senate majority leader and Glens Falls native, Joe Bruno, led a dynamic state contingent. U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, current House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, former Louisiana Rep. Robert Livingston and Florida Rep. Peter Goss led the Washington contingent.
They told of a tough-talking Washington politician who stubbornly fought for what he believed in - America.
There is of course more, but you will have to buy the book to read the rest.
The column on Jerry Solomon’s funeral is just one of 15 columns in the “People” section of the book. The stories are more often about regular people who are part of the history and fabric of the region.
There is a column on long-time union organizer Larry Bulman.
Another on former Post-Star publisher Jim Marshall.
Another about a feisty school teacher from Poughkeepsie who had a gall to take on incumbent Rep. John Sweeney, then refused to concede.
What I am so proud of is that these stories will not be lost to history because they are all so special.
There is the story of Ray Agnew’s lifetime gift to hospital colleague Donna Davison-Smith.
Another on the Hollywood dreams of a young Adirondack Community College student named Rachel Crawford.
And another on the businessman and adventurer with a heart of gold, Vitty Marcinkevicius.
After putting together my first collection of columns, I wondered if there was more. It turned out there is a rich collection of stories still to be mined.
Dorothy Schechter told me the story of her husband’s secretive military service during World War II.
There is the story of long-time golfing pro Tom Smack’s unceremonious dumping by the Sagamore after resurrecting the golf course, despite his decades of community service.
There is Queensbury’s gregarious elementary school principal, Patrick Pomerville, who seemed to know every student’s name.
And the Queensbury student, J.J. Ethridge, who went on to not only serve his country, but make his mark in the corporate universe.
More recently, there is the story of businessman Matt Funiciello’s attempt to upend the political spectrum with a competing Green Party run for Congress.
When former Post-Star reporter Don Metivier passed it was the end of an era and 10 years later I was around to chronicle his son Tony standing up for what was right as a member of the Queensbury Town Board.
And of course, there is always a column about the conflicts in the little town of Thurman and how former Supervisor Evelyn Wood fought the good fight.
“The Last American Editor, Vol. 2” will be coming out later in the summer, but it is available for preorder now on the Something or Other Publishing website.
https://soopllc.com/product/the-last-american-editor-vol-2/
The preorder ($19.95) is an important marketing tool for authors like myself. They provide the publisher with an idea of how many books to print and help with the future marketing of the book. You also get some extras if you order now:
- Buy one copy of the book now and get the ebook version of Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
- Buy three copies (great presents) and get a print copy of Vol. 1, an ebook version of Vol. 2 and another three ebooks from the Something or Other Publishing catalog.
So many of you have been so kind about the first volume of columns and I believe you will find the second book just as compelling.
Ron Stafford and Betty Little.
I didn't agree with the majority of Jerry Solomon's political principles but at least he had principles. He would never have been willing to destroy the country to advance his own career.