Gendebien accepts pledge `not to lie' during campaign
Passing of Kathy Hamell mourned by her Post-Star family
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The Washington County Democrats held their annual picnic Sunday at Hick's Orchard in Granville.
As I was ushered into the outdoor gathering of close to 100, I made the obvious joke, "I had no idea there was this many Democrats in Washington County."
The woman escorting me was ready.
"And there are more every year," she said.
That's the kind of hope that keeps Democrats going in places where Republicans are still the dominant political force.
If there is one decisive trait between Democrats and Republicans these days, that might be it - Democrats have hope, Republicans have fear.
Despite holding no county offices, and few supervisor seats, Washington County attracts a powerhouse lineup for its picnic, so tell me what's wrong with this murderer's row speaking lineup: State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Congressional candidate Blake Gendebien, Rep. George Latimer of Westchester County, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and me.
Yeah, what the heck was this retired newspaper editor and fledgling Substack columnist doing there?
Newspaper guys don't get invited to many political events, but when I was referred to as "The Playwright," it made more sense.
I'm not a big fan of most politicians, but DiNapoli and Woerner are two that I do respect so I was honored to share the same microphone with them.
I had not met Gendebien, the St. Lawrence County farmer, who is challenging, well, whatever Republican candidate is left after Elise Stefanik decides whether to run for governor.
I asked Gendebien one question.
It's an important question that I think every candidate should answer when running for office: Will you promise not to lie?
The Post-Star editorial board asked the question of Tedra Cobb and Elise Stefanik during the 2018 congressional race. I remembered, because it was my idea. I wondered if we put them on the record agreeing not to lie if it would tone down the negative campaign ads and rhetoric.
After all, the editorial argued, how could you NOT agree not to lie.
Cobb took the pledge.
Stefanik did not.
And the rest is history.
Lying has worked well for her.
Gendebien said he would pledge not to lie.
Gendebien gave a brief five-minute stump speech that was aimed not so much at the rabid Democratic audience in attendance but at the moderate Republicans who will make or break his campaign.
He proposed the next representative focus on what constituents have in common in the problems they have throughout the district.
"Cuts to Medicaid Is that a problem for just one side of the aisle? No, that is a problem for all of us," Gendebien said. "That is problem for hard-working families. And I don't know anybody that thinks you should be sitting around doing nothing. Hard work is part of the culture here. It is unfair to say there are people sitting around doing nothing, collecting a handout in New York's 21st Congressional district. We are working hard and we all deserve good quality healthcare. Medicaid is also part of recovery programs. Recovery programs are also very important. Is that just one side of the aisle? No, that is both sides of the aisle, so we need to keep focusing on what we have in common."
At the end of his speech, Gendebien said, "Feedback is an absolute gift."
It was an obvious jab at Stefanik who hasn't sought feedback from voters in years.
Maury Thompson reported in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican this week that Gendebien has now raised over $3.5 million for his campaign without the help of the national Democratic Party establishment.
Thompson wrote that Gendebien is "well positioned to be able to run a high-profile campaign."
Stefanik raised just over $2 million in the second quarter, bringing her campaign total to $3.2 million this election cycle. But she has over $10 million left over from past campaigns of June 30.
Thompson also wrote that while most insiders do not see the 21st Congressional District as being "in play" in 2026, the publication Inside Elections rated it as one of 64 House seats in play.
DiNapoli gave a rousing appeal for the local Democrats to elect more local Democrats, concluding with a rousing, "Please don't let Elise become our governor!"
It was a sad reminder of the times we live in.
Family loss
When Kathy Hamell retired from The Post-Star 10 years ago, reporter Bill Toscano asked me what Kathy had meant to the newspaper.
“Kathy Hamell may be the sweetest person on the face of the Earth. And I don’t think I am going too far in saying that,” I told Bill. “I have never seen her angry. I have never seen her in a bad mood."
That makes the world a little less sweet this week with the passing of another member of The Post-Star family at the age of 75.
Kathy was first hired by The Post-Star in 1971 and spent 46 years there. She started in the classified department, but as the newspaper business changed, so did Kathy's role.
When the newspaper started charging for obituaries in 1996, Kathy became one of the new obituary clerks, along with her friend Barb Adams.
Kathy, along with her friend Barb Green, were two of the few at the newspaper who remembered working at the old building on 100 Glen Street downtown.
When we were cleaning out some old furniture at the newspaper years later, Kathy quietly pointed out a couple of the wooden chairs heading for the trash used to sit outside former publisher Arthur Irving's office at 100 Glen.
I retrieved the chairs off the trash heap.
Kathy didn't often say much, but when she did have something, it was usually important.
When she was asked about her role doing obituaries by Toscano 10 years again she said, “You are dealing with people at the worst time of their life.”
So she kept a box of tissues on her desk.
Calling hours for Kathy Hamell will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Carleton Funeral Home in Hudson Falls.
Meeting tonight
The Queensbury Town Board will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m. This would be a good opportunity for the public to ask for an update on where the ethics complaint against Town Councilman Tim McNulty stands.
The Town Board talked about it at its most recent workshop on Wednesday without any resolution.
Its shaping up to be a key campaign issue in the race for supervisor in November as Michael Dixon, another councilman what a conflict, is challenging John Strough.
Book signing
Before each showing of The Last American Newspaper play this weekend, I will be signing my book of the same name.
There will also be a chance to to get my two collections of columns as well, "The Last American Editor and The Last American Editor, Vol. 2.
Wait List
Since all four shows are sold out, anyone still interested in getting a ticket should call the Wood Theater and put your name on the Wait List.
The Wood recently added a few more seats for the weekend performances allowing a few more people to get in.
Play raffle
While honoring Rep. George Latimore of Westchester County, Alan Stern announced that he had two tickets to The Last American Newspaper and his wife could not go with him, so he wanted to know if anyone wanted his other ticket.
By the end of the picnic, Stern still did not have any takers.
I'm glad they did not have an auction.
Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.
Gendebien is not a politician so I'll give him a pass on the attack ad but please explain to me how has electing politicians to represent us in NYS or Washington benefitted us thus far? I'll vote for a hardworking farmer any day.
I wonder if Gendebien went to Plattsburgh yesterday to hear Reps AOC and Tonko. I think we need more than a "moderate" milk-toast Democrat to win this district. Thank you to Richard, I should have used milquetoast, rather than milk-toast. No disrespect to Blake the dairy farmer, only to point out that I believe we need a more progressive candidate.