Ramona Monteverde decided to drop out of the race after filing a petition to run as a Democrat.
By Nancy Peckenham
The race for political office took off this week with the filing of petitions by candidates vying to fill three seats on the Newburgh City Council, including that of mayor.
When the deadline passed on Thursday, the Orange County Board of Elections reported ten candidates – seven Democrats and three Republicans – had submitted petitions signed by at least five percent of the eligible voters in their parties.
Six Democrats could now face each other in a September primary for the city council spots. Democratic candidates include Cedric Brown, Michael Gabor, Timothy Hayes-El, Charles Kimbrough, Gay Lee and Shaniesha Strange. The seventh candidate, Ramona Montevera, who had the backing of the city Democratic Committee, told Newburgh Circle on Thursday that she had dropped out of the race. Montevera, the operations director of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, cited personal reasons for her decision. “I have personal obligations right now and taking that commitment on is a lot of work,” Montevera said in a phone interview. “A city-wide race a little more than I can handle.”
Three Republicans filed for the same two open council seats, John Penney and John Giudice, who both also having the backing of the Independence and Conservative Parties, and newcomer Alexander Bolorin.
Despite leaving the race, Montevera filed objections to the petitions filed by two other candidates. She won’t say why she filed the objections against Demoratic mayoral candidate Raymond Bryant, also known as Omari Shakur, and against council candidate and fellow Democrat Shaniesha Strange.
Bryant on the other hand has filed objections to the petition by Democratic council candidate Timothy Hayes-El. Bryant was not available for comment.
As expected, Republican Christine Bello has filed her petition for mayor of the city. Currently a city councilmember, her seat is one of two to be filled in the Newburgh election. Two Democrats – Judith Kennedy and Timothy Hayes-El – have filed for election as their party’s candidates for mayor and are likely to appear on the September primary ballot.
The Republicans will also hold a primary on September 13th to determine who will be the party’s candidates for city council.
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