Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County Legislator Lori Torgersen has withdrawn from her re-election bid, saying the county has lost its ethical way. Torgersen, a Democrat, currently represents District 6, consisting of Prattsville, Ashland, Windham and Jewett. The first-term legislator released a letter to her constituents October 13, thanking them for their support and explaining her decision not to seek a second term. Torgersen's name will appear on the November 6 ballot on the Democrat and Independence party lines. James Thorington's name will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines. If Torgersen wins the election, but declines the seat, the legislature will appoint a replacement. Torgersen was one of four lawmakers to vote against the jail bond resolution in September. “The biggest surprise and disappointment of my legislative tenure was the realization that our county is controlled by political insiders from both parties who are not motivated by public service, good governance or the best interest of Greene County residents. Quite to the contrary, these establishment ‘politicians,’ in the worst sense of the word, are driven by self-interest, preserving their position in the establishment and, I believe, even more nefarious motives," Torgersen wrote. Legislator Bill Lawrence, a Republican who represents Cairo, and a strong proponent of the new county jail proposal, was critical of Torgersen's comments. “Lori’s letter seemed to be a combination of sour grapes and a fear of losing... I am disappointed that Lori felt it necessary to quit three weeks before the election and I am saddened by the venom apparent in her letter. Her contempt of her legislative colleagues was clear, but her disdain for the many residents that she represented in her own district, as well as those in the other districts who might have a different opinion than she had, was disturbing," he wrote in a statement. A link to the full text of Torgersen's letter can be found on the Newsroom page at WGXC [dot] org. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.