Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Republicans will get to keep their seat in the Ulser County Legislature, as Brenda Maloney, the widow of former Ulster County Legislator James Maloney, was appointed Aug. 8 to fill the rest of her husband's term. Democrat Brian Cahill withdrew his name from consideration at the last minute, and one Democrat and one Independent voted with all Republicans to keep the seat with the GOP. About 20 years ago, another legislator's wife was appointed after a death, and Republicans cited that as a precedent for why they should hold the seat. Maloney represents District 4, including the town of Kingston and some of the town of Ulster. Cahill previously said he wanted to be appointed to the interim seat, and that he is running in November for a full term. Cahill says he was told Republicans wanted to leave the seat open for the rest of the year, and that's why he threw his hat in the ring. "Leaving the district unrepresented was not an adequate solution to me and grossly unfair to the residents of District 4," Cahill wrote in a letter read in the legislature before the vote. Cahill faces Republican Andi Levin-Turco in November for a two-year term. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.