Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman Democrats in 2019, are in a position take control from their Republican colleagues, to lead the Ulster County Legislature. Although in November 2017, Republicans retained their majority by one vote, in 2018, an Independence Party member changed his voting allegiance from Republican to Democrat, thereby allowing Democrats to take control. As a result, current Minority Leader Hector Rodriguez, a Democrat who represents New Paltz, is now the frontrunner to serve as the Legislature's next chairman. Rodriguez, an eight-term county lawmaker, has been chosen by the Democratic caucus as its candidate for chairman. He will need a minimum of 12 votes to win, so a single Democratic defector could cost him the job. As a result, the current chairman, Wallkill Republican Ken Ronk, has been lobbying his fellow lawmakers, hoping to keep the post he has held for three years. Ronk said, “I’m having conversations with my colleagues, and we’ll take it from there,..." He said during his time as chairman, the Legislature has worked with the county executive, Democrat Michael Hein, to invest in improving infrastructure, increased services to the underserved, and adopting a comprehensive human rights law. Rodriguez said he recognizes that, if elected chairman, he will lead a closely divided Legislature. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.