Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that the Ulster County Legislature will fill the seat left vacant by the death of Republican Legislator James Maloney at a special meeting at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 8. And, surprise, Democrats want to replace Maloney with a Democrat, and Republicans want to keep the seat for the GOP. But with a 12-10 Democratic majority, Democrats will nominate Brian Cahill, who is running for the seat that represents the town of Ulster and all of the town of Kingston in November. Republicans prefer that Maloney's wife Brenda be appointed to the interim position. In 2003, the Ulster County Legislature voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Alfonso to the seat left open after her husband, Daniel Alfonso, died. "I'd like them to explain to me what's changed except politics and power," Minority Leader Ken Ronk said. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.