Patricia R. Doxsey reports in The Daily Freeman that Democrats took control of the Ulster County Legislature this week as Joseph Maloney switched parties seven months after being elected. Maloney, a registered member of the Independence Party backed by Republicans to win his District 2 seat in Saugerties last November, won't officially become a Democrat until November, because of state law. “They’ve kind of welcomed me in and voted with me and worked with me on a lot of stuff,” Maloney said June 22. “This (the change of registration) makes me a real part of the Democratic caucus.... I was kind of a guest and I appreciated that, but I really wanted to let them know I appreciate them and working with them. So, for the next year and a half, I want to be part of their team." The Republican Legislature Chairman Ken Ronk said, "He’s been telling everybody that he’s independent, and he’s been railing against the two-party system, then goes and joins one of the two parties.... He’s the one who’s going to answer to his constituents on that and to answer to himself on that.” Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.