Paul Kirby is reporting for the Daily Freeman Johanna Contreras, the current deputy Ulster County Executive, is now poised to become the county executive through December. Contreras was appointed deputy in January, and will now assume the role after the current executive, Pat Ryan, won the August 23, contest for the 19th Congressional District seat. Ryan will next face Republican state Assemblymember Colin Schmitt in a race for the newly-drawn 18th Congressional District seat, in November. Contreras previously worked in the Office of Management and Budget in New York City, most recently serving as the assistant director for education. She holds a master’s degree in urban policy analysis from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment at The New School. In a statement issued August 24, Contreras said she was ready to serve. “The results of last night’s Special Election for the NY-19 Congressional seat are in the process of being certified. After they are certified and County Executive Ryan becomes our Congressman, I will be ready to take the oath of office to become Acting County Executive through this transition period,” Contreras said. “Until then, I am thrilled to congratulate Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan and to continue my work as his Deputy.” In July, Ryan said he had amended the line of succession for executive, putting Contreras at the top of the list to succeed him if, for any reason, he could not fulfill the duties of the office. In line behind Contreras is Deputy County Executive Christopher Kelly, followed by county Director of Economic Development Tim Weidemann. The Ulster County Democratic Committee will hold a nominating convention in mid-September to choose a candidate to run for county executive if Ryan is elected to Congress. An exact date will be determined by the end of this week, according to Chair Kelleigh McKenzie. The December special election would decide who would serve out the remainder of Ryan’s term as county executive, which expires Dec. 31, 2023. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.