Paul Kirby is reporting for the Daily Freeman that there may be no Republican candidate in the upcoming special election to succeed Pat Ryan as Ulster County Executive. So far, no one in the GOP has surfaced as a potential opponent to one of the three Democrats running to fill out Ryan's term. While Democrats have set a nominating convention for September 17, at Kingston City Hall, Republicans have yet to schedule a convention of their own. A date for the special election will not be set until Ryan, the incumbent executive, resigns to take his seat as a representative of the 19th Congressional District. Ryan defeated Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican, on August 23, to complete the term previously held by Democrat Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck, who resigned to become New York state’s lieutenant governor in May. Ulster County Board of Elections Commissioner John Quigley, a Republican, said, “The clock only gets set once the vacancy occurs. Republicans are waiting for that clock to be set to determine their next steps. Setting up a nominating convention now would be premature, to know exactly when things will occur." Ulster County Legislature Minority Leader Ken Ronk said recently he was “unaware” of any specific GOP candidate seeking the Republican line on the ballot for county executive. Three Democrats, Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher, former state Sen. Jen Metzger and Deputy County Executive Marc Rider, have declared their interest in the party's endorsement for executive. The August 23 election results are expected to be certified in the coming week, according to Democratic Elections Commissioner Ashley Dittus. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.