William J. Kemble is reporting for the Daily Freeman actress and Hurley resident Diane Neal has launched an independent bid for New York’s 19th Congressional District seat, February 4. Neal, 41, best known for her role as a prosecutor on NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” is a registered Democrat, according to the Ulster County Board of Elections. She will need 3,500 petition signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot as an independent. Neal has lived in Hurley since 2014 and has been active with a number of organizations, including the Urban Arts Partnership, the Waterkeeper Alliance, and the Young Leaders of the RFK Center for Human Rights. She expects to complete her undergraduate degree at Harvest University in May. Neal describes her politics as "...a little Libertarian,...a lot liberal, mostly progressive." After listening to the Democratic candidate debate in Woodstock recently, Neal said, “I heard a lot of really dedicated people who are passionate about this,” she said. “However, what I didn’t hear was how any of them would appeal to anyone outside of this room, [such as] my cross-bow neighbor who gives me sweet venison. He’s not even going to listen to these guys.” Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.