Matthew Hamilton reports in The Albany Times Union that Jeffrey Beals, an Ulster County high school teacher and former U.S. diplomat, filed paperwork earlier this month to seek the 19th district seat now held by Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook). Antonio Delgado of Dutchess County, Brian Flynn of Greene County, Steven Brisee of Ulster County, Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County, and Sue Sullivan of Ulster County have also filed paperwork to run in the Hudson Valley district that covers 11 counties including Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Dutchess, and others. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein says he will announced whether or not he's running in July. Beals teaches history and civics at the Woodstock Day School, and used to be a U.S. diplomat in Iraq. "I grew up as part of a generation that believes democracy is something you fight for overseas," Beals said. "I've come to believe increasingly that it's something you have to defend here at home, it's arguably even more important to defend it here at home." Read the full story in The Albany Times Union.