Opinion > Letters
The public be damned
Jack Scheriff
on behalf of
Columbia County Electrical Contractors Association
For over a decade, the Columbia County Electrical Contractors Association (CCECA) has promoted the need for county-wide licensing for electricians.
The CCECA is a 35 year old organization made up of full-time electricians, electrical inspectors, distributors and other county residents dedicated to promote electrical safety and safe, code-compliant installations here in Columbia County.
We’ve given the county leaders all the statistics supporting electrical licensing, demonstrated that this would not be a burden on taxpayers and homeowners, and presented a petition in support of licensing signed by over 500 people including electrical inspectors, electricians, insurance agents, homeowners and business people.
We’ve also provided copies of the licensing laws from surrounding counties (Dutchess, Greene, etc.) and surround states that show the Columbia County is an island of non-licensing in the Hudson Valley.
Despite our efforts, this matter has been strangled in the “Legal Committee” of the Board of Supervisors, chaired by Supervisor Douglas McGivney (D-Kinderhook). Mr. McGivney has effectively killed this proposal: there has been no committee discussion, no compromise, no public debate, no viable research, and no democracy in action.
Mr. McGivney has even been given a letter with photographs attached showing some of the wiring atrocities in his own TOWN performed by uninsured, unlicensed electricians, and he has ignored them.
It seems that Mr. McGivney is not thinking of the safety of county residents and has chosen to make this a political issue; which was not the intent of the CCECA at all.
Where else can you find an organization that is willing to police itself in order to weed out incompetence? We are not afraid of competition, but all county residents should be afraid of incompetent competitors.
Now, Doug isn’t the only famous Democrat from Kinderhook. Here is what another Democrat had to say: “There is power in public opinion in the Country-and thank God for it; for it is the most honest and best of all powers - which will not tolerate an incompetent or unworthy man to hold in his weak or wicked hands the lives and fortunes of his fellow citizens.” Martin Van Buren (8th President of the United States)
Doug McGivney should be ashamed of himself. The public has a right to have a view on this issue.
Perhaps Pat Grattan can help protect the citizens of Kinderhook and Columbia County if he is elected Supervisor of Kinderhook this November.
on behalf of
Columbia County Electrical Contractors Association
For over a decade, the Columbia County Electrical Contractors Association (CCECA) has promoted the need for county-wide licensing for electricians.
The CCECA is a 35 year old organization made up of full-time electricians, electrical inspectors, distributors and other county residents dedicated to promote electrical safety and safe, code-compliant installations here in Columbia County.
We’ve given the county leaders all the statistics supporting electrical licensing, demonstrated that this would not be a burden on taxpayers and homeowners, and presented a petition in support of licensing signed by over 500 people including electrical inspectors, electricians, insurance agents, homeowners and business people.
We’ve also provided copies of the licensing laws from surrounding counties (Dutchess, Greene, etc.) and surround states that show the Columbia County is an island of non-licensing in the Hudson Valley.
Despite our efforts, this matter has been strangled in the “Legal Committee” of the Board of Supervisors, chaired by Supervisor Douglas McGivney (D-Kinderhook). Mr. McGivney has effectively killed this proposal: there has been no committee discussion, no compromise, no public debate, no viable research, and no democracy in action.
Mr. McGivney has even been given a letter with photographs attached showing some of the wiring atrocities in his own TOWN performed by uninsured, unlicensed electricians, and he has ignored them.
It seems that Mr. McGivney is not thinking of the safety of county residents and has chosen to make this a political issue; which was not the intent of the CCECA at all.
Where else can you find an organization that is willing to police itself in order to weed out incompetence? We are not afraid of competition, but all county residents should be afraid of incompetent competitors.
Now, Doug isn’t the only famous Democrat from Kinderhook. Here is what another Democrat had to say: “There is power in public opinion in the Country-and thank God for it; for it is the most honest and best of all powers - which will not tolerate an incompetent or unworthy man to hold in his weak or wicked hands the lives and fortunes of his fellow citizens.” Martin Van Buren (8th President of the United States)
Doug McGivney should be ashamed of himself. The public has a right to have a view on this issue.
Perhaps Pat Grattan can help protect the citizens of Kinderhook and Columbia County if he is elected Supervisor of Kinderhook this November.
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