A Transition in Cornwall Part II

CORNWALL, NY – For 26 years, Cornwall-on-Hudson, a village within the town of Cornwall, was under Republican rule.

Then, on March 20, 2007, according to the Times Herald-Record, Joseph Gross turned Edward Moulton out of office when he defeated him in the race for mayor.

Cornwall residents describe Moulton as conservative and out-dated. Conversely, as Cindy Valicenti, 43, a housewife in Cornwall put it, Gross is “a little different than the typical town politician.”

The election of a new mayor in Cornwall-on-Hudson represents an even larger idea: Cornwall’s gradual transition from a town of conservative, traditional values to one of a new, liberal outlook.

“I guess it’s slowly changing,” said Sarah Quinn, 24, employee of The 2 Alices.

But why has Cornwall been historically Republican?

Sarah Quinn feels that Cornwall’s close proximity to West Point Academy could be a factor. “West point is only five to ten minutes away,” said Sarah Quinn while scrubbing the countertop at The 2 Alices. “I think that’s why it’s been conservative for so long.”

She says those who come into The 2 Alices from West Point Academy sometimes are displeased with a liberal presence. “They get all irritated or it makes them angry if anything says ‘fair trade,’” said Sarah Quinn. “They think it’s a direct challenge to free trade.”

However, others reason that Cornwall’s conservatism is even more deeply rooted.

According Bill Webber, 51, a book publisher, the nineteenth congressional district, to which Cornwall belongs, had for a long period of time been represented by Hamilton Fish, a staunch conservative. Webber claims that the area is so Republican that when Fish’s son ran for the same position as a Democrat, even with his family’s famous last name, he still lost the election.

Still, some believe that the Republican presence in Cornwall is mostly made up of elderly individuals. “The older men and women [in town] are definitely more Republican,” said Rae Quinn, 18, senior at Cornwall Central High School, while sipping a drink at The 2 Alices. “They’re the people who have lived here all their lives.”

This opinion is reflected in Geraldine Satterly, 78, a clerk at Cornwall Public Library. Satterly was reluctant to admit that Cornwall has become more liberal. At the same time, however, she boasted the fact that she supports tradition.

So in what ways is Cornwall becoming more liberal? Many feel that the election of Mayor Gross alone is enough evidence.

“We just elected a very liberal mayor,” said Sarah Quinn. “We had a very conservative mayor for a very long time, and this guy is very concerned with not tearing down trees to build new places, and solar power.”

When asked why she feels Cornwall elected such a radical mayor, Valicenti, who claims she hasn’t noticed a political transition in town, seemed hesitant to answer. “I think you’ll find [Mayor Gross] was voted in because people were maybe ready for a change, but mostly because they were sick of the same old mayor,” said Valicenti.

While he feels that Cornwall’s residents are somewhat resistant to change, Randy Hornman, 39, a furniture designer and custom woodworker agrees a transition is definitely evident in the new mayor.

“I think the current mayor very much is more social minded,” said Hornman while chewing on an organic corn muffin in between thoughts. “He cares more about all people across the board. He reaches out to people. He’s native to the town and passionate about the community he grew up in.”

However, there is more to Cornwall’s liberalism than just its new mayor.

The young people in Cornwall seem to believe the town’s new politics are popular among their generation. “I don’t know many kids from our high school who aren’t liberal,” said Rae Quinn. “And if they were [conservative], they definitely wouldn’t show it.”

Chris Engan, 19, agrees. “From what I’ve been experiencing, with all the new kids all grown up who are living here, [liberalism is] the mind set,” he said

Engan sees a difference between generations in his own family. He says he recently discovered his father is a Republican. “He’s all for the war and Iraq and I would tell him ‘It’s not like they’re attacking us and we’re defending, it’s like we’re attacking them.’ He just doesn’t see what I’m saying. He’s really closed-minded about that stuff,” he said.

Valicenti also supports this claim. She says that, while she considers herself a fairly liberal person, her son is even more liberal than she.

Many feel that new local businesses best demonstrate the transition in Cornwall. “A few families are opening new businesses that are more liberal,” said Rae Quinn.

Sarah Quinn seconds this opinion. She says The 2 Alices, where she works, is one place where liberals seem to flock. The crowd at The 2 Alices, Sarah Quinn said, consists of artists, people who drive hybrids, and people who dress interestingly.

According to Sarah Quinn, another local business that is helping transform Cornwall is Bloomberg Hill Farm. Every Wednesday, she said, they sell only organic food. “Even if [the people going to Bloomberg Hill Farm] are not liberal, they’re starting to appreciate things like that,” said Sarah Quinn.

Hornman feels his furniture designs, which are more on the modern side, exhibit how Cornwall is becoming somewhat more open to new ideas.

Valicenti doesn’t believe that Cornwall is becoming more liberal. However, she does recognize that new people have been moving into the community. “I think it’s always been an insular community,” she said while packing up the car after a day at the park, “even though there’s been a large group of people moving in the last decade.”

Others, such as England, agree with Valicenti’s statement. “I think [Cornwall is changing] with the increase of population,” she said.

England thinks the increase of the population is evident in fact that the town was forced to build a new, bigger high school. “The new school is in New Windsor,” she said. “Everybody is bussed over there. It’s interesting because the population is growing.”

Satterly also agrees that there are new people moving into the community. “We have a lot of people who are moving up from the city, or what we consider the city, you know, Rockland, and they’re different,” she said.

However, Webber argues that, while the town is making a transition toward liberalism, it’s not strictly local. “The revolution in the nation against the Republican Party is because of Bush’s administration,” he said.

“Bush has not been investing in the future,” said Webber, while getting ready to take his son to soccer practice. “He’s leaving your generation in terrible condition.”

While Cornwall may not be the most liberal town, the majority agree that a transition is occurring. A town that used to have a heavy conservative influence is now beginning to see a liberal presence.

“I think the liberalness is coming,” said Hornman. “It’s definitely not a New Paltz though, you know? Not yet.”