Before anybody gets the idea of a forthcoming hatchet job on U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, in office for only about three weeks, let’s revisit a loose end that Molinaro avoided during his successful campaign last year — to wit, dealing with the widely-held assumption that he would have to move from Red Hook into his congressional district if he won the election.

In terms of congressional elections, Molinaro broke even last year, losing to Democrat Pat Ryan in a last-summer special election in the old 19th District and beating Josh Riley in the general in the new 19th in November.

Lingering over Molinaro’s second run was that he did not live in the district to which he had been elected. Wouldn’t he have to move to serve?

I broached that subject directly with the candidate during his campaign and all I got was that he’d deal with it after the campaign. Naturally, I speculated (that’s what columnists do) about where he might move, to Hudson in Columbia County, the center of the district in East Cowflop, maybe north or west in quest of a Republican base.

In fact, it was a moot point. Molinaro knew he didn’t have to deal with it all. The U.S. Constitution clearly details the requirements to run for Congress. First, that individual must have been a resident of his state for at least seven years and be at least 25 years old. The Constitution does not require residence in the district to which they had been elected, only that they reside in “the state.”

Molinaro lives in Red Hook, just across the eastern border of the 19th Congressional District. According to the Constitution he could have lived on the shores of Lake Erie, or even the shores of Lake Montauk, and still be certified as a Hudson River Valley member of Congress.

The origins of this constitutional rule are lost in the mists of history. The Constitution itself, you may remember from school, was a compromise between states’ rights and limiting the powers of a federal government. Travel was arduous in the late 18th century, so maybe the rationale was to make it easier for anybody eligible to run for congressional office.

As a practical political matter, a candidate from Buffalo, Long Island or the Southern Tier would have little chance of winning a local election here in Happy Valley. People like their elected representatives to live among them. Molinaro might have faced some of those issues in his own election had Riley raised the subject.

“Say, Marc,” a 19th District would-be district constituent might have asked, “exactly where do you live?”

“Why, I’m a proud resident of Dutchess County, been elected there since I was a boy,” he might reply.

“Isn’t that in the 18th District?” the potential could have asked. “Aren’t you running in the 18th?”

No wonder Molinaro played coy.

They Solemnly Swear

Unlike some of my more jaded colleagues, I really don’t have a problem with public officials conducting endless swearing-in ceremonies around their districts. The first one makes it official,

even if there is some doubt whether the oath of office is even necessary, beyond the presidency.

I’ve attended many such ceremonies over a long career, from city, town and county officials to judges and just about anyone who’s ever won an election. They’re always friendly, festive community gatherings; even members of losing parties sometimes show up. It’s like a new baby in the family, full of hope and promise. I’m grateful that most confine these affairs to January.

Good Assignments

Our freshmen members of Congress didn’t make it to the powerful House Rules Committee or Ways and Means — those assignments are typically reserved for long-serving powerful insiders. But Ryan on Armed Forces and Molinaro on Agriculture are both well-situated to be of service to constituents. That Molinaro serves in a slim House majority gives him an edge, something Ryan will counter with a relentless public relations machine.

Song Sung Dave

I’d run this higher up, but second-hand off-the-record reports have a way of getting garbled in translation.

Nonetheless, I have been reliably informed by someone in the room that at a small gathering of Democratic loyalists on Sunday afternoon “by invitation only”, District Attorney Dave Clegg announced at his home in Zena that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for a second term.

Call me Doubting Hughie, but I’ll have to stick my nose in Clegg’s wounds before I’ll accept his defense of what many see as an inept administration.

Despite repeated efforts since the last election to reach him on this important subject, Clegg has yet to make a public statement other than he’s thinking about it.

In the meantime, Mike Kavanagh, a former Republican who narrowly lost to Clegg in 2019, has announced his candidacy, as has a lightweight from Ellenville who says he worked as an assistant district attorney a few years back.

And Finally

Condolences to the family and many friends of former Esopus Councilman Ira Weiner of West Park. A county American Legion and Port Ewen Post 1298 commander, Ira, a Vietnam veteran, was well-known and respected in veterans’ organizations. Ira headed a committee that oversaw the dedication of the veteran’s monument in front of the County Office Building that lists the names of the hundreds from Ulster County who died in our wars.

Also, farewell to syndicated lawn and garden columnist Bob Beyfuss who died a couple of weeks ago. Bob, who was syndicated in the Freeman among other publications, wrote with a deep knowledge and unusual clarity on every matter of the outdoors. Truly, he was a man for all seasons.

And on a happier note, congratulations to Jack Finch of Kingston, who marked his 95th birthday on Saturday. Jack was a World War II vet (his father, Morton, served in the — it was hoped at the time — War to End All Wars), a teacher, principal, alderman, county legislator and a member of SUNY Ulster’s board of trustees. In his spare time, he taught driver’s education and sold real estate. Jack Finch touched many lives in so many positive ways.

I was honored to be invited to his 90th birthday party with his family. He said then he hoped to live to 95. Next stop: 100.