After serving 18 years in the NYS Assembly and 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, 73, D-Hurley, announced last week that he will not seek re-election in the fall and will retire at the end of this year.

Hinchey came full circle, making his announcement at the Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, the exact place where he first declared his candidacy for Congress two decades ago. The room was filled with nearly 200 people representing a cross section of the media, staff members, family, friends and supporters.

With clear emotion in his voice, Hinchey began by saying, “It is a great, wonderful treat for me to be here with you,” which was met by “We love you Maurice,” from a member in the audience and applause.

“While it is very hard to leave a job I truly love, I know in my heart of hearts that now is the right time for me to move on,” Hinchey said.

Hinchey called the N.Y. 22nd Congressional District, which encompasses eight counties and winds its way from Ithaca down to Poughkeepsie, “a wonderful district with a great diversity.”

“Never in my wildest dreams did I envision that I’d have such an extraordinary opportunity to serve my community, my state and my country. I have been very fortunate,” he said.

Hinchey said during the upcoming redistricting process he is hopeful that the “integrity” of the NYS 22nd District will be preserved “and remain largely intact.”

The Saugerties native grew up in a working class family, enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and returned to work in a local cement factory.

“But I had high hopes for myself and knew that a good education would lead to a better life,” Hinchey said.

Hinchey attended SUNY New Paltz and worked at night as a toll collector for the NYS Thruway Authority to put himself through school.

Hinchey said his father sparked his interest in electoral politics, which led to his decision to run for a seat in the NYS Assembly.

“I gave it my best and won,” he said, adding this would not have been possible without an education and his great love for the region and state. He said he was only the second Democrat to win the position from Ulster County since the Civil War.

Hinchey hopes his story inspires others to enter public service.

“Despite all the turmoil, rancor and pettiness we see in politics today, I still believe in public service. To me there are few things nobler than a person who chooses to serve their community, whether it is in public service, at a public agency, or school, the military or even volunteering for a charity. We need more people to choose those paths and become strong, effective voices for the middle class.”

Hinchey acknowledged his recent health challenges and thanked all for the support that “helped me get through this.” He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2010 and has undergone a series of treatments since then. He called his ordeal “life-changing” and said it “provided me with an even great appreciation of my family, my friends and, quite frankly, my time.”

Hinchey said it was the people whom he has met in his district over the years who have served as an inspiration to him to keep fighting on their behalf.

“I worked as hard as I could for them each day, trying to be as effective of a voice as I could possibly be,” he said. “They were always, and continue to be, at the front of my mind and the focus of everything I do in Congress.”

Hinchey thanked the men and women, past and present, who have served on his staff, adding that “none of the things I achieved during my time in public office would have been possible without their tireless efforts.”

Hinchey touched upon some of his accomplishments during his 38 years of public service: he led a successful investigation of the causes of the “Love Canal” environmental disaster that resulted in landmark environmental legislation including the nation’s first law to control acid rain; headed an investigation of organized crime’s control of the waste-hauling industry that resulted in convictions of more than 20 individuals, including one for murder; worked to designate the 381 miles of Route 17 as I-86 to make it eligible for federal funding that will bring increased economic activity to the area; forced General Electric to clean up 1.3 million pounds of PCBs that the company dumped in the Hudson River between 1947 and 1977; formed a cluster of solar energy companies in upstate New York; authored the FRAC Act that mandates public disclosure of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process that is used to obtain natural gas from deep underground. He was also successful in pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to begin a national study of this process that is now under way.

Hinchey obtained the first round of public funding – starting with $1.34 million and later $2.4 million – to transform the abandoned Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge into the Walkway Over the Hudson. He also thanked Robert Dyson, of the Dyson Foundation, for his enthusiastic support. The bridge has attracted 1.2 million visitors since its opening in 2008, which coincided with the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s visit to the Hudson Valley.

Hinchey developed a statewide system of Urban Cultural Parks; authored legislation that formed the Hudson River Valley Greenway that eventually led to the creation of the larger Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, running form Saratoga in the north to Yonkers in the south and from the Catskill Park in the west to the eastern New York border with Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Hinchey was also successful in preserving 15,000 acres in Sterling Forest; forced Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan to admit that the Federal Open Markets Committee [FOMC] meetings were taped, which led to public having access to important national fiscal policies.

Hinchey successfully compelled the Central Intelligence Agency to admit their involvement, and that of the United States Government at the highest levels, in toppling democratically elected Chilean President Salvador Allende in 1973. Allende was later assassinated and General Augusto Pinochet began a brutal 17-year dictatorial reign of Chile.

Hinchey was an early and persistent vocal opponent of former President George W. Bush’s effort to invade Iraq and supported the withdrawal of U. S. Forces from the region. He called for the president’s removal from office, stating “this is the most impeachable administration in the history of the United States.” Hinchey further opposed the National Security Administrations warrantless surveillance program that was instituted under Bush.

Hinchey secured millions in federal funding for Cornell University’s science and agricultural research programs, obtained $2 million for a walkway in Owego, N.Y., along the Susquehanna River and another million for a waterfront trail in the City of Ithaca; and $4.1 million for an Inter-modal bus terminal in Binghamton – nicknamed “Hinchey’s Hub.”

Hinchey also fought little battles – from securing Social Security benefits for those unfairly denied, resolving immigration and visa issues, obtaining medals for deserving veterans and nominating hundreds of men and women to the various military academies.

Hinchey said serving in the House was a privilege that he took very seriously and worked hard to be worthy of his constituents’ vote. He thanked all who worked on his behalf on his campaigns for the past 38 years.

Hinchey said there is some sadness knowing his last campaign is now behind him.

“I am very much at peace with my decision and excited and ready for this next chapter in my life,” he said, adding that his immediate plans call for writing, spending more time with his family and some travel.

Hinchey promised not to go gentle into that good night – to borrow a phrase from Welsh poet Dylan Thomas – but said he will continue to speak out on the great issues facing the country today.

“An effective democracy is one in which the people stand up and fight for what they believe and I will do just that,” he said. “I leave Congress with no regrets, but with a strong appreciation and love for this extraordinary institution, our democracy and the people of our nation, particularly the people of this great district who I love dearly. I thank you.”

By MARK REYNOLDS
mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com