By JOE LoTEMPLIO
PLATTSBURGH -- After six years heading the state's Democratic Rural Conference, Stuart Brody will be stepping down to pursue other interests.
"I am moving on to do other things. Mostly I want to teach young people about politics and what I've learned," Brody, a resident and attorney in Essex, said.
As head of the organization, Brody, 60, oversaw the party's efforts to focus more on upstate issues. The Democratic Rural Conference represents 47 of the state's 62 counties that are considered rural.
"I am happy with what has happened the past six years," he said.
"I think Democrats in rural areas have gained tremendous strength, and there is more of a focus on upstate."
With the help of the Democratic Rural Conference, Eliot Spitzer won the governorship in 2006, U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer have maintained their seats and Andrew Cuomo was elected attorney general.
Spitzer resigned after a prostitution scandal this past March, but Brody was one of the few Democratic officials to urge compassion and understanding for him.
"I urged compassion not because what he did was right, but because he tried to change things when he was in office.
"That whole thing was immensely disappointing."
Brody believes new Gov. David Paterson has a bright future.
"He is a man of integrity, and he is standing up and taking on the legislature."
In his new career, Brody will host workshops across the country teaching politics and stressing a more moderate approach.
"I want to try to teach them how to transform politics by being honest with voters.
"The future is with young people, and I want to impart what I've learned to them and try to get them going in a different direction instead of perpetrating politics as they are, which is so dysfunctional. I think most Americans are ready for more moderate politics because it has become so extreme on both sides."
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
