West, in speech to Rotarians, stands firm on gay weddings
By Jesse J. Smith , Freeman staff 03/11/2004
KINGSTON - New Paltz Mayor Jason West on Wednesday defended his decision to marry 25 same-sex couples last month, promised to preside over more gay weddings if a temporary restraining order against him is lifted and took a few jabs at Ulster County District Attorney Donald A. Williams.

The 26-year-old Green Party mayor spoke at a Kingston Rotary Club luncheon at the Hillside Manor, where he faced an audience of about two dozen people decades older than him and clearly less enthusiastic than him about same-sex marriages