Saturday, November 2, 2013

The Devil We Know or the Devil We Don't Know???

Here are some perspectives on the election and the candidates from the Gadfly and guests to stimulate some thinking and commenting as we approach "the Decision" on Tuesday.

 Campaign 2013:

Like most election campaigns, I’m glad this one is almost over.  Although there has been a good deal of substantive discussion we have also seen personal attacks and unsubstantiated rumors about candidates and, more disturbingly, their families and friends.  But such is politics here in East Greenbush.  We have four candidates for two seats: if the republicans win both seats they will take the majority on the town board whereas the democrats only need one to maintain their current advantage.  The winners will take the places of Ginny O’Brien and Rick Matters, who in terms of tenure and contribution are the two most distinguished members of the current board.

The two primary sources for direct information about the campaigns have been mailings and articles in the Advertiser.  The republicans advanced proposals for fixing the financial problems facing the town while the democrats stressed the qualifications of their candidates.  Both were intelligent strategies as republicans used financial distress as the basis of their criticism of the current regime and democrats sought to underplay our problems and shift the focus from their role in creating the financial crisis to the positive qualities of the two candidates.  Each strategy brought out the best in the candidates – Mary Ann Matters and Deb DiMartino appear to have a number of good ideas for change, Mike Bottillo and Cheryl Vallee appear to be well qualified to sit on the board.  This is only a matter of emphasis as the republican candidates also seem qualified and the democratic candidates had some good ideas, especially in their focus on rejuvenating the 9 & 20 corridor.

The election also brought out the best in our town government.  In a rush to pre-empt issues they knew could hurt them during the campaign, the democratic majority passed a new Code of Ethics, approved funding for audits, and offered a plan for improving the fiscal condition of our town government.  The plan was slight and insufficient but its appearance did make me wish we had an election every six months since campaign season seems to be the only time the interests of taxpayers take center stage in the workings of our local government.  In fairness, the republicans deserve as much credit for these accomplishments as the democrats because there was little indication any of these things would have been done without having first been raised as campaign issues.   The democrats are asking for a chance to continue what they see as an upward trend in fiscal responsibility; the republicans are asking for a chance to see what Supervisor Keith Langley can accomplish with a board majority and a new direction in financial planning. 

My concern is that all of this is campaign blarney and what both sides really want is another chance to feed at the public trough.  So when deciding how to vote it’s also important to consider what appointments will be made in key positions.  The best argument for voting republican is that the democrats have run our finances into the ground and taking a chance on change is likely to yield at least some improvement.  In this case, the devil you don’t know is better than the one you do.  There will be a race for Supervisor in two years and some people want to see what Supervisor Langley can do with a majority before deciding to re-elect him.  The best argument for voting democrat is that the current majority has done some good work – the roundabouts, the plans for and clean-up of Hampton Manor Lake, the funding for the wastewater treatment upgrade – and their recent appointments have been good ones – Meghan Webster as director of planning, and Angelina Cadena and Pete Stenson as Comptrollers.  Dave Van Wormer has done a good job at DPW.  We can only speculate on who the republicans will appoint but if they win those choices will be critical.  For me the choice comes down to which candidates will show the most independence when faced with a choice between their party’s interests and those of the taxpayers.  We need strong-minded, independent representatives and we need them now.  We also need a town board that acknowledges our problems and resolves to take firm action to address them even if it proves unpopular with their base.  But however you come down on these issues, make sure your voice is heard on Tuesday.

                                                                                 -------  Jack Conway 


This time around:
 
I’m recalling the famous rhetorical question from Jeremiah 13 – “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?”  I’m also recalling the first act of the current majority after Mr. Langley was elected, but had not yet taken office.  You might recall that they “whacked” his salary in a deliberate attempt at intimidation.  Politics is not bean-bags in East Greenbush.  But then Mr. Langley did not understand and therefore could not heed good solid advice about how to use a minority position to his advantage and build a record for his people to run on. 

The current majority has not been a good steward of its charge.  The rush to produce a “record” at the last Board meeting was disingenuous.  East Greenbush government has been dragged kicking and screaming toward responsibility.  And those who have done the dragging are private citizens. 

So what about the alternative, Mr. DeFruscio’s “Republicans?”  (Is any candidate a Republican or Democrat this time around?)  I am concerned that there is a real possibility for the “same old same old” if the majority changes.  I remember the “it’s my turn” speech at a Board meeting some months ago.  That was not comforting.  So there is a bit of a quandary for us.  But we’ve seen the Dem leopard actually at “work,” and that’s the reason I think I’ll support a regime change this time around.

Hope for East Greenbush is going to be in independence from the Party Machines and their respective “hangers-on” and loyalty to the interests of the taxpayer.  Mr. Langley deserves a chance to show what his majority can do in the next two years.  If he doesn’t, and we have more of the same – only with a Republican brand – it will be a pretty good sign that we need a Third Party effort here in EG.  A government of, by and for the people – not the Party. 


                                                                                    ------ Don Johnson        


Thoughts on this year's election......

All my thoughts on this year's election for Town Board are covered in used coffee grounds, in my garbage can. That's where all the campaign literature goes. My recollection tells me it's all Republican this year, and full of typical empty blather about lower taxes and greater fiscal restraint. And not just at the Town level either, but also at the County legislature and a County judgeship opening. I can honestly say I have not received a single flyer or mailer from Town or County Democrats. Maybe because I'm a registered Democrat and they think they already have my vote? Why? Look at what they've done to us. Disregarding the misplaced attempts at bipartisanship voting shown by the Town Board Minority over the last two years, the fact is that the Democratic Majority could have passed every Resolution on their own 3-2 strength anyway. 5-0 just gets you there faster. And where is "there?" Junk Bond status, deep Town debt and documented (by outside agencies, including the State) Town mismanagement, improper handling of infrastructure assets like the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Town Park, unwillingness to update the Town Ethics Law, unwise hiring decisions (to include a contempt for even basic compliance with mandatory Civil Service law) and borderline illegal payments to people who shouldn't have been paid. We still don't have finished audits from three years ago because the Democratic-controlled books were so messed up that outside auditors, including the State, cannot yet make sense of the numbers. We had to hire a second set of auditors, paid for by you, just to make some sense of what the Democratic-controlled Town Hall was doing with the money. 

All in the past, yes, but what have we seen to indicate that this Chicago-style approach to governing would not simply continue under another Democratic regime? Nothing. Recent Democratic Advertiser pieces have been thuggish in tone, completely in keeping with tradition. And, they run an anonymous blog that no one will take credit for, a blog that stoops to new levels of low in attacking not just other politicians (which is expected, and part of the game), but also taxpayers who voice an opposing opinion, and even worse, their families and friends, people not even involved! This is reprehensible, and I have yet to hear anyone in the Democratic leadership call for it to stop. You may not like what you read here on this Gadfly blog because it too accepts anonymous comments, but you almost always know who wrote the original thread posts and you know who the moderator is! 

But most telling for me is a quick analysis of the last two years of Board Meetings. If you go to the Town's website you'll find the minutes of the meetings, 10 per page. When you get 6 meetings down on the 4th page you will be at the 1/2/12 Organizational Meeting, the 1st meeting with Langley, Matters, O'Brien, Mangold and Malone on the Board. There have been 36 meetings for these folks. That's 180 potential "I showed-up-to-vote" opportunities. They do, after all, get $10,000 a year to do this stuff. Running down the list you see the following: Langley missed 1 meeting out of 180. That's 2%. Matters missed 4 meetings, or 11%. O'Brien missed 2 meetings, or 5%. Malone missed 9 meetings, or 25%. That's a lot, no matter how you slice it. And Mangold, like Matters, missed 4 meetings. If you run the numbers by party affiliation, the Democrats missed 15 of their 108 possible meeting slots. 14% of the time they didn't show up. Republican-affiliated members ( non-Democrats, if that's easier) missed 5 of their 72 available meeting slots, or 7%. Do the math. The Democratic leadership in this town takes it's meeting responsibilities only half as seriously as the non-Democrats. I think I prefer the party that shows up more.
                                                                               --------- Dwight Jenkins

33 comments:

  1. I think the most important thing from Mary Ann and Deb is the pledge for zero base budgeting. It's the first initiative moving toward an analysis of what services need to be provided in the Town, and what resources need to be provided to deliver those services. Not at all like the tax hike from the Dem majority which just said that the revenue numbers weren't enough to support an un-examined expenditure plan.

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  2. It's hilarious....After years of Democratic mismanagement, the argument of some guy on Talks is that the Town needs to be saved from the Republican Chairman. I'd say it needs to be saved from them all.

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    1. They just want an "our crooks are better than your crooks" competition.

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  3. What's funny is Jenkins and Johnson thinking they are respected and important. Conway has credibility. The other 2 let's change the subject

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  4. I would like to read more from Dwight.

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  5. I think this election comes down to a simple question:

    Do you want the failed policies and decisions of the past or. Are you willing to take a chance on a different future?

    All elections are trade offs because no candidates are perfect.

    In the integrity battle between Defruscio and Malone I could rate that as a tie and a race to the bottom.

    But voters need to see what Langley delivers with a majority and there is absolutely no upside to continuing a democratic party majority. So voting for Matters and DiMartino gives taxpayers at least a shot at a different future.

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  6. Anonymous 10am, you just proved Dwight's point. Why the cheap shot? So now when I sign my name I will be ridiculed too? We should all be able to voice are opinions without the name calling don't you think? This is a good reason why maybe the people that post on this particular topic should have to attach a name to their comment, at least for this topic anyways. Come on you chicken shits let us know who you are and what you are thinking.

    People that read this know where I stand, but for the record. I'm for the republicans. If in 2 years we don't like the path they are taking us on we can vote out Langley its just that simple.

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    1. Jim C

      if one holds themselves out as an expert or a pundit they are open to criticism and opposing opinions in the America I know

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    2. So why don't you put an argument or opinion supported by some facts? You just advanced a "wise crack."

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  7. The "tax PAYERS" have an important decision to make tomorrow on Election Day. If you want more of the Phil Malone MISMANAGEMENT that has put this town near BANKRUPTCY then vote Democrat. If you have followed the DiMartino / Matters campaign, laying out their platform to revitalize our town finances, address the blight of 9&20, work to reduce taxes and believe in them, then vote Republican, Independent, or Conservative.

    I will as an enrolled Independent be voting for Deberah DiMartino and Mary Ann Matters on my party line. We do need both for change.

    You can't get rid of a weed unless you remove the root. In our case Mr. Malone represents the root of mismanagement.

    We need both for change, ELECT DIMARTINO & MATTERS

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  8. The Democrat candidates have failed to address any of the important issues and not provided us with any plan to move forward. My impression of the democrat campaign has been their candidates hiding behind their committee chairman Malone who has perpetrated a campaign of personal attacks and mud slinging and provided no solutions to our town's problems. Malone appears to be attempting to mask the years of mismanagement in order to try to get his candidates elected. I agree with a piece of campaign literature I received over the weekend exposing the Democrats tax hike for 2014. It sums it up quite simply.

    VOTE FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

    SAY NO WAY TO ROW A !!!!

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    1. Dear 6:15 AM:
      I also received that campaign literature over the weekend. While I support its message, I remain concerned about Chris DeFruscio's address of 52 Werking Road being displayed prominently in the upper left hand corner.
      If Deb and Mary Ann are successful in the election, I hope they will stay fair away from Chris DeFruscio and his cronies after the election.
      Any involvement by Mr. DeFruscio in East Greenbush government will not be good for the people of our Town.
      I will continue to watch carefully after the election and I'm sure we all can count on the Gadfly to do so as well.

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  9. After the Democrats cheap shot that I received in the mail Saturday I wouldn't vote for a Democrat this year no matter what. Malone's East Greenbush Democrat's have taken their campaign to an all time disgusting low. I ask every married women in this town regardless of your political affiliation, how would you feel about the Democrat party leader attacking your husband, using your family portrait? YUK!!!

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  10. To 6:51- ???. The only political mail I received over the weekend was from Deb and Mary Ann. Did I miss something? What's with Malone attacking somebody's husband? What happened?

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  11. Anonymous 6:51 a.m.: Can you provide more detail on that mailing? I don't like the sound of it but I don't know anyone else who has seen it. Thanks.

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  12. Jack--I received the mailing. It attacked Rick and Mary Ann, Deb was not mentioned. It was mailed to registered Conservatives. It was nasty, very nasty. It was a post card and there was no return address on it. It had the picture of Mary Ann and Rick on it and it referred to Mary Ann as a "Trojan Horse". It attacked Rick and what it stated I will not type here because I do not want to give Philip Malone the satisfaction of advertising for him on this blog.
    As biased as this sounds, it REEKED of Philip Malone. Same, typical negative mailing he does every campaign.

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  13. If you can stomach typing it, send the text to eggadfly@yahoo.com. Better yet a pic or scan of the card.

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  14. After reading the card Sat, all I could say was, "Same old Malone. He isn't low class, he is NO CLASS". I am surprised the Harts don't shut him down. I sincerely believe they could if they wanted to. Are they in the same class as Malone??? Voting against Malone.

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  15. Anonymous 1:55 : Thanks for the information. I got a democratic mailing today that paraphrased the famous Edmund Burke quotation: "All evil needs to prevail is for good men to do nothing." The use of the term 'evil' disturbed me. Like it or not, we're all neighbors. I realize that the people running these campaigns have burrowed down into their respective tunnels but this loss of perspective is inexcusable. The win at all costs mentality makes me question the ability of some people to govern.

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  16. NOTHING is/was dirtier than the Matha Andiego letter.....think about that for a moment when you walk into your voting place . Defruscio set the bar to an all time low when he pulled that stunt. That was a criminal act. Campaign advertising, whether or not you agree with it, is not a crime. Making up a false accusation and signing it under a false name is a criminal action and is far greater than the mailing this past weekend. I saw it, maybe it was in bad taste but its not illegal.

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    1. 4:06pm I agree with you about Chris DeFruscio's record. I can remember early this year when he, through his DEMands blog, said that the posters on this blog were "cult like" and "communists."
      There is no place for Chris DeFruscio in Town Hall. I am confident Mary Ann Matters realizes this.

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  17. Recent articles and signage popping up around Town suggests that Supervisor Langley is cutting Emergency Services. This is NOT TRUE. I invite you to review both Supervisor Langley's Tentative Budget and the Democratic Board Majority's Preliminary Budget (both available on the town website) to confirm this fact. FACT- the Dem Board Majority CUT $66,236 from the Emergency Comm. Salary line and $68,911 from the Police salary line. Dispatch and Police make up EMERGENCY SERVICES and they cut $135k+. This was a democratic board majority cut not a cut by Supervisor as Mr. Malone would like everyone to believe. Remember say no way to row A!

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    1. The Dems raised taxes and cut emergency services.

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  18. @ 4:38 PM,
    I know you are correct about Mary Ann Matters. It's just too bad Supervisor Langley isn't as smart about Chris DeFruscio as she is.

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  19. Taxes-Dems plan to raise, Reps plan to lower. What else is there to know?

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  20. It's time to get rid of the thugs and good 'ole boys. Chris and Phil --- that's you.

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  21. Have matters and dimartino outlined a specific plan about how they intend on revitalizing the 9&20 corridor? Just curiosity as I think it's easy for either party to claim this but difficult to perform. I think the only individual that may have a direct impact on this so far would be botillo because of his planning board position.

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    1. That's where your wrong. The pitch for tenants has nothing to do with the planning board. The planning board simply guides a potential business through the process after they have decided to locate here.

      Remember stay away from Row A, that is where the good old boys play.

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  22. WELL ITS THE DAY WE'VE ALL BEEN ALL WAITING FOR, IT'S ELECTION DAY.

    I WILL BE PROUDLY CASTING MY VOTE FOR DIMARTINO AND MATTERS TODAY.

    THEY HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE REPUBLICAN , INDEPENDENCE, AND CONSERVATIVE PARTIES.

    FOR ME IT'S MY PARTIES ENDORSEMENT FOR DEB AND MARY ANN ON THE INDEPENDENCE LINE.

    LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE TWO CANDIDATES DIMARTINO AND MATTERS AS PART OF OUR NEW TOWN BOARD.

    WE NEED BOTH FOR CHANGE !

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  23. "DiMartino and Matters"

    Vote Rows B, C, or E

    We Need them Both for change !!!

    VOTE TODAY~ VOTE FOR CHANGE

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  24. It's time for change in East Greenbush

    "DIMARTINO AND MATTERS"

    WE NEED THEM BOTH

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  25. DEB AND MARY ANN WON LAST NIGHT! It was a clear victory as both of them got 2,000+ votes to Botillo and Vallee's 1,000+ votes. The town came out in force to say no way to Row A! Phil Malone's contributions to Botillo and Vallee's campaign were a collosal turn-off to the voters in every conceivable way, so much so that Botillo and Vallee never stood a chance. Meanwhile, Deb and May Ann stayed the course, visited the residents at their homes night after night, weekend after weekend, and surprise, surprise, they won! It's a new and glorious day in East Greenbush. We, as residents, can be PROUD of ourselves for finally taking back control of our town. GOOD JOB, EAST GREENBUSH!

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  26. There's a very classy post on EG Talks. Congratulations to Mary Ann Matters and Deb DiMartino. I hope we see more of Mike Bottillo and Cheryl Vallee in the future. Apart from some bad decisions about campaign ending mailings on the part of the democrats, their candidates ran a good clean race and distinguished themselves as people who can make a real contribution to town politics. It's time for everyone to re-think the nastiness and get on with the business of good government. I hope the republicans are up to the task. I wish them the best.

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