By MARV CERMAK COVERING SCHENECTADY First published in print: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
It's hardly a secret that Democrats have control of Schenectady city and county politics, but the extent of the monopoly doesn't ring the brain buzzer unless you count noses.
I used to hang around Colvin Tavern in Albany in the '50s and '60s when owner Eddie Wendt was plugged into the powerhouse Dan O'Connell/Erastus Corning Democratic machine. Back then, I used to get some inside information about how the Albany Democrats ran the town. In recent years, Schenectady Dems have reached that level of political domination.
In the city, all seven council members and the mayor are Democrats. All three City Court judges are also Dems.
At the County Legislature, Democrats are a lopsided 13-2 majority. Democrats hold the offices of district attorney, sheriff, county clerk, two Family Court judges and Surrogate. A County Court judge is the lone GOP countywide elected officeholder.
Total up these elected offices and you wind up with 30 Democrats and just three Republicans.
In the county's big three towns, Democrats own Niskayuna and Rotterdam, but the GOP controls Glenville. In Rotterdam, the Dems took the wheel because the Republicans are busy fighting each other. The Rotterdam GOP snubbed the re-endorsement of Assemblyman George Amedore for the November election. Amedore wouldn't take sides in the bad blood GOP split that handed Democrats the town in '09. This retribution party split could hand the Assembly race to Angelo Santabarbara, the expected Democrat nominee.
Back in the O'Connell/Corning era, Democrats owned the city of Albany, but the GOP had strongholds in Colonie, Bethlehem and Guilderland. In Schenectady, Dems have a broader countywide power base thanks in part to an impotent GOP..................>>>>.............>>>>..............Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=932074&category=MCERMAK#ixzz0oHbZgP00
Keep commenting from the sidelines and doing nothing about it. Keep picking up school board petitions and not turning them in. Keep blowing hot air, while at least some people are doing what they THINK is RIGHT!
while at least some people are doing what they THINK is RIGHT!
And who is actually doing what they THINK is RIGHT? Perhaps some are, but who are they?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble, I'd say the people doing what they think is right are the people actually DOING something other than just complaining anonymously on a blog.
Spidey, people aren't just complaining on a blog. These same issues are being discussed over coffee, over a beer, with their neighbor, in the grocery store and at work. And they also, are DOING something. They are sharing information. And are supporting or not supporting an issue or candidate.
Please don't insult or try to degrade the electorate!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble, I'd say the people doing what they think is right are the people actually DOING something other than just complaining anonymously on a blog.
Yes, what GFP and FS are doing is an all out attempt to weaken the local GOP. If successful, they will give the Dems complete control of the town board, and tax and spend liberals like GP will suck us dry.
Yes, what GFP and FS are doing is an all out attempt to weaken the local GOP. If successful, they will give the Dems complete control of the town board, and tax and spend liberals like GP will suck us dry.
It's worse than that. They already destroyed the two party system. Now, flush with defeat, they want to take out GA and flip that seat to newly coined DEM AS. Then they wonder why they have no support. Tell us about GA's church again-lol-
Yes, what GFP and FS are doing is an all out attempt to weaken the local GOP. If successful, they will give the Dems complete control of the town board, and tax and spend liberals like GP will suck us dry.
They are clearly not doing it alone. I'm sure they have the support of ST, JS, JSig, and others. I voted for them way back when. But with these new chain of events, I doubt that I will not support or vote for their platform.
I sadly predict that the local GOP will be non-existent after Nov 2010.............ENTER THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES! imho
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
BT get off the crazy train--what third party candidates? Your NNTP tanked. GOP needs to revive themselves. Sometimes things need to die before they can live again. Have you not learned that along the way? Dump TB and get somebody in there who has a brain instead of blowing smoke...
BT get off the crazy train--what third party candidates? Your NNTP tanked. GOP needs to revive themselves. Sometimes things need to die before they can live again. Have you not learned that along the way? Dump TB and get somebody in there who has a brain instead of blowing smoke...
Get off 'your' crazy train..............If the reps lose this november, it will be decades before the reps re-emerge to a reputable party. So common sense booms, is that a third party 'has' to evolve. Otherwise schenectady county will be a 'true liberal progressive' dictatorship. And that is thanks to a very dysfunctional local rep party!
And I beg to differ..........the NNTP garnered a vast amount of votes and much support for their first time out. However, myself and many many others are very very disappointed that it didn't continue this election cycle. They would have picked up even more steam. imho
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
An important read about the danger of one party rule. Keep up the infighting boys-maybe you can cause an Assembly seat to flip to the DEMS.
