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Member of council spurns minor parties
  
By MARV CERMAK, Special to the Times Union
First published: Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Democratic and Republican leaders usually pander to minor parties to obtain cross endorse- ments for their candidates, but Schenectady Councilman Joe Allen proved that isn't necessary.
  
On occasion, he verbally bops police and fire operations during City Hall meetings, something six fellow Democratic council members never do.

Because the oversight wasn't appreciated, he was denied endorsement by the police-controlled Conservative Party and the firefighter-run Independence Party. In last week's election, that punishment cost him about 1,000 votes.

Allen's three Democratic council running mates, armed with the Conservative and Independence endorsements, all received just over 6,100 votes. Allen finished with 5,166.

Nevertheless, he won a third term, outpolling Richard DiCaprio by 805 votes. DiCaprio, a retired cop and enrolled Conservative, was on GOP, Independence and Conservative ballot lines.

"I told Democratic leaders we don't need minor party support to win," Allen said. "I won without them, so the next four years will be fun."

I enjoy the recognition of the minor parties.  They are very important to me.  I have not seen the breakdown of numbers yet from the districts in Duanesburg but in the past I receive more votes on the Conservative and Independence lines then I do registered voters of either party respectively.  It gives people an opportunity to vote for me even if they can't bring themselves to pull that Republican lever.  I love the interview process.  Anytime someone seems genuinely interested in Duanesburg I respond.  Both the Independence and the Conservatives have illustrated that this past season.  I love the Independence party they do their homework before interviewing and have Duanesburg specific questions all ready for me.  This past season is the first time the Conservatives interviewed me under new leadership.  It was a welcome change from the previous Conservative administration.

Okay, I'll not argue the benefit of minor party endorsements...they're basically the swing votes in a two party system.  But my premise is that if you're not actually the candidate from one of the two major parties, it doesn't matter.  Put another way, seeing a candidate's name on the ballot 3 or 4 places I have always thought ridiculous!  Here's what I always think:  why doesn't that party run a candidate of their own?

I agree Michael, that the minor parties should run candidates of their own when there is an individual interested in campaigning for office.  I don't, however, have an issue w/ cross endorsements provided that the candidate who obtains the endorsement of the major party has an ideology that is consistent with that of the minor party or vice versa.  What befuddles and disappoints me is when a minor party awards its (cross) endorsement to a candidate who is running on a major party line but who has values and principles that are inconsistent w/ the minor party platform.

If a minor party has no candidate of its own and the major party candidates do not embody the ideology of the minor party, then the endorsement in the race should be withheld.  Unfortunately, this was not the practice, in my honest opinion, in the most recent race for the District 4 seats on the Schenectady County Legislature in which the Conservative Party awarded its endorsements to the two Democratic party candidates rather than the more conservative Republican candidates.  Fortunately, we were able to win the Conservative party line for one of the candidates (Santabarbara) by waging a very successful write in campaign.

True, Brad, and if someone wants to say that the Minority parties don't mean anything, that it's just another line on the ballot, I would ask that they just look at the results from District 4 in this past election and the results from there.

Those endorsements DO mean something.  It's just that IF you're going to be on a line, then you should have beliefs that go along with that line.

It's exactly what you describe as the occasional (and seemingly more frequent) misguided endorsement that proves their increasing irrelevancy.  The parties have lost their significance, not the voters behind them.  Unfortunately, the political system is broken (when it comes to serving us properly) because the power of the parties to control candidate choices remains.  That is especially true in New York.

I'm not offering anything new really, other than a return to basic fundamentals that I think have been forgotten.

For instance, campaign finance reform always gets lip service but $ still flows and special interests still exert far too much influence.  It's time to start over fresh - no money period.  Apply the same logic to the tax code.  Every time they try to simplify it, it gets more complicated and burdensome.  (I'm still one who does his own tax preparation!)  So rather than try to tame the beast, why not kill it and raise a new one?

Michael, I find your comments and ideas refreshing.  it is basically the same beliefs I have always had and just never took it that extra step like you are.  I agree the political system is broken, I'm not sure your idea will fix it, but it would certainly be a message.  My biggest problem with the system is the disgusting campaign materials and words spoken at election time.  After the election we are all expected to "play nice".  I have already decided that I WILL hold those people accountable who acted in this way.  It is a testament to their overall character, and it is my choice not to do business with people of low character, Democrat or Republican.  This county race should be an embarassment for the dems, last race I was embarassed to be a Republican.  One is as bad as the other.  I don't think a new party or what its called will stop this practice.

You're absolutely right, Rene.  A new party or my involvement unequivocally won't fix it.  But my disgust prevents me from "getting in bed" even in appearance.  From people I've talked to over the past few years, they yearn for true change but wind up falling in line from habit or from lack of an alternative candidate, myself included.  Instantly, anyone who tries to mount an independent run is dismissed as a spoiler with little chance of winning.  With that mindset we'll never get the candidate we need to break through.  The challenge remains even IF they get elected because they are up against incredible opposition from the people already running things.

Can I or anyone else make a difference?  Who knows.  But I do know that if no one tries we've got no right complaining...and certainly no hope of anything changing.  If I wind up running and get trounced, so be it.  At least I tried and can live with myself.  And that's probably the crux of what's holding me back...will it matter?  What I'd really like to see is for the people already drawn to serve to start listening and doing.  

I think that we'd all like that Michael but what can we do when we go to the meetings, voice our disapproval on unfavorable issues, and still our elected officials ignore us.

I know, it's frustrating.  I'm pretty sure I won't have anything further to say down there...it just doesn't seem to be the most productive use of my time.

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Can I or anyone else make a difference?

Maybe not individually, but as a large group?  You never know.

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What I'd really like to see is for the people already drawn to serve to start listening and doing.

  

You have my attention......It's a start considering you just went public with your idea a day ago.

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For instance, campaign finance reform always gets lip service but $ still flows and special interests still exert far too much influence.  It's time to start over fresh - no money period.

Unfortunately this is the only thing that will 'trounce' you....MONEY!! And the major parties have tons of it. And the minority parties are catching up. It is all about power! That is all it is about. Clearly not service to the constituants. It's competition. It's who is going to win. IT IS NASTY!! I say join a party that fits your idiology the closest and run with it. It will get you to your goal quicker. I beleive in REFORM.

The conservs in Rotterdam tried and failed cause their motives were not pure. If their motive had been pure and not geared toward the special interest group(the cops), than perhpas things would have swayed 100% in their direction. You can't change a party from the outside....you need to be on the inside. Collectively, a party CAN be reformed.

Starting a new party does not get rid of the 'nasties' out there. It is just adding another layer to this mess. Mr. Amedore is a good example of trying reform. And so is Mr.Santabarbara. It's done one election at a time.

You must be younger than me, bumblethru.  I admire your view and patience to wade through numerous elections to MAYBE get what you're after.  Sorry, but my patience ran out recently.  I've been taking the approach you advocate and have come to the conclusion it doesn't work.

As far as MONEY goes, I intend to spend what is necessary to convey my message in the manner I want it conveyed.  It won't be the money that trounces me.  Here's what I always think when I receive six, seven, maybe more flyers from some candidate...if he spends other people's money (contributions) like this, what's he going to do with mine (tax dollars)?  Candidates have actually lost my vote that way.

You're right that starting a new party won't get rid of the nasties out there but at least I won't be contributing to the nastiness.  I'll win or lose the old-fashioned way...with my dignity intact.

You say it's all about power.  I notice your tag line "Power tends to corrupt..."  If you want reform, why would someone like me need to be with a party to get your vote?

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I enjoy the recognition of the minor parties.  They are very important to me.  I have not seen the breakdown of numbers yet from the districts in Duanesburg but in the past I receive more votes on the Conservative and Independence lines then I do registered voters of either party respectively.  It gives people an opportunity to vote for me even if they can't bring themselves to pull that Republican lever. I love the interview process.  Anytime someone seems genuinely interested in Duanesburg I respond.  Both the Independence and the Conservatives have illustrated that this past season.  I love the Independence party they do their homework before interviewing and have Duanesburg specific questions all ready for me.  This past season is the first time the Conservatives interviewed me under new leadership.  It was a welcome change from the previous Conservative administration.

It is a religion to alot of folks in the recent past, who knows about the present generations.