Rotterdam Democrat says town GOP violated election law Friday, March 7, 2008 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
ROTTERDAM — In a bit of political tit for tat, a Rotterdam Democratic committeeman is alleging town Republicans improperly failed to disclose receipt of four campaign contributions, a violation of state election law.
Republicans counter they violated no laws and that the contributions will show up on later financial disclosure forms, or were recorded elsewhere.
Democrat Robert J. Godlewski, a former town councilman who ran unsuccessfully for Schenectady County Legislature last year, made the allegations in a filing Feb. 27 with the state Board of Elections. Godlewski filed his charges about two weeks after Buchanan filed charges of his own that Democrats accepted an illegal campaign donation from a foreign company.
“Democrats are grasping at straws. They blatantly violated McCain-Feingold and now they are trying to create a story where frankly there isn’t one,” said Tom Buchanan, chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee.
Godlewski said the Rotterdam Town Republican Committee “purposefully failed to disclose its contributors” and that “the evidence is that underreporting is massive.” He called the town committee’s lack of reporting “deceptive, systematic and well beyond the range of explicable good faith error.” He called on the state Board of Elections to “issue monetary and all other appropriate sanctions.”
Godlewski listed four contributions to the town committee between Sept. 23, 2007, and Jan. 7, 2008, that total less than $500. Two are from the BBL PAC LLC, a political action committee affiliated with one of the Capital Region’s largest construction and development companies. One for $99 is from Friends of Farley and the last for $75 is from Friends of Joseph Signore.
State election law requires an active political committee to list any contribution it receives either as itemized or unitemized, depending on the amount. The amount threshold is $99.
Robert Brehm, deputy director of public information for the state Board of Elections, said the law’s intent is to prevent committees, contributors or both from exceeding campaign limits.
Buchanan said at least one of BBL’s contributions, for $250, actually went to the Schenectady County Republican Committee. BBL incorrectly recorded it had sent the check to the town committee, he said.
BBL’s donation appears on the county Republican’s 32 Day Pre-General Financial Disclosure for 2007, Schedule C, Buchanan said. The donation was to a fund-raising party celebrating Republican George Amedore Jr.’s victory in the 105th Assembly District race.
BBL’s second donation of $150 did go to the town committee, and the committee plans to list it in its July 2008 financial disclosure, Buchanan said. The donation was for a party in December that celebrated the Republicans’ victory in capturing a supermajority on the town board.
“We deposited the checks after the cut-off date for filing the forms,” he said.
Buchanan said the smaller donations either show up as unitemized donations or will show up as unitemized donations on future disclosures.
“We report everything,” he said.
Brehm said contributions often show up on later disclosure forms, which is acceptable. He said the state will review Godlewski’s complaint for appropriateness. If the state determines there is a violation, the committee could face criminal or civil penalties.
Godlewski refused to discuss his allegations.
“There are two impartial agencies reviewing it, and until they done with their reviews, I will not make any comment,” he said. “I filed those complaints based on the information based on those [financial disclosure] reports.”
CanaRx Services, based in Tecumsen, Ontario, gave $5,000 to the Schenectady County Democratic Committee in November, a violation of the 2002 McCain-Feingold Law, Buchanan said. The law prohibits a political committee from accepting a contribution from a foreign national in connection with elections.
Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian Quail said the committee returned the donation when it realized the error in accepting it.
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March 7, 2008, 6:13pm
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Quail should be ashamed of himself - wasn't he the one that called the Republicans childish for bringing the $5k to light - then he does the same thing over something so trivial that HAS been reported in accordance with the law.
Godlewski has got to be kidding! He is a dimwit that has done nothing for this community except keep it in the dark. He failed miserably during the last election so he is playing the democrat card that they all play so well and that is the typical 'mud slinging'.
And as far as Quail...he is another waste! Like I have said before...the dems have long lost their ability to govern the people and are obviously unraveling at the seams and are loosing the ability to govern themselves. They truly are grabbing for straws!
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
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Teacup political flaps continue Democrats follow Republicans with own allegations BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Cranking up the political heat a bit, a Rotterdam Democratic committeeman is alleging town Republicans improperly failed to disclose receipt of four campaign contributions, a violation of state election law if true. Republicans counter they violated no laws and that the contributions will show up on later financial disclosure forms, or were recorded elsewhere. Democrat Robert J. Godlewski, a former town councilman who ran unsuccessfully for Schenectady County Legislature last year, made the allegations in a filing Feb. 27 with the state Board of Elections. Godlewski filed his charges about two weeks after Buchanan filed charges of his own, alleging Democrats accepted an illegal campaign donation from a foreign company. Republicans are challenging Democrats’ political control over the county Legislature, City Hall and the City Council. They have an opportunity to capture at least one seat in the Legislature, which Democrats control 11-4, in a special election this November. Next year, however, will be a crucial year when seven seats are to be contested, six of them now held by Democrats. “Democrats are grasping at straws. They blatantly violated McCain-Feingold and now they are trying to create a story where frankly there isn’t one,” said Tom Buchanan, chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee. CanaRx Services, based in Tecumsen, Ontario, gave $5,000 to the Schenectady County Democratic Committee in November, a violation of the 2002 McCain-Feingold Law, Buchanan said. The law prohibits a political committee from accepting a contribution from a foreign national in connection with elections. Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian Quail said the committee returned the donation when it realized the error in accepting it. DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE Godlewski said the Rotterdam Town Republican Committee “purposefully failed to disclose its contributors” and that “the evidence is that under-reporting is massive.” He called the town committee’s lack of reporting “deceptive, systematic and well beyond the range of explicable good faith error.” Godlewski listed four contributions to the town committee between Sept. 23, 2007, and Jan. 7, 2008; these total less than $500. Two are from the BBL PAC LLC, a political action committee affiliated with one of the Capital Region’s largest construction and development companies. One for $99 is from Friends of Farley and the last for $75 is from Friends of Joseph Signore. State election law requires an active political committee to list any contribution it receives, depending on the amount. The amount threshold is $99. Robert Brehm, deputy director of public information for the state Board of Elections, said the law’s intent is to prevent committees, contributors or both from exceeding campaign limits. He formerly was the Democratic commissioner in the Schenectady County Board of Elections. Buchanan said at least one of BBL’s contributions, for $250, actually went to the Schenectady County Republican Committee. BBL incorrectly recorded it had sent the check to the town committee, he said. The donation was to a fund-raising party celebrating Republican George Amedore Jr.’s victory in the 105th Assembly District race. BBL’s second donation of $150 did go to the town committee, and the committee plans to list it in its July 2008 financial disclosure, Buchanan said. The donation was for a party in December that celebrated the Republicans’ victory in capturing a super majority on the Rotterdam Town Board. “We deposited the checks after the cut-off date for filing the forms,” he said. “We report everything.” Brehm said contributions often show up on later disclosure forms, which is acceptable. He said the state will review Godlewski’s complaint for appropriateness. If the state determines there is a violation, the committee could face criminal or civil penalties. Godlewski refused to discuss his allegations. “There are two impartial agencies reviewing it, and until they are done with their reviews, I will not make any comment,” he said. Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com
The residents of District 4 made the right choice in the election for the Schenectady County Legislature by rejecting Godlewski in his bid for the seat. As an added bonus, his term on the Rotterdam town board ended as well. Godlewski's exaggerated and apparently inaccurate claims are testament to his willingness to adhere to the partisan party line rather than exercise good judgement. The accusations by Quail and Godlewski are a calculated, but ineffective attempt to diffuse the outcry over the acceptance by the Schenectady County Democratic Committee of an illegal $5,000 campaign contribution from a foreign national in exchange for a lucrative county contract. The acceptance of the donation is a criminal violation of federal election law and the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act and justifies the claims by many of a "pay to play" arrangement in the awarding of Metroplex funding and Schenectady county contracts.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This crime /kraɪm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krahym] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited. 2. criminal activity and those engaged in it: to fight crime. 3. the habitual or frequent commission of crimes: a life of crime. 4. any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin. 5. a foolish, senseless, or shameful act: It's a crime to let that beautiful garden go to ruin.
Word on the street is that Judy Dagastino and Godlewski will run for County Legislature District 4 seats in 2009. Let's begin our efforts to send them both packing by electing fiscal conservatives to the government body.
Word on the street is that Judy Dagastino and Godlewski will run for County Legislature District 4 seats in 2009. Let's begin our efforts to send them both packing by electing fiscal conservatives to the government body.
God help us all if they both get elected! I agree, we must start an all out campaign AGAINST these two and it really shouldn't be that difficult to do. I believe that we can keep Godlewski out and knock Dagastino out of the box. The only glitch will be WHO the reps choose to run against them. I do hope they are planning now!
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
Joe Signore can't run because he works for the county and will have a hard time winning re-election to the council seat he occupies. Nepotism, pay raise and FBI investiagtion will once again rear their ugly head.
Joe Signore can't run because he works for the county and will have a hard time winning re-election to the council seat he occupies. Nepotism, pay raise and FBI investiagtion will once again rear their ugly head.
THE FBI??? They're too busy with that Spitzer guy right now!!
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
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