Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Primary challenges could make for full ballot
Infighting leads to many candidates for town seats
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net

    Voters might want to get a fl ow chart together before heading to the polls for Rotterdam’s primary races in September.
    Party infighting has spurred political candidates to file an almost unprecedented number of primary challenges this year. In addition to nearly a dozen primary races looming for county and town seats, voters will also have the option to write in candidates for supervisor on the Democratic line and highway superintendent on the Working Families line.
    Opportunity-to-ballot petitions were also filed in the supervisor, Town Board and Schenectady County Legislature races for the Conservative Party. But because there are already primary challenges in those races, voters will already be provided with a blank line for write-in candidates.
    “We’re going to be looking at Rotterdam as having a full-blown election here,” said Board of Elections Commissioner Art Brassard in reference to the sheer number of candidates appearing on the ballot.
    Part of the reason for the large number of candidates is the schism that formed between the Rotterdam Democrats and supporters of incumbent Supervisor Frank Del Gallo, who pledged to form the Rotterdam First ticket with his own slate of candidates. Del Gallo, a Conservative, will offer a primary challenge to former Schenectady County sheriff Harry Buffardi for the Conservative line.
    Incumbent town Justice Kevin Mercoglan will face Jim Bradshaw, a prospective Rotterdam First candidate, in primaries for the Conservative, Republican and Independence lines. Larry Lamora, also affiliated with Rotterdam First, will challenge longtime Republican Highway Superintendent Jim Longo for the Conservative nomination.
    Del Gallo is also believed to be challenging Buffardi for the Democratic line. One of his supporters filed for an opportunity to ballot on the line.
    Meanwhile, several of Del Gallo’s fellow candidates on the prospective Rotterdam First ticket will wage primaries against the endorsed Democrats. Dolores Doriguzzi and William Cooke, the former town Democratic Committee chairman, are waging a primary against incumbent Wayne Calder and Mike Viscusi.
    Robert Godlewski, Del Gallo’s deputy, will challenge town Democratic Committee chairman Anthony Jasenski and Angelo Santabarbara for the party’s nomination. Godlewski, who also intends to run on the Rotterdam First line, said he never bothered to approach the Democrats for an endorsement because he knew the party wouldn’t give him one.
    “I’m on my own,” he said of his candidacy Tuesday. “I feel that strong about it.”
    Godlewski’s primary challenge ironically pits him against the two people who topped him in his 2007 bid for the District 4 seat. Jasenski and Santabarbara, then a Republican, narrowly edged out Godlewski, who lost by less than 200 votes.
    Godlewski said it’s his right to challenge the Democrats through the primary process. He said he may not be the most popular candidate among party bosses, but that he’s always had the better interests of residents in mind.
    “I’ve represented the taxpayers,” he said.
    But wait, there’s more........................>>>>..................>>>>................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01300&AppName=1

Viva la resistance!!

I am confused by this article...Bob Godlewski came to my door recently and was totally criticizing DelGallo...now he is running with him?  He clearly said how DelGallo really isnt fit for office and cant run town hall without Mr. godlewski....wth is he joining with DelGallo now to use him for some money like everyone else in town is doing?

I overheard Bob talking to someone at the market and he was saying the only reason the town is still running is because of him...He said he found it amazing that FDG could run the pool business because he couldnt figure out the simplest concepts at town hall... He also told the person he was talking to not to vote for FDG because without Bob there to actually run the town FDG would completely lose and would end up cursing everyone out and would end up getting the town sued.

Quoted from greenlantern

I am confused by this article...Bob Godlewski came to my door recently and was totally criticizing DelGallo...now he is running with him?  He clearly said how DelGallo really isnt fit for office and cant run town hall without Mr. godlewski....wth is he joining with DelGallo now to use him for some money like everyone else in town is doing?

Mr. DelGallo is a good man -- his only mistake was shutting everyone else out and depending on Bob Godlewski so much.    Bob Godlewski is a control freak -- he only helped Mr. DelGallo when it suited himself to do so.  Mostly Bob Godlewski was just looking out for Bob Godlewski ... he screwed everyone who worked hard to get him elected, he has been screwing Mr. DelGallo all along -- but Mr. DelGallo was too nice and trusting to know better  -- and ultimately Bob is screwing the town.  

Bob Godlewski structured it so that NO ONE but Bob Godlewski was at Frank's side and was jealous of anyone who tried to help Mr. DelGallo.   I know this from direct personal experience.   That is why - I still have respect for Mr. DelGallo  but have none for Bob Godlewski.

Mr. DelGallo (IMHO) had the capacity to be a good town supervisor -- if he had the right person or persons working with him -- someone who actually had Mr. DelGallo's and the town's best interest at heart.

Quoted from black spidey

I overheard Bob talking to someone at the market and he was saying the only reason the town is still running is because of him...He said he found it amazing that FDG could run the pool business because he couldn't figure out the simplest concepts at town hall... He also told the person he was talking to not to vote for FDG because without Bob there to actually run the town FDG would completely lose and would end up cursing everyone out and would end up getting the town sued.

How long have you two been living together? Greenie posted the exact quote an hour before. Trying to figure out what Bob said that was wrong. FDG is finished and Bob is taking ANG out at the County. A win-win! Hope the DEMS all bankrupt each other. No wonder ANG is in Spotlight with more chicken s**t. And fasten your seat belt the same thing is happening in the City.

Quoted from benny salami

How long have you two been living together? Greenie posted the exact quote an hour before. Trying to figure out what Bob said that was wrong. FDG is finished and Bob is taking ANG out at the County. A win-win! Hope the DEMS all bankrupt each other. No wonder ANG is in Spotlight with more chicken s**t. And fasten your seat belt the same thing is happening in the City.

Mr. Santabarbara and Mr. Jasenki will whip Bob Godlewski's a** on Primary Day and not even break a sweat doing it.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Mr. Santabarbara and Mr. Jasenki will whip Bob Godlewski's a** on Primary Day and not even break a sweat doing it.  

We shall see. You weren't too accurate on SS Savage who couldn't even carry Niskayuna. Let's see how many real DEMS vote for this REP flip flopper who switched only to gets his arse whipped by George Amedore. Read the story in this weeks Spotlight on ANG's chicken s**t. But he's not sweating just s**ting? Let me guess you didn't carry Bob's petitions this time? lol.

HAHA november will be a blood bath!!!!!!

I'm lickin' my chops now....