I attended the Orange County Democratic dinner this past Sunday evening. It was held pretty close to Middletown at the Brookside Manor. I went as part of the supporting team to elect Larry Delarose for the New York State Senate since Kingston is in the 39th District.
Both Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and John Hall were presented Distinguished Service Awards by the committee with introductions by their respective Assembly representatives Skartados and Gunther. It was your typical affair, with a cocktail hour, followed by light buffet, plenty of speeches and finally a dinner that surpassed our ability to finish.Tom DiNapoli, our State Comptroller rounded out the evening with his anticipated speech focusing on the financial state of the state, how chaotic the budget talks have become and where we stand as Democrats heading into the 2010 elections. All expected at a political function.
The hall was littered with candidates running for AG, State offices and some local judgeships. Nick Woerner was in attendance to help support candidate Eric Dinallo, shown here being walked around by Elliott Auerbach. Sean Coffey and Kathleen Rice were working the crowd as well. No sign of Brodsky, Schneiderman or Holtzman.What was unusual, was an endorsement letter placed at each setting at every table. With Frank Skartados' heading at the top, it was an endorsement of Harley Doles for Senate. It was on paper I had seen before. I used it myself my first run as Alderman here in the City of Kingston. It might be OK for a City Council or Town Board election, but for an Assemblyman? Not so much.
Here's the best part...I wander over to where Frank is talking about the Assembly with Nick Woerner and Vince Bradley, where the issue of the endorsement letter comes up. Nick picks up the letter to show him, where Frank says: "Whats that?" We come to find out that Assemblyman Skartados didn't know that his staff whipped up an endorsement letter for Doles, signed his name to it, and dispersed the copies to the tables before the event.The look on Frank's face: Priceless.
Considering the damage to Frank at this point in both "choosing" one candidate over another and using the faded flag stationary in his name, Frank made a point to reach out to Larry in what looked like serious conversation in the back of the hall. I can only imagine what happened after the event when Frank got to engage our friends Phil and Trish Schacter on the issue. Personally, I don't know that I would tolerate a juvenile stunt like that had I been the Assemblyman, but then, I am speaking from the perspective of the opposing candidate. I might be biased?The Ulster County conventions cant come soon enough to put these petty insider fights to rest and we can get on with the election season.
8 comments:
Now Hinchey is telling the Resident of Newburgh how to form there governement.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ENDORSEMENTS FOR PARTY CANDIDATES WERE MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES IN THEIR DISTRICT. SEEMS TO ME THESE FOLKS KNOW FIRST HAND WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WISH TO SUPPORT THEM. OUTSIDE INFLUENCES RARELY WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS COMPETITION FOR THE ENDORSEMENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO PUT IT SIMPLY "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS".
2:07 has a good point. When you've got the staff of another candidate working to undermine a fellow candidate. it just smells bad. These are the people who insisted on moving their main offices from Newburgh to Poughkeepsie because they didn't want to work in the crime zone. Skartados should be more concerned for his own re-election and pull his people back from the fringe.
Skartados got involved in a Primary last year in Newburgh. That is why he will lose there and for the first time Kirwin will win Newburgh.
I do not think that it is beneath Skartados to give this letter and then back off it when the political winds suit him!
By the way, since this Kingston Progressive is supporting Delarose, did you know that he was a Republican and changed party just to run for office? Also, have you asked Delarose about the missing money and why he had to resign from an Albany position?
11:01, you bring up a good point about party affiliation. Larry had become fed up with Calhoon as his philosophy and fiscal views became less republican the more he engaged the powers in Orange County. I've had that discussion with Larry. I am continually shocked at how progressive his views are and find it odd that he ever embraced their party label.
As for throwing "missing money" issues out there without specifics is part of the process in a campaign and fully understand where bomb throwing comes into this arena.
Thanks for reading.
Skartados didn't back off the letter. He didn't know that it was going to be printed on tacky stationery and distributed at the dinner. As far as endorsements go, 2:07 has no idea how that works. Candidates receive endorsements all the time from elected officials. Jon Sennett got endorsed by Schumer and Clinton, for example. Skartados endorsing Doles is no different. To 2:21 - "the staff of a candidate working to undermine a fellow candidate"? That's exactly what this blog did by insinuating that Skartados' letter wasn't genuine. It's the pot calling the kettle black.
7:57...Thank you for clearing that up.
Phil actually called and left a voicemail sayining he is almost positive he showed the endorsement letter to Frank before sending it to the public.
The report from me is based on Franks surprise at the dinner. Sure he can endorse anyone he wants during a primary or general. The lesson here is make sure you and your staff are on the same page and establish who manages who.
We need Skartados in the Assembly. It is my opinion that we need Delarose in the State Senate. Readers here know my intent as a progressive when they visit this Blog.
If Harley wants to run, he has every right to. I would be a prime advocate for that now, wouldn't I?
After hearing some of the back and forth on the last minute candidacy of Mr. Doles from Monroe I think he should concentrate on running for election for Mayor in Kiryus Joel. Sounds like a plan to me.
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