John Mertz has ALWAYS been a high vote getter! This time will be no exception! And with the present rep party in disaray, it should be clear sailing for him!
Too bad he didn't run for supervisor. He could have and would have beat both candidates hands down AND 'sparky the cat'!
I wonder if tommasone will get the con's nod now? Or maybe he did already. I honestly don't remember. There are so many people running for office that I can't keep track of who endorsed who and who is just plain running on their own!!!!! 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
Mertz was endorsed by the Republicans for two consecutive terms until suddenly being dumped from the ticket last fall. At the time, committee Chairman Gerard Parisi said the decision was made because of the Mertz’s “controversial actions” and inability to work effectively with other departments in Rotterdam.
Perhaps Parisi means that Mertz wouldn't go along with the dysfunction. IMHO
Quoted Text
Mertz said the abrupt decision to drop him from the ticket was in response to cuts he had proposed in the 2009 budget that Parisi — who also serves as one of the town attorneys — didn’t agree with.
Can Parisi be the rep chair AND the town attorney at the same time?
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
From attending the town board meetings and planning commission meetings it appeared to me that it was Parisi who was making the decisions at the meetings not the elected officials. I don't remember voting for him so why does he get to make decisions that affect my taxes and living conditions. With a little luck maybe the town will be able to appoint a new town attorney. The winds of change are coming and I hope that they're blowing in the right direction.
When people go out there in hopes of being elected WITHOUT A MAJOR PARTY endorsement......that in itself speaks volumes! There are the few like 'sparky the cat', who clearly have personal/political motives. As for the rest, they are in it to 'make a positive difference' for the people. 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
From attending the town board meetings and planning commission meetings it appeared to me that it was Parisi who was making the decisions at the meetings not the elected officials. I don't remember voting for him so why does he get to make decisions that affect my taxes and living conditions. With a little luck maybe the town will be able to appoint a new town attorney. The winds of change are coming and I hope that they're blowing in the right direction.
sadly in this country we have given our voices over to our lawyers via votes/$$......shame shame shame...... we dont even take the stand for innocence anymore......
healthcare reform---s#$% that can only come about with legal/tort reform.......
shall we retain lawyers? shall we retain doctors? or shall we retain our voices/minds?
what a deep dark hole we are digging......
the politicos are blaming everyone/thing else for healtcare problems when in fact they are confusing issues with the sheeple......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
GB ~ I got thinking about something over the weekend while I was mowing my lawn; why would Surhada agree to align himself with Parisi and try to take out another Repub and probably the most conservative of the bunch? Not that it really matters because at the end of the day they will cancel each other out.
Is it because he has nothing to show for his last 8 years on the county leg? What is his motivation for moving down to the town race? I mean really, it's easy to talk the talk about being a conservative when you're in the minority. Try that on the town level and Parisi will smack him down too. The reality is that he lost all credibility when he jumped in the town race, it's actually quite amusing.
By the way ~ not french. Also, not sure what you're referencing when you say Surhada wouldn't back down from a frenchman who wanted to kick his a___? Maybe you can help me with that? Sounds like you know Surhada pretty well and you relate to his anger issues.
funny man, easy to be all tough and making fun when anonymous! You probably peep into Surhada's underwear drawer too when he is out! Very cute. You should call him up and ask him these questions yourself. I am sure he will buy you a coffee of something and explain it to you. I heard he is quite approachable, and I wouldn't worry about any anger issues since (as you well know) he was never arrested, or had charges pressed, or had a restraining order, or any other kind of police record from what I have heard, and I sure that some of you checked. I did hear he doesn't wash his car enough, spills coffee on his shirt, is sometimes missing a button on his JC Penny blazer, and of course- Chris Gardner caught him in white a few days before Memorial Day one year; but all and all I hear he walks old ladies across the street, picks people up who crash their bicycles and has a soft spot for disabled kids and animals.
Maybe some day you will run for office too, and you will have to make decisions that make 50% of the folks mad no matter what. That is, if you have the guts to expose yourself to the venom. But many of us have valid excuses for why you are only able to criticize and not get into those trenches personally. Time, money, wanting to protect the family from the same venom some spew. And some of us are rightfully afraid of making powerful enemies who want to hurt you, and harm the future of your family. All things political leaders do especially when they actually join a minority party during an era of a well-financed dictatorship.
So call the man up and ask to talk man to man or woman to man as it may be.
But then again I guess, you like some others don't want facts. You Felipe, or Cicero or RWilson, or whoever you are this moment, want to deal in hypothesis, and what-ifs, and prognosticate as to what is going to happen. Of course past performance does not equal future results; but so many of you see boogie-men in those thar' hills (Parisi and Buchanan.) I say ask the candidates to have a face to face to explain where they stand, in person. Most of them go door to door and chat with the residents and actually answer questions. I am sure they would love to talk to you and then you could find out who they really are and aren't. Good idea, isn't it?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
You're right, most candidates go door to door and you can ask all the questions you want to but the problem is when they get into office they don't do what they promised.
Some are more accessible than other, I agree. Not all do what they will say, but there are factors such as peer pressure, the bureaucratic "experts" get hold of them, other interest groups make themselves known and heard far more than the average taxpayer, and they don't listen to the best advisors at all times. I can imagine it is frustrating when the interest groups line up each meeting to cry for more expenditures, and bring a ton of people to the podium to argue their case, whether it be about high groundwater levels and poor drainage, more welfare, or more jobs in a nursing home. The average taxpayer just pays, shuts their mouths, swallows all the largess, and never says a peep, and more likely than not never finds their way to town hall until someone proposes a shop in the neighborhood that sells dirty magazines.
But I would suggest you look them up and have a chat, or send a note, or go to town hall or the county board and make a statement, general or specific, without calling them jerks as soon as you get to the podium, or telling them they look like Yoda, or something equally demeaning. My own opinion. Do it twice a year-once during the budget and once in the middle of the year. If you are super interested, go to as many as you can. when you watch the town board meetings on TV you see the same people at each meeting. I wish more people went.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
The way I see it is that the issue of 'the day' is CUT SPENDING! What a concept, huh? Well, how do we cut spending in a town who gives out raises to their townboardsman during an economic downturn and a hike in taxes? How do we cut spending when a town proposes tens of thousands of dollars to an ambulance service when there was clearly a cheaper and better alternative to the taxpayers. How do we lower taxes for EVERYONE, when there is a proposal to give people with in-law apts a tax break, which will ultimately shift the tax burden onto those who don't? How do we cut spending when we employ people (who will also receive benefits) to run a town landfill, when in fact we are already paying for one at the county level? How do we cut spending when we employ and pay for a town police dept, the state police AND a sheriff's dept, that all carry a huge budget for all three? How do we cut spending when we pay for an assistant to the town clerk that may not even be needed? And how do we cut spending when little bitty Rotterdam has 'how many fire districts'?
Look....every single politician runs their campaign on LOWER TAXES! I have yet to ever see that done. And it really can be with the right leadership. I don't think it is really that difficult. I think I, a lowly resident, just listed a few ways! 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
LOL How do you know so much about such things? Hmmm very interesting. Good points though. A start would be sweep Tomassone, Signore, Mertz (who is on his way) Marchinkowski out with the trash. They created the mess and we the people can do something about it. Don't forget the Economic advisor, Town IDA, hires in the Public works department, out of union contract promotions and raises, neighbors getting jobs (Mr Mertz is famous for that one) and last but not least the huge salary increases to the chosen ones. Who you kidding there My Bumble? Sounds like you are trying to convince someone too forget the failures and vote for YOU!
LOL How do you know so much about such things? Hmmm very interesting. Good points though. A start would be sweep Tomassone, Signore, Mertz (who is on his way) Marchinkowski out with the trash. They created the mess and we the people can do something about it. Don't forget the Economic advisor, Town IDA, hires in the Public works department, out of union contract promotions and raises, neighbors getting jobs (Mr Mertz is famous for that one) and last but not least the huge salary increases to the chosen ones. Who you kidding there My Bumble? Sounds like you are trying to convince someone too forget the failures and vote for YOU!
I know so much because I 'choose' to know. It is mine and my families town and tax dollar. I am just a resident who works in the private sector to support my family....really!! But if I was runing ya wouldn't want to vote for me, cause ya wouldn't like the outcome!!! There would be just ONE police force. There would be just ONE fire district. There would be a private sector ambulance dept. There would be just ONE person in the town clerks office. The salaries that were just increased would be resinded. There would be just ONE landfill. There would be people looking for another job.....! Ya see....I'd piss everyone off!
So NO I asure you that I'm not running for any office or ever held one. I would never put my family through that mud hole. I'm a registerd blank....again with no horse in this race....But the things I have mentioned are things that seem obvious to me that could save the taxpayer some bucks. And that is what 'I' look for in a candidate, honestly! 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
GB ~ This is going to be fun! Here are a few quotes from Surhada’s press release:
"Service isn't about gladhanding to death every voter and promising goodies and things they want to hear. It isn't about being afraid to take a stand. It's about protecting the public trust, and keeping the people safe by offering good services in policing, ambulance, fire protection, safe public roadways, and doing so with efficiency."
Honestly, is he joking here? Parisi promises the goodies and Tommasone signs the checks! If Surhada thinks he’s going to change that he’s crazy. We’re talking about Rotterdam, same ‘ol games people play. Joe has been a part of this group for years, acting like he’s not aligned with them is disingenuous at best. Oh, and double talk it is, did you see “ambulance” in his press release? By the way, he also talks about term limits ~ Ha! Why is he running then?
"A public servant must have the courage to say 'no' even if it is unpopular or loses votes. Thinking we can spend and tax our way out of a problem has been the downfall of many a society. Every cent must be spent as if it is our own, not as if it is just a giant vat of other peoples' money. Sadly, this is the latest vogue and I fear we are bound to repeat our failures if the leaders don't act like grown ups."
Three guys had “courage to say ‘no’” to Tommasone’s budget, DellaVilla, Mertz and Silva. DellaVilla is protected for another two years, Mertz got taken out by those he dared cross and Silva got out all together. I almost think that Surhada should become a comedian. In all the years he has represented Rotterdam you would think he would have spoken out against the proposed tax increases that Tommasone has made year after year. Don’t be fooled, when Tommasone says that his administration has produced low or no tax increases, that wasn’t HIS proposal ~ Tommasone’s proposals have always been in double digits. Just ask BoGod.
Suhrada has strong interest in working with the current board on matters of budgeting, public safety, and senior and veterans affairs- areas near and dear to his heart. He wants to maintain the character of the residential neighborhoods while providing for growth in commercial tax base. Most of all Suhrada wants to be a leader who works "closest to the people, for the good of the people, not a party or special interest group."
This is probably the most entertaining, boy does he sound like a politician! Working with the current board on matters of budgeting? That would include everyone on the board but Mertz. We can all rest assured that when it comes to budgeting, Surhada will make sure that Parisi gets paid and won’t question anything that Tommasone proposes, after all, Surhada wants to work for the good of the people, not a party ~ did he really say that? Does he not support the Republican Party?
What a joke. Mertz should lose because he didn’t learn how to do the right thing in a politically correct manner, Surhada should lose because he’s taking his ball and going home.
I honestly don't remember. There are so many people running for office that I can't keep track of who endorsed who and who is just plain running on their own!!!!! IMHO 
Logged
funny man, easy to be all tough and making fun when anonymous! You probably peep into Surhada's underwear drawer too when he is out! Very cute. You should call him up and ask him these questions yourself. I am sure he will buy you a coffee of something and explain it to you. I heard he is quite approachable, and I wouldn't worry about any anger issues since (as you well know) he was never arrested, or had charges pressed, or had a restraining order, or any other kind of police record from what I have heard, and I sure that some of you checked. I did hear he doesn't wash his car enough, spills coffee on his shirt, is sometimes missing a button on his JC Penny blazer, and of course- Chris Gardner caught him in white a few days before Memorial Day one year; but all and all I hear he walks old ladies across the street, picks people up who crash their bicycles and has a soft spot for disabled kids and animals. 
