Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Insurgents plan a new political party
Rotterdam-based group tries to form ‘No Tax Party’
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com

    Schenectady County may see the birth next month of a new political party whose main platform is to lower taxes.
    The “No Tax Party” is an effort by Republicans John Mertz and Mike O’Connor and Conservatives Brad Littlefield and Brian McGarry.
    Mertz is on the Rotterdam Town Board and he and O’Connor are candidates for it; McGarry is running for Rotterdam supervisor; and Littlefield is running for a seat on the Schenectady County Legislature in District 4, which includes Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg.
    They have to collect approximately 1,000 signatures to register the party by Aug. 18 with the Schenectady County Board of Elections. If the effort is successful, the party line will appear for the first time on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to election officials.
    Littlefield, Mertz, O’Connor and McGarry are also trying to obtain their respective party lines through primaries on Sept. 15.
    O’Connor said the No Tax Party is dedicated to reducing taxes in Rotterdam and in the county. “We think we have the right message. The taxpayer is crushed. We are committed to providing that relief.”
    O’Connor said the new party’s philosophy is similar to that expressed by Boston Tea Party protesters. He said he and the others are working with Wade Abbott of the New York Tea Party Patriots in organizing their political party.
    “We are our own thing, but it reflects what you are seeing in these Tea Party movements,” O’Connor said.
    Littlefield said he and the others decided to create a new party because they believe the Republican and Conservative parties in the county are out of touch with residents on controlling taxes.
    “We share the belief that the parties do not see real tax reform as their primary focus,” Littlefield said.
    McGarry said he is involved because, “I am frustrated by what is going on at the national level and I want to do something locally. I am not for expanding government or about new taxing authorities. We need to get serious about what we are doing about government.”
    Littlefield said the effort to create a new party is a challenge. “But we have a commitment and a belief and some good shoes. It’s about getting out to the people, going door to door.”
    Mertz said the Republican Party in Rotterdam is split, and that he, O’Connor and McGarry represent a new faction, which he called fiscal conservatives.
    “This came about as a result of the Republican Party moving in different directions. There is a schism in the party between fiscal conservatives and the rest. They want to create a new taxing district. We represent the fiscal conservative movement,” Mertz said.
    The town is considering a referendum to establish a tax district to support Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services, which is facing fiscal problems.
    If approved by voters, the company could become tax-funded much like the town’s volunteer fi re departments.
    Mertz, O’Connor and McGarry support REMS but oppose the proposed tax district.
    Mertz said the No Tax Party candidates will “refuse to vote for any new taxes in our next terms. That means making some difficult and hard choices, that is what people enact their officials to do.”
    Tom Buchanan, chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee, disputed Mertz’s statements. “There is no rift in the party. This is sour grapes. It is a personal vendetta Mertz has against [Rotterdam Supervisor Steven] Tommasone and the Republican Party.”
    Buchanan said Mertz “has very little support in town. He is a one man band on a mission of destruction,” and he scoffed at the creation of the No Tax Party.
    “There already is a No Tax Party. It is called the Republican Party under Steven Tommasone.”

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01201

i guess the people in the junction will be lucky if the current board adopts the resolution for construction of the water tower as

once the new no tax party takes over, we here in the town center will be showering by rolling in the dew laden grass when our water towers fail because we look forward to no  new taxes to replace or repair them  

it make sense to start small but don't destroy my town while you are starting out

this is a situation in which these ideas need to start at the top with the removal of unfunded mandates and labor contracts

the idea is great but not the best implementation

I disagree with you on this one pope. If you follow the ideology of the tea party or any true conservative, they are not for or would there be a result in 'lack of services' under a no tax party. In fact it would be just the opposite. The question is 'WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT'? Kind of like getting back to basics.

Now use a little common sense here pope...the role of government is to provide safe drinking water, emergency services and protection. I'm sure there is more....but everyone knows that there is a ton of 'fluff' in all budgets. Everyone knows that budgets at all levels of government can be leaner.

Mandates and non-mandated programs need to be looked at. Patronage jobs need to be addressed. Union negotiations need to be negotiated with the taxpayers in the forefront.

Really pope, we aren't talking water towers here. That is just nonsense. Open your eyes, ears and mind and look at the BIGGER picture!

And I don't believe this is a party thing either. Or so called sour grapes. I see it as men trying to make a difference FOR the taxpayers. This clearly isn't a popularity contest. It's based on ideology!! And this same thing is happening in towns and cities all over th country. People are fed up! All parties have failed the people miserably and this change is long over due. Just read and listen. Plain and simple!

The.pope,
I understand your concern regarding the water tower, as this is an issue that has gone on way too long.  I think, if you were to ask these people their stance on this, it would be in the following area.  A. The project needs to be done, but at the most economical price possible.  
B. The people cannot afford the additional expense,as they're already paying for enough other "pork.". I believe these people (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would simply look to have this a 0-sum game, making enough cuts to the budget to pay for projects such as this out of money that was already planned to be spent, maybe starting with getting rid of the extensive plan that they had for repaving of streets over the few past/next years, as well as other cuts that could be made.

Mr. Lamendola mistakenly reported the party as the "No Tax Party".  It is the "No New Tax Party".

And, to the.pope's stated concern, the legitimate role of government includes the development and maintenance
of the infrastructure.  Though I won't speak to the Rotterdam Junction water tower issue (as it is a town and not a county issue), it is, of course, part of the infrastructure.

The.pope,
I understand your concern regarding the water tower, as this is an issue that has gone on way too long.  I think, if you were to ask these people their stance on this, it would be in the following area.  A. The project needs to be done, but at the most economical price possible.  
B. The people cannot afford the additional expense,as they're already paying for enough other "pork.". I believe these people (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would simply look to have this a 0-sum game, making enough cuts to the budget to pay for projects such as this out of money that was already planned to be spent, maybe starting with getting rid of the extensive plan that they had for repaving of streets over the few past/next years, as well as other cuts that could be made.

The.pope,
I understand your concern regarding the water tower, as this is an issue that has gone on way too long.  I think, if you were to ask these people their stance on this, it would be in the following area.  A. The project needs to be done, but at the most economical price possible.  
B. The people cannot afford the additional expense,as they're already paying for enough other "pork.". I believe these people (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would simply look to have this a 0-sum game, making enough cuts to the budget to pay for projects such as this out of money that was already planned to be spent, maybe starting with getting rid of the extensive plan that they had for repaving of streets over the few past/next years, as well as other cuts that could be made.

No New Tax Party

I thought it appropriate to unveil and explain (clarify) our initiative in my own words, now that Mr. Lamendola has given you his interpretation of our effort.

Our candidate slate is comprised of:
•     Brian McGarry for Rotterdam Town Supervisor
•     John Mertz for Rotterdam Town Council
•     Michael O’Connor for Rotterdam Town Council
•     Brad Littlefield for Schenectady County Legislator District 4

We are collectively, trying to collect petition signatures in an effort to create a new independent ballot line, the No New Tax Party.

Our message is simple and straightforward:  No New Taxes.  We are all committed to 0% tax increases for the next 2 years.  We believe it is a realistic and achievable goal.  More importantly, we know from knocking on hundreds of doors that it is what the people need, want, expect, and demand.  The taxpayer is maxed out.  He desperately needs relief.    

This is a grassroots effort, not an insurgency, to create a totally new dynamic of governance.  A dynamic where taxpayer concern is placed first.  We aim to shed the labels and constraints of party politics we’ve grown accustomed to and replace them with a true commitment to fiscal restraint and tax dollar efficiency.  We need our government to operate within its means, just like we are expected to do in our own lives.  It’s about priorities.


http://www.michael-oconnor.org

In the mean time file a legal challenge to the validity of each and every (50) Republican volunteer committee persons in the town. Makes sense (if you are trying to be certain of one party, liberal Democrat rule in 100% of the seats from county to state to federal.)

Puffy Lamendola gets the name of the new party wrong? It's the NO NEW TAXES PARTY-we await a retraction. He never makes small mistakes.

      This means an actual choice for all voters, no matter the outcome of the many party primaries.

The retraction, if it appears, will likely be buried on page C4, down in the bottom left.

Quoted from benny salami

This means an actual choice for all voters, no matter the outcome of the many party primaries.

Party leadership FEAR primaries!  They don't want to offer choice.  They want you to believe this is as good as it gets.  So you either vote for us or them.  

GrahamBonnet is terrified to wage the war of ideas within his/her own party.  

Quoted from benny salami

Puffy Lamendola gets the name of the new party wrong? It's the NO NEW TAXES PARTY-we await a retraction. He never makes small mistakes.

      This means an actual choice for all voters, no matter the outcome of the many party primaries.

I personally thought that Lamendola did a good job in this article.

Quoted from bumblethru

I personally thought that Lamendola did a good job in this article.

Prolly cause you wrote the release.  Nighty Nighty there John Boy

Graham Bonnet LOVES a competition ESPECIALLY A PRIMARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!