DiLeva to depart R'dam Town Board, Buffardi bids for Supervisor
Rotterdam Supervisor Frank Del Gallo is not getting help from town Democrats in his bid for reelection as Harry Buffardi steps up for his seat.
The Rotterdam Democratic Committee officially endorsed its Town Board candidates for the upcoming election. Endorsements include Wayne Calder, who was elected to Gerard Parisi’s vacant position last year, and new board prospects Mike Viscusi for councilman and Buffardi to lead the board. Nicola DiLeva, a conservative cross endorsed by the Democrats, said she isn’t going to run for reelection. Also, Democrats Matthew Martin and Robert Godlewski's terms don’t expire until the 2013 election.
With three seats up for grabs in Rotterdam, the Democrats are vying for control.
“The attributes and accomplishments of the candidates receiving endorsements is well known,” said Anthony Jasenski, chairman of the Rotterdam Democratic Committee and county legislator, in a statement. “Each of them possess the unique qualities and characteristics that will allow them continued success in fulfilling our public service mission and providing the residents of Rotterdam with the excellent levels of attention and responsiveness that they deserve.”
Outside Town Board bids, the Democrats endorsed Vincent Romano for Town Highway Superintendent and Kevin Mercoglan for Town Justice. On the county level, town Democrats are supporting Jasenski and Angelo Santabarbara for reelection to the County Legislature. Town Democrats are also supporting Mark Powers in his bed for a second term as County Family Court Judge. The Schenectady County Democratic Committee must still make these endorsements formally.
Though for one councilwoman, enough was enough.
DiLeva is leaving the board once her term expires at the end of the year. Over the last several months DiLeva has clashed with Del Gallo on various issues, often leading to heated debates at board meetings. What she hoped to accomplish, she said, couldn’t be achieved. While cross endorsed by the Democrats in her previous bid, she insists she is a Conservative.
“I am there to help the people and the residents and they are there to do what is best for the party and I am not a part of the party,” said DiLeva about not seeking a Democrat endorsement. “I really thought that we could do something to help the residents and help the employees out and their ideas and my ideas are not on the same side of the spectrum.”
Buffardi is hoping to change the way town government is run and plans to unite the board. Using his experience of 36 years in the criminal justice system and many years in supervision or administration positions, Buffardi said he is familiar with aspects of government management.
“The major change I hope to bring is a strong form of leadership to coalesce people to strive in appropriate directions instead of having continuous descent and not dealing with the issues,” said Buffardi. “I think I have a skill set that will be useful for the town to develop its full potential.”
Committee members supported Buffardi over Del Gallo by 27 to 11, but Del Gallo said the outcome wasn’t too much of a surprise to him. Previously, Buffardi said committee members had lobbied for him to run, rather persistently too.
“It is because I don’t want to play the same games they play,” said Del Gallo about not receiving a Democrat endorsement. “It is a long ways from election day, so we will see what happens between now and then and everything will come out that has to come out and the truth will be spoken.”
Unsure on if any other party endorsements are going to come through, Del Gallo continues to claim he’ll form his own party line to run for reelection if needed.
Disorder among board members, said Jasenski, is part of the reasoning Del Gallo lost the party’s endorsement. Being able to focus on the tough issues is important and Jasenski said Del Gallo doesn’t appear to be the best choice.
“There are issues at Town Hall that don’t seem to be going away with regards to actions of the supervisor,” said Jasenski. “This isn’t a personality contest, this is what they (the committee) would believe what would be best for town government moving forward for some of the issues that are on the table after 15 months.”
Del Gallo disagrees with this assessment and said the Town Board has accomplished many important issues and projects during his tenure.
“Sometimes the board disagrees which is normal, I think. It didn’t hold back anything getting done in Rotterdam,” said Del Gallo. “If anybody could name a project that was halted with the disagreeing of the board I would like to know what it is.”
Del Gallo was unable to build a consensus on “the small things,” said Jasenski, including the proposed tax cap with tax increases over 2 percent. This is why the committee drifted from the supervisor. Jasenski added, Buffardi brings a “no-nonsense” approach to government and he’s confident Buffardi can unite the board.
“What they were looking for was more of a proven administrator,” said Jasenski.
Del Gallo is confident he can get reelected and thinks town government is functioning effectively.
“I think once everybody knows what I have done and what’s out there and what they may get, I think so,” said Del Gallo about reelection. “I think everything in the town is running smooth.”
Calder said Buffardi is someone he could work well with and thought if the slate of Democrat endorsements were elected they could “do some really good things.” Calder feels he can be an asset to the community and said he’s learned a lot after getting elected last year.
“I have known Harry Buffardi for many years and I have worked with him. He is an honest guy and he is very intelligent and I know he could do a really good job if elected supervisor,” said Calder.
Also, while Viscusi did run for County Legislature two years ago endorsed by Republicans, he will now join the Democrats.
Jasenski said Viscusi impressed some committee screening members during his interview by showing a dedication and devotion to the town.
“It seems like they have put together a slate of individuals that will work well together,” said Jasenski.
FDG is a nice guy--but a bull head of sorts. The town needs someone with a little finesse to go along with his leadership style and sense of getting things accomplished.
Viscusi is now running as a DEM for Town Bored? WTF? Just 2 years ago he was the GOP endorsed County Legislature candidate. Musiccal chairs-Rotterdam continues. The DEMS have decided to give a seat to the REPS-take it Tracy.
I think it's like 'ethnic cleansing'.....only it's 'political party cleansing'!! But the dems pick up the disgruntled political whores!
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
The Reps that are defecting were nothing but RINOs in the first place and didn't have a conservative bone in their body and as many on this blog have stated there was no difference between the parties and that has been the problem for quite a while. This is also why the country is so far in debt because both parties like to spend other peoples money freely.
The Reps that are defecting were nothing but RINOs in the first place and didn't have a conservative bone in their body and as many on this blog have stated there was no difference between the parties and that has been the problem for quite a while. This is also why the country is so far in debt because both parties like to spend other peoples money freely.
Couldn't have said it better myself. ND may be better served if elected to the county leg. However, her past record, as a rep, on the county leg years ago, were clearly not very conservative! Nor were they on the rotterdam tb. Her ideology appears to be more in line with the local dem-o-cons. Her liberal attributes seems to outweigh her conservative ones. IMO
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
They are defecting to the party of like minded people(Dems), whose philosophy of government is to convince the residents of Schenectady County that it is in our best interest to pay them to take our money through taxation so they can hand it over to their cronies both in the private and public sector. Schenectady County residents get it coming and going.
This may be the rebirth of a party that actually believes in fiscal responsibility, and not just use fiscal conservative rhetoric to convince residents to vote for THEM (RINO) so they can spend tax dollars the way THEY (RINO) want.
Seems like they are defecting to the party that actually appears to put the people first...do the dems care about people anymore than the local reps? probably not. but while the reps are continuously in the paper for their infighting the dems are getting press on doing things for the public. Is it BS? Yup! but at least they appear to get it... The reps are so busy trying to prove whos proverbial d!ck is longer they have completely lost sight of reality. Congrats you are the most conservative douche on the planet...you have cleansed away all the moderates and liberals and have rendered yourselves unelectable. Congrats!!
Seems like they are defecting to the party that actually appears to put the people first...do the dems care about people anymore than the local reps? probably not. but while the reps are continuously in the paper for their infighting the dems are getting press on doing things for the public. Is it BS? Yup! but at least they appear to get it... The reps are so busy trying to prove whos proverbial d!ck is longer they have completely lost sight of reality. Congrats you are the most conservative douche on the planet...you have cleansed away all the moderates and liberals and have rendered yourselves unelectable. Congrats!!
I believe you have this one a$$ backwards!! The dems are fleeing weekly. There is clearly a split in the dem whore party. (or so the dem insiders tell me) And the local cons are just an arm of the dems.
The reps are currently pulling themselves together at the speed of light!! Re-grouping and putting an effort into going back to their first love........CONSERVATISM!! Something that the majority of the electorate in this country/state/city/town are hungry for!!
Put a fork in the dem-o-cons!! They're done!!
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
Pulling themselves together at the speed of light!?????????? I heard there were 15 people in the room last night for the rep fundraiser with the majority leader of the senate there...that seems pretty embarrassing
Pulling themselves together at the speed of light!?????????? I heard there were 15 people in the room last night for the rep fundraiser with the majority leader of the senate there...that seems pretty embarrassing
That's because those people who are not party affiliated do not count to you. There are other people involved in the process besides Democrat and Republican. You do know that, don't you?
The Reps that are defecting were nothing but RINOs in the first place and didn't have a conservative bone in their body and as many on this blog have stated there was no difference between the parties and that has been the problem for quite a while. This is also why the country is so far in debt because both parties like to spend other peoples money freely.
That's exactly right Shadow...I have always said that this struggle is not between the two major Parties...it is one between conservatives and liberals of all stripes whether it be liberals, socialists, communists...whatever...they are all STATISTS...and conservatism is the only antidote. Both Parties contain both varieties of members...but conservatives, real conservatives, are the ones that will be relied upon to resist and reverse the march to statism...and all of the agenda along the way meant to promote it.
some of us dont really favor the idea of anarchy. If you want to be an anarchist go somewhere else!!!!!!!!
Some prefer Statism, where government officials grant the collection of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars through a verbal agreement without a vote or records. AKA - STEALING!!
Anarchy,,,lol...Privatizing a county run nursing home equals anarchist behavior.LOL...LOL Abolishing crony capitalism of Metroplex will lead to all out anarchy. Riots will break out, children will be slaughtered...LOL
Quoted from black spidey: I heard there were 15 people in the room last night for the rep fundraiser with the majority leader of the senate there...that seems pretty embarrassing
BS,
Your source is either not well educated and cannot count or was not in attendance. I was. The event was heavily attended. For the first time in at least 4 years, there was excitement and energy in the room.
I agree with those on this board who say that there is a rebirth occurring in our Republican party. It will happen with or without you.
Will you be jumping to the Democratic party like your pals Santabarbara and Signore? It's a shame really because you had a very promising political future.
Logged
Viscusi is now running as a DEM for Town Bored? WTF? Just 2 years ago he was the GOP endorsed County Legislature candidate. Musiccal chairs-Rotterdam continues. The DEMS have decided to give a seat to the REPS-take it Tracy. 
