Quoted from 332

Anybody actually involved in any committees in Rotterdam?

They are a waste of time. Ask anyone who has been on one. I personally never have.

[quote=6] I'm a registered blank anyway.

No kidding ..

they are all gonna lose since even you right wingers over here are against them and it will be good for the tax - payers to get some true demos in now so they can use the power to help people with stimulus money or taxing more of the rich ones who hate to pay the fair share over here. GOOD

Sal -  who does the Dem party have to run in the town of Rotterdam?

Kratz are always good for the taxpayers-lol! They lighten your wallet so you have less weight to carry around. Who they running? Godlewski {another new face!} and 5 other losers.

GODLEWSKI? OMG! Never! Just another recyled politician. Where is the breath of fresh air? The people who think for themselves and for the taxpayers?

Quoted from bumblethru

GODLEWSKI? OMG! Never! Just another recyled politician. Where is the breath of fresh air? The people who think for themselves and for the taxpayers?

The Kratz have no one to run. They have already recycled Godlewski to run for Rotterdam Supervisor. They had to coerce Judy D. in
exchange for the Kratz dropping Constantine for her son. Holly Vellano, now registered Conservative, is being wooed by Brian Quail to
run as a Demokrat for the Legislature. No word on who the Kratz will run for Rotterdam Town Board...probably because they have no
one as of yet. And most other candidates around the county are incumbent Kratz.
But don't worry Bumble - there are others who are motivated by the same concerns you have. Stay tuned....

TO EFFECT THE RIGHT POLITICAL CHANGE YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ISSUES RATHER THAN POUNDING THE CANDIDATES PERSONALLY, WEATHER THEY'RE INCUMBENTS OR NOT.  MY COUSIN IS A REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEMAN AND WORKS FOR THE TOWN AND HE PREDICTS TOMMASONE WILL BE RE-ELECTED EASILY AS WILL SUHRADA & SIGNORE & MARCINKOWSKI.  YOU ALL SEEM TO LISTEN TO ONLY A FEW PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO BELIEVE AS YOU DO.  CULT-LIKE CONDUCT ON THIS SITE IS TROUBLING TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE FAMILY WORKING FOR THE TOWN, COUNTY, STATE WHILE YOU DEMEAN THEM ALL.  IT WOULD BE TIME WELL-SPENT TO REACH OUT BEYOND YOUR MERTZ-NETWORK: CICERO, BUMBLE, GB, MICHAEL, AND FIGURE OUT YOU'RE HEARING ONE-SIDE HERE ON THIS SITE OR BY TALKING TO THE FOLLOWERS OF MERTZ.  HE HAS LOST CREDIBILITY IN TOWN DUE TO HIS INTIMIDATION OF TOWN EMPLOYEES, TOMMASONE, COMMITTEE PEOPLE.  YOU WON'T HEAR ABOUT MERTZ ACTIONS BECAUSE HE'S BECOME IRRELEVANT.  MY WIFE & COUSIN REFER TO HIM AS "THE SAVAGE" AS HE MIMICS SUE IN HOW HE BEHAVES WITH THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIM.

William you should try to work with the Town Board to get something done and see how they treat you if you disagree with anything they want to do b4 you give them credit that they don't deserve. I know for a fact that the Town Board and Mertz had a big disagreement over the water issues and how monies were being spent that didn't benefit the taxpayer. Don't take anyone's word for it go and try to do something good for the taxpayer that involves some money being spent by the town and see what happens, you'll find as I did that the board cares more about getting re-elected than they do about the taxpayer.

Rotterdam Republicans == proverbial "three men in a room".  I'll let you figure out their identities.

Quoted from 330

TO EFFECT THE RIGHT POLITICAL CHANGE YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ISSUES RATHER THAN POUNDING THE CANDIDATES PERSONALLY, WEATHER THEY'RE INCUMBENTS OR NOT.  MY COUSIN IS A REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEMAN AND WORKS FOR THE TOWN AND HE PREDICTS TOMMASONE WILL BE RE-ELECTED EASILY AS WILL SUHRADA & SIGNORE & MARCINKOWSKI.  YOU ALL SEEM TO LISTEN TO ONLY A FEW PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO BELIEVE AS YOU DO.  CULT-LIKE CONDUCT ON THIS SITE IS TROUBLING TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE FAMILY WORKING FOR THE TOWN, COUNTY, STATE WHILE YOU DEMEAN THEM ALL.  IT WOULD BE TIME WELL-SPENT TO REACH OUT BEYOND YOUR MERTZ-NETWORK: CICERO, BUMBLE, GB, MICHAEL, AND FIGURE OUT YOU'RE HEARING ONE-SIDE HERE ON THIS SITE OR BY TALKING TO THE FOLLOWERS OF MERTZ.  HE HAS LOST CREDIBILITY IN TOWN DUE TO HIS INTIMIDATION OF TOWN EMPLOYEES, TOMMASONE, COMMITTEE PEOPLE.  YOU WON'T HEAR ABOUT MERTZ ACTIONS BECAUSE HE'S BECOME IRRELEVANT.  MY WIFE & COUSIN REFER TO HIM AS "THE SAVAGE" AS HE MIMICS SUE IN HOW HE BEHAVES WITH THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIM.

A Republican committeeman predicts a Republican sweep and you accept that?  That’s extremely funny!

Anyway, I absolutely agree with you about focusing on the issues and not being demeaning…toward anyone.  But then you go on to demean Mr. Mertz at the end of your post?  I don’t think I’ve ever demeaned any of them in my disagreements or anyone else in my posts.  (Find an instance and I’ll gladly apologize.)

To that point, I never considered myself part of a “Mertz-network.”  I disagree with Mr. Mertz plenty but I also respect his view when I do.  I’m certainly not ashamed when I’m aligned with him.

I form my own opinions by listening and being involved.  I’m no follower.  I like to lead.  (I actually told that to the committee in my interview which I’m sure didn’t help my cause.  Interestingly, the interview revolved around everything EXCEPT issues.)  It’s their prerogative to pick their candidate.  I respect that.  Now I intend to test that Republican committeeman’s prediction you seem to cherish.

I will disclose that I also interviewed with the Republican Committee some weeks ago for their endorsement for District 4 Schenectady County Legislature.  Like Michael, I stated during the interview that I would govern based on the views of my constituents and what I believe would best serve their interests.  I made it clear to those on the committee that I am independent minded and steadfast in my conservative ideals.  I stated that if I were to run, I (and no one else) would make the final decisions about the direction and nature of my campaign.  At the end of the day, be it in victory or in defeat, I would emerge with my dignity and self-respect.

There were many candidates being interviewed that day.  I will not identify them.  Suffice it to say that the Republicans will have no problem filling their ballot line.  Needless to say, however, I was not extended the party endorsement.  I appreciated the opportunity to speak w/ the committee, but now feel that their interest in my candidacy was disingenuous.  I also suspect that there are back room deals being made by the "three men in a room" referred to in the above post.  I am not surprised by that possibility as it occurs in all political parties from what I have observed.

I am now contemplating my options (and I have several in mind).  If I decide to run for elected office, it will not be motivated by self-interest or need to acquire power, but, rather, to return our government to the people.  I own no company that will benefit from my position in government.  I owe no one, other than the public who may support me, anything.  And, I will look to ALL on this board to share with me their genuine thoughts about the direction that this county must take.

Gerard, or I mean “Williamthesilent” I wondered how long it would take you for your true colors to come out.  Mertz has been barely a mention on this site as of lately, but you clearly have a personal issue with him.  I wonder why that is?    Senders often says that all you need to do is follow the money and I’ll bet that if you follow the money you will find many answers.  Btw, what “Mertz Actions” are you talking about that we won’t be hearing about? I thought this was interesting, your first line was “TO EFFECT THE RIGHT POLITICAL CHANGE YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ISSUES RATHER THAN POUNDING THE CANDIDATES PERSONALLY” yet the rest of your post goes to pound Mertz.  Honestly, are you that afraid that he has “followers”?  From every indication that we have gotten, Mertz isn’t interested in running.  Do you know something that we don’t?  Some reason why you’re clearly obsessed with him?  Then again, maybe you and Tommasone have something to be=2 0nervous about…. Does Mertz have the dirty on you and Tommasone?  Please John - TELL US!!!!!

I agree with you though, here’s exactly why Mertz is irrelevant - he is too much of a party guy when he should have been looking out for himself.  Here’s a great example that shows how stupid he is, http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01004 “continuing to support the Republican Party in whatever manner serves greatest benefit to our residents”  that’s how he responds when they just got done with their rendition of The Deliverance.  Gerard, you’re right, no fight left in him = no credibility.

Here’s what I don’t understand – Tommasone and Mertz were like brothers, everywhere you saw one you saw the other, they campaigned together, appeared socially together, then everything changed – what’s the deal?

So let me wrap up my post with this:  I like Mertz.  I think he can be an as%@*@le, but I seldom disagreed with him on the issues.  He never lied to us, always told it like it was, never backed down from doing what was right and he at least stuck to his promises, for that he should be respected.   I take that back, he did lie to us when he said he would keep fighting for the residents in Rotterdam – because the way I see it, he’s not putting up any fight right now.  He showed no fight when his friends and party knocked him down, for that he should just stay down for the count.  

Here’s the reality, this election will be better off without Mertz as a candidate and will allow the issues to dictate the direction of the town, not individual personalities or egos.  So William/Gerard I agree, let’s not “pound” the individuals, let’s pound away at the issues.

Wow....excellent posts guys! I have to agree, that Mertz was a great boardsman. And agreeing and have seen posted before....Tomasone would have never been elected in the first place if it weren't for Mertz. In fact people use to wonder who was really running for supervisor, Mertz or Tommasone.

So what changed things? The way I see it, Mertz was more of an independent, not home grown thinker. Taking on a political position to serve the taxpayers. Perhaps Tommasone either abandoned or never really had his own mind and adjenda and was just a party man. The latter seems more obvioius to me. Because actually.....in 2 terms, what has Tommasone actually accomplished? Nothing! Failed developments and broken promises. eg: where's the comp plan?

Unfortunatly, the republican party has been compromised right along with the cons and the dems. We need new faces (Brad, Mike)

Quoted from 347

Here’s what I don’t understand – Tommasone and Mertz were like brothers, everywhere you saw one you saw the other, they campaigned together, appeared socially together, then everything changed – what’s the deal?

The "deal" is this: The cops ("Conservative" Party) and the firefighters ("Independence" Party) want their EMS brothers to have their
own taxing district, along with higher salaries and ANOTHER union, just like them. Tommasone supports giving it to them, Mertz does
not. Guess who will be getting those lines? You guessed it - the Republicans! This is why Joe Suhrada, the self-described "anti-tax
warrior" has been suddenly and conspicuously silent on the proposed creation of this new and unnecessary taxing district. (See the
thread about REMS/Mohawk Ambulance.) In addition, the former Police Commission (and we all know how the cops felt about that) was a Mertz brainchild and the cops have wanted him out ever since. And his opposition to this new tax hasn't helped either.
This is why Parisi took it upon himself to announce LAST SUMMER that Mertz would not be supported again this year - the cops weren't
going to just take Parisi's word that he would ditch Mertz as part of the deal - they wanted proof. Hence, the Gazette headline
announcing that Mertz was being dumped.
And on that comment about Mertz not fighting: Just for good measure, it was made explicitly clear to Mertz that if he wages a
Republican Primary he would lose his job as Council to the Senate Ways and Means Committee... because they know he would win.