Quoted Text

Okay, a little surprise
May 10, 2011

This morning as usual I looked forward to Marv Cermak’s column (when he writes about Schenectady) so I was somewhat surprised to read this:

GOP woos retired cop

Schenectady Republican leaders are trying hard to convince Joe Lazzari, a retired city police officer, to run for the County Legislature. He was defeated in two sheriff elections, but he put up good numbers both times.

The GOP brass want to pair him up with Pat Zollinger, a long-time critic during City Council meetings. She started out as a Democrat but joined the Conservative Party. Then, she decided she wouldn’t be enrolled in any political party. Most recently, she became a Republican.

Those Legislature District 2 city seats to be contested in November presently belong to Democrats Jeff McDonald and Gary Hughes. Both are expected to seek re-election.

In city District 1, incumbent Mike Petta and newcomer Bob Hoffman, both Democrats, will run against Republicans Peter Guidarelli and Richard Patierne.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/defa.....98.php#ixzz1Lvy1L7UF

Usually it takes a lot to raise my ire, but Marv Cermak's column today did. He referred to my various political affiliations over the years but being that he has little space to write what he knows nothing about, I will have to clarify his ignorance of the situation.

I was born into a staunchly Republican family. The best times were to be had at the Rotterdam Republican Club's various functions. When I was eightteen years old I joined the New York State Conservative Party, then through various moves, marriage and children I guess I became unaffiliated. But my Republican roots came through.

One divorce then a remarriage later I became a Democrat because my deceased husband was a Democrat. But through all of that, I never voted in a primary and I never voted for a Democrat.

When I started attending the City Council meetings in 2002, I was so disgusted with the way the Democrats were ruining our city and county that I became a blank. A few years ago I joined the Conservative Party at the urging of one member in particular. I am a Conservative so the idea set well with me, however the local party was not what I thought it should be, so I again became a blank.

Becoming a Republican after so many years can only be described as coming full circle. What Marv Cermak did was lay out a scenario describing me as indecisive. Never have I jumped the party fences to "get something" from that party like Angelo Santabarbara did. Never have I been appointed to a position for political favors like Brian Stratton and Sue Savage have been. Never did I get a job at taxpayer expense for payback like Ed Kosiur did.

Marv Cermak in less than a paragraph laid out my political affiliations that spanned thirty five years. It seems strange to me that he would have even brought that up.  I would consider it to be a priviledge to run with Joe Lazzari. My impressions have always been positive of his efforts and ideas to help the city.