It's my party....too!

If you’re a North Greenbush Republican watching rival Democrats spin themselves into self destruction, your singing a pretty tune and one that has nothing to do with tears. Town Democrats have drawn battle lines between those calling themselves reformers and those calling themselves plain old Democrats. The reformers are a mix of Democrats, Republicans and Conservatives many of whom opposed the Democrats of the last town election. Their marketing plan in the primary spun the reform theme, but their governance of the party has nothing to do with reform and everything to do with the destruction of their Democratic opponents.

Part of the reform group’s agenda appears to center on reversing community supported development which energized the increasingly influential neighborhood groups to the polls in 2005 in support of Democrats. The astounding turnout of residents from the DeFreestville area propelled not only town Democrats into office, but swept county Democrats into power as well with four legislative seats and a county judgeship.

A look at the financial reports of the reform Democrats may explain their real agenda, driven not by reform, but by special interests in the development community which account for two thirds of their financing. Their governance of the party has produced a widened rift between the two factions rather than attempting to unify the party. Former Chairman Daniel Ashley tried the unity song last fall during the court battle and none of the reform Democrats attended the party dinner. Not the Town Clerk, Ms. Connolly, the Receiver of Taxes, Mr. Devery, nor any other member of the reform slate or group attended the fundraiser dubbed a “Unity Dinner”.

With the party check book now in their hands, the reform leadership is holding a fundraiser and have yet to inform the other members of the Democratic Committee of the date or their plans. Most learned about the April 27th fundraiser from the North Greenbush Pipeline yesterday. Worse yet are the politics of personal destruction aimed at the former leadership and all of their allies, including the popular Highway Superintendent, Mark Premo.

Reform Democratic Chairman Jeffery Spain makes no secret his desire to punish and remove Mr. Premo. The reformers seek power on terms that diminish the chances of any Democrat of winning a seat on the town board. “It’s my party too”, stated one influential Democrat. “It’s all about destroying those who don’t agree with you, and nothing to do with winning.”
The astute American author and playwright, John Jay Chapman may have best understood the political phenomenon that one day would threaten to consume North Greenbush Democrats. “Politics is organized hatred. That is unity”.