Hidden Endorsement Deals?

Some members of the town Democratic Committee were apparently surprised by what they read here on the North Greenbush Pipeline. Surprised that candidates were apparently being endorsed by their party chairman Jeff Spain without so much as consulting with members of his committee or providing for a forum in which prospective candidates would be interviewed and sized up by the full 16 member committee.

One committee person expressed surprise upon reading that three candidates had been blessed by Mr. Spain since he apparently broached the subject of an endorsement process at a meeting of the committee he held at the Country Grove Restaurant. According to this account, Mr. Spain asked the assembled committee how to go about soliciting, interviewing and screening potential candidates. There were apparently some interesting comments concerning endorsement of Mark Evers as well as Mark Premo with the Spain side of the committee implying the need for a registered Democrat for Highway Superintendent while the Ashley side of the committee reminded all that the current Supervisor is not a Democrat either and yet that did not seem to be a concern to the Spain side of the committee.

According to sources, the Democratic Committee has not met as a group to interview or endorse anyone and there appears to be an expectation that anyone seeking the Committee’s endorsement should present themselves to the committee. That may cause some party members to hold their own meeting with or without the blessing of the chairman.

There is also a question as to what the party’s platform should be as a first step in finding candidates. The argument goes that candidates should be endorsed that support the party platform. In essence, how do you choose candidates without some type of litmus test such as a platform as a prerequisite for endorsing candidates? As of this date, none of that has apparently taken place.

Some people have pointed to the days of old party boss Jim Germano who simply decided on his own who would run for what. Under Dan Ashley the endorsement decisions became a committee decision since each member worked in some capacity for the election of the nominees and therefore would be more supportive of candidates all had a role in choosing.

Democratic sources say that meetings have taken place between prospective candidates and Spain along with some of his lieutenants. Other sources say the reason that the committee as a whole has not been convened for candidate interviews is simply Spain’s realization that the majority of his committee would not support him on his single minded effort to punish Mark Premo any more than they would support an endorsement of the controversial Supervisor, Mark Evers or Louis Desso, the former GOP candidate in 2005 and current Vice Chairman of the town Conservatives. Nor is the party’s current leadership speaking on their position on Water District 14 over runs which are likely to play a pivotal role in the general election.

No matter what is going on in the Democratic Committee, it seems apparent that members are not being kept in the loop and whomever is endorsed at a party caucus may not have the kind of committee support critical for success in the general election.