They weren’t bragging about yesterday’s announced endorsement of Independence Party Chairman Tom Connolly’s slate for town offices. His slate: Mark Evers, Lou Desso and Al Spain Jr. along with Conservative Developer Michael Carey for Highway Superintendent. This is also the likely slate of the reform Democrats and the Contractor Conservatives. Rather, Conservative Supervisor Mark Evers and Town Clerk Kathryn Connolly were telling political confidants that Evers has wrapped up the Republican nomination for Supervisor as has Conservative Vice Chairman Lou Desso for a Town Board slot. That’s right, the Republican nomination!
Trouble is that it’s common knowledge that the town Republican committee and Chairman want nothing to do with these toxic candidates and have privately endorsed two of their own so far for town board slots. Evers was heard to claim that the town GOP is “irrelevant” because he went over their heads to none other than FBI Joe. That’s Senator Joe Bruno for those who don’t read the papers and their endless detailing of the federal probe into the Senator’s activities which took a turn this week when the Times Union reported FBI initiated leaks regarding the investigation.
In case you don’t understand what that means, let us translate. When the FBI leaks details of a criminal investigation to the press they are likely expressing frustration that the politically appointed U.S. Attorney is stonewalling an indictment they feel is deserved and required. You might recall that the Bush Administration appoints U.S. Attorneys who in effect use the FBI as their police agency. Recently, seven U.S. Attorneys were fired by the Bush Administration for “political” reasons which included being soft on indicting Democrats during elections. Conversely the message to remaining GOP appointed U.S. Attorneys would be “ don’t indict Republicans or you too may join the other seven.”
We wish the FBI luck in dealing with the politics of their boss at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. But back to the latest endorsement claims, the Supervisor has sucked up to just about everyone to whom he can sell his political soul for an endorsement. Why Senator Bruno would want to see his party endorse a man who may be removed from office by a State Court within weeks for his illegal giveaway of an $83,000 check is anyone’s guess. Evers is also facing the soon to be released State Comptroller’s audit of his beloved runaway blank check contract for his Conservative buddies in Water District 14. The audit is sure to include a spanking for his unlawful disbursement of $83,000 to Casale Excavating without Town Board approval.Evers has also abused his office by putting the screws to a Naval veteran who was appointed town engineer only to have Evers, in apparent collusion with the County Civil Service Commission staff, reject this licensed engineer and graduate of two prestigious colleges as “unqualified”. The purpose was to keep meaningful supervision out of the Building Department which has managed the runaway contract to Evers’ Conservative allies in Casale Excavating.
Town Republicans have been busy trying to rebuild their credibility after letting development interests run their party and town board. Democrats who endorsed Evers in 2005 to run against the blank check development interests of the GOP found that Evers had misled them regarding key platform positions on development, including support for a Comprehensive Plan for the town. As part of the reshaping of the town GOP, the town committee is supporting two candidates who support the Comprehensive Plan and in fact, one of the candidates is a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Just think of why Senator Bruno would endorse Mark Evers and you might understand why there is a federal investigation into his dealings. For the Senator to support a Mark Evers, he must see an opportunity to secure campaign contributions from developers who Evers is aligned with. That spells real trouble for DeFreestville residents who reside around the most prized undeveloped real estate remaining in town.
If such an endorsement is taking place, the town GOP would be running candidates who are likely to be the candidates of the reform Democrats who caucus later this year. That would leave town voters with no choice for Town Supervisor. Now we can’t imagine Senator Bruno engaging in conduct that would eliminate a choice for voters at the polls. That would be like going to court to remove your opponent from his ballot line so he could run unopposed, and Senator Bruno would never think of such a thing, right?
So Senator, when’s the news conference to announce your endorsement and defacto take over of North Greenbush? We gotta see if the Evers-Connolly gossip has credibility. In the mean time Tom Connolly who managed to falsify his job application for a purchasing job with the City of Troy by stating he graduated from Manhattan College when in fact he did not, has endorsed his sister and a slate of blank check development candidates. He did not check their resumes or do a background check. Birds of a feather flock together!
2 comments:
What a wake-up call!
It's time for all of us to put party aside and work together to protect our town.
From what I can see there are only two public servants running for office this year: Mark Premo and Andrew Cerecia. The rest should be voted out because they only serve themselves.
This year, I support those who want to clean up this town no matter what party endorses them.
I agree with the above regarding the only candidates I will support are Mark Premo and both Ceresia's. It is pretty sad how easily people can be bought and paid for, Al Spain must want to add to his pension by adding more salary above his already over paid salary in Troy in the system.
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