County GOP’s Exposed Hand

For weeks the North Greenbush Pipeline has been reporting the direct involvement of the Rensselaer County Republican organization in the town political process. The party has had control of the Conservative and Independence Parties for several years. Tom Connolly, whose sister is the North Greenbush Town Clerk, was installed by the County GOP as Chairman of the Independence Party. Kathryn Connolly has supported the attempt to remove Highway Superintendent Mark Premo, replacing him with a developer loyal to Casale Excavating, holders of the overspent Water District 14 contract.

Kathryn Connolly is one of the reformed Democrats supported by development money which took control by one vote, the town Democratic Committee. The group, backed by former Democratic Chairman F.James Germano, an ally of county Republicans Richard Crist and Robert Mirch, has formed alliances with Casale Excavating who control the town Conservative Party.

Petitions turned in at the Board of Elections tell the story. Richard Crist,pictured above, a Notary Public and subject of a Special Prosecutor's investigation, gathered signatures for Connolly’s Independence Party on behalf of Conservatives Evers and Desso and Democratic Chairman Jeff Spain’s brother Al, a staunch Germano ally. County Republicans from Albany were ordered into North Greenbush and obtained GOP signatures for Evers, Desso and Developer Mike Carey for Highway Superintendent. Casale’s Conservatives added their petitions for the same candidates and again Richard Crist turned in a petition for the Working Families Party for three candidates enrolled in that party to oppose those endorsed by the Working Families Party. Endorsed by that party were Josephine Ashworth, a member of the Democratic Committee who opposes Spain and town Planning Board member Brian Dwyer along with Highway Superintendent Mark Premo. Crist turned in a petition that will create a primary against the endorsed candidates using three people who may not know they are running. They are Angela Brooks, Chrystie Snyder and for Highway, Evan Yedynak. (Good thing he’s not a write- in!)

As we stated previously, the town GOP stood in defiance of the county GOP and completed petitions endorsing a slate of local REPUBLICANS who will oppose Evers and Desso. The are Jeff Cleary for Supervisor, Wes Marshall and Stephanie Piel for Council. Since the county chairman controls the needed waiver for a non Republican to get his name on the ballot, Conservative Developer Michael Carey will apparently have the Republican line.

Also of note, Fred Ashworth will oppose Evers for the Conservative line. He is the Chair of the Planning Board. In all they are 5 candidates for Town Supervisor since Town Attorney Joshua Sabo turned in a petition for Supervisor with Working Families although it is not clear whether he received the needed endorsement.

Should be quite a slug fest in September and in the months ahead!

Late Financial Disclosure Count: Today is Day 8 for the North Greenbush Democratic and Conservative Committee violations of State Election Law requiring the filing of a Financial Disclosure Report due July 15, 2007. Laws apparently don’t apply to the “reformed” democrats under Jeff Spain and his Treasurer, Tax Collector Kyran Devery. Nor under Michael Casale and his Treasurer, J. David Wos.