Mark Premo, North Greenbush Highway Superintendent for the past 4 years, has announced his candidacy to seek re-election to another 2 year term. Premo stated that much has been accomplished during the past two terms to improve services, build morale and streamline department operations.
The Highway Committee which consists of volunteers who donate their time to setting goals for this department have done much to provide citizen input and support for the changes needed to give the best service possible to town residents. I am especially pleased with the 5 year plan the Committee is putting together to help us identify and plan for the department’s needs in the face of increasing development and the demands this makes on personnel, equipment and services.
Premo noted that the greatest challenge he faces comes from ever increasing efforts to politicize the Highway Department. The new Democratic leader Jeff Spain, insisted that I denounce his political adversaries as a condition for his endorsement and the Conservative leader Mr. Casale, has allied himself with the Democrats and County Republicans to keep me off the ballot. They have endorsed a developer as their candidate and have even gone so far as to get a 19 year old, with no experience and no commercial drivers license, to oppose me in a Working Families Primary.
I believe their ultimate goal is to attempt to abolish the elective office of Highway Superintendent and to make the Department a tool of the town board by appointing a political patronage person to run the department. I will oppose this effort just as the voters of North Greenbush did in two separate referendums aimed at abolishing the elective office of Highway Superintendent. The people, and not the political bosses, should be able to hire and fire the highway superintendent based on performance.
I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Working Families Party and the new Greenbush Party which was formed by citizens who are fed up with the divisive and destructive political climate in town hall. This effort to get total control of town government saw the leaders of the 4 major parties make a deal in which the same candidates were being endorsed for Supervisor, a town board seat and Highway Superintendent. If successful, voters would have no choice in November and the bosses, thru this deal, would decide who ran the town, instead of the voters.
Next week, I will seek the nomination by the Democratic Party at their Caucus, Sept 5th at 7PM at the Elks Lodge. I will not accept the endorsement of Democratic Chairman Jeff Spain or those few Democrats who are backing his effort to surrender his party nomination to the County Republican Party and their nominees. Because I have such strong roots with the Democratic Party and because Mr. Casale, the Conservative Chairman is using his party control to benefit his business interests with the water district contracts, I have left the Conservative Party and enrolled once again as a Democrat.
I have received the endorsement of the Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman, Thomas Wade and felt the enormous support of the County Democratic Committee at a recent meeting I attended in Troy. At this meeting I witnessed a 133 to 20 vote of the committee which ensured a caucus in North Greenbush.
I know that Mr. Spain and his group of supporters do not reflect the feelings and wishes of the vast majority of Democrats either in North Greenbush or Rensselaer County. I will continue to do a great job as Highway Superintendent and serve all citizens regardless of party affiliations. In so doing, I will continue to be a positive reflection on town government and the party I call my own.
Late Financial Disclosure Count:
Kyran Devery
Today is Day 53 for the North Greenbush Democratic Committee violation of State Election Law requiring the on line 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.
3 comments:
THE HANDS DOWN BEST HIGHWAY SUPER I'VE SEEN IN MY 30 YEARS AS A TOWN RESIDENT. OLD TIME WORK HABITS,A LEADER,HONEST AS THE DAY IS LONG,A FRIEND,AND A TRUE FAMILY MAN. 3 CHEERS FOR A MAN I'M GLAD TO CALL FRIEND !!!!!!!!!!JOE SPAIRANA
PREMO HAS BEEN SEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT CREWS- HE'S A HANDS ON -COMMITTED INDIVIDUAL WITH THE RESPECT OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM.
"WHAT ELSE DO THE VOTER WANT"? THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AS WE SEE IT- OR BACK TO THE OLD DAYS WHEN GERMANO TOLD THE GUYS TO FORGET THE DRAIN IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE!!PLANT GRASS INFRONT OF MINE FIRST.
WE ARE BEHIND YOU MR. PREMO-GREAT JOB.** DON'T LISTEN TO THE SPAINS AND CONALLYS AND GERMANOS - THEY DON'T SPEAK FOR THE REAL TOWN RESIDENTS.
Mr. Premo you have done an outstanding job! I am proud to be a Town Resident. Your efforts show in the work you perform with your crews.Your an honest man who gives an honest days work. What else can we ask for? Good Luck and keep your head up.
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