Tom Connolly’s Fraud Case

We at the North Greenbush Pipeline always enjoy politicos pointing fingers at people alleging misconduct when they themselves have a track record in this area. You might say they are possessed of an advanced degree in Fraudology.

Tuesday, Independence Chair Tom Connolly got a relative to sign a statement he himself wrote that accused political opponents of fraud by placing a name on a petition for an elective office without getting the consent of the potential candidate. The fraud claimed in the affidavit was actually composed by Connolly and marketed to the news media with much hype.

In realty no fraud at all, just poor communication, but hell that’s no fun in Connolly’s world of politics. So we took a look back at the colorful career of Tom Connolly which has chapter after chapter of fraud and deceit on his way up the political ladder to a Senate job thanks to Joe Bruno and his installment by Bruno as his personal Chair of the Rensselaer County Independence Party.

The first Chapter written on Connolly’s escapades goes back to his days as a Democrat. Tom needed a job and bugged people in the party until he got himself a job in Troy as a Purchasing Agent in 1986, a Civil Service position. He managed to get the job by falsifying a job application checking, YES to the question regarding graduating from a 4 year college when in fact he had not. He stated on the application he had received a B.S. degree from Manhattan College graduating in 1980. The Troy Record reported the story on 3/24/94 and also added that a college official whose father’s name was coincidentally, Tom Connolly, could not remember anyone working at the college by that name as Connolly also claimed to the Record. So Tom managed to get a job he did not qualify for by lying, thereby screwing someone who did qualify out of the job. Now that sounds more like a case of fraud to the Pipeline.

Then of course there’s the great Picture Caper from 1988-9 in which Tom “borrowed” a couple of bicentennial prints from City Hall and gave them as gifts to his mother, now a “reformed Democrat” and the sitting County District Attorney. Well who else could you better impress by a gift of stolen property, right?
On January 19, 1989, City Comptroller Joseph Mazerello notified Connolly of the disciplinary charges against him for taking the pictures. The penalty included a 30 day unpaid suspension, staggered over 5 months, and restitution by returning the goodies.

Connolly signed the form admitting “…I am fully familiar with my rights, …admit to the charges herein and accept the penalty so stated…” This one strikes us as going a bit beyond mere fraud.

Then of course there was his final attempt at getting a Democratic job he didn’t deserve over a far more qualified female. That was in 1996 when he nearly got appointed county Commissioner of Jurors. The person who held the deputy commissioner’s job for more than a decade was to stand aside and let Tom take the top spot. The furor from other Democrats and Republicans alike was loud, causing Times Union Columnist Dan Lynch to investigate in a June 2, 1996 article. Lynch talked to Troy Personnel Director Al Spain, sound familiar? Lynch was trying to confirm Connolly’s birthday because State DMV records showed but one Thomas S. Connolly in their entire state database and he was born in 1958. Spain said he’d get back to Lynch, but when he didn’t call, Lynch did and got stonewalled by Spain.

Lynch eventually confirmed the birth date elsewhere and verified Connolly had a drunk driving conviction and no drivers license which was a bit odd since he’d been driving all over the place. Just 4 months later, Connolly got stopped again in Brunswick by State Police for DWAI and was issued a ticket. His license had just been restored in June after the Lynch article ran. He was on probation with the license at the time of the October arrest.

He never got the Jury Commissioner appointment. He eventually left the Democrats to join the Republicans and in June of 1999, he landed a job in the State Senate thanks to Senator Joe. From there, he changed parties to Independence and was later installed as the GOP’s Chairman of the taken over Independence Party.

Anyone seeking Mr. Connolly’s endorsement should not mention this resume. In case you are wondering who Connolly endorsed in North Greenbush, we’re too happy to tell you Mark Evers, Supervisor, Lou Desso and Al Spain, Council, his sister, Kathryn Connolly, Clerk, Kyran Devery Receiver of Taxes and developer extraordinaire, Mike Carey for Highway Superintendent. Don’t hold your breath waiting for this crew to run that ad stating, “Endorsed by Tom Connolly”. We doubt they’re that void of common sense.

Late Financial Disclosure Count:

Today is Day 11 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.

Tom Connolly for Congress?

With his fingers in the North Greenbush, Rensselaer County and too many other political pies to count, you can imagine the disbelief when we learned that politico Tom Connolly is running for Congress. Not here in the McNulty seat where Tom lives but, in the 25th CD way out in western NY.

You can read the list of candidates who have filed designating petitions for the various races and parties here from the NYS Board of Elections. Tom's illustrious past is sure to make great reading in Western New York where they don't know him like we do. So for those who may have forgotten, here is a brief review of his credentials:

The first Chapter written on Connolly’s escapades goes back to his days as a Democrat. Tom needed a job and bugged people in the party until he got himself a job in Troy as a Purchasing Agent in 1986, a Civil Service position. He managed to get the job by falsifying a job application checking, YES to the question regarding graduating from a 4 year college when in fact he had not. He stated on the application he had received a B.S. degree from Manhattan College graduating in 1980. The Troy Record reported the story on 3/24/94 and also added that a college official whose father’s name was coincidentally, Tom Connolly, could not remember anyone working at the college by that name as Connolly also claimed to the Record. So Tom managed to get a job he did not qualify for by lying, thereby screwing someone who did qualify out of the job.

Then of course there’s the great Picture Caper from 1988-9 in which Tom “borrowed” a couple of bicentennial prints from City Hall and gave them as gifts to his mother, now a “reformed Democrat” and the sitting County District Attorney. Well who else could you better impress by a gift of stolen property, right?On January 19, 1989, City Comptroller Joseph Mazerello notified Connolly of the disciplinary charges against him for taking the pictures. The penalty included a 30 day unpaid suspension, staggered over 5 months, and restitution by returning the goodies.Connolly signed the form admitting “…I am fully familiar with my rights, …admit to the charges herein and accept the penalty so stated…” This one strikes us as going a bit beyond mere fraud.Then of course there was his final attempt at getting a Democratic job he didn’t deserve over a far more qualified female. That was in 1996 when he nearly got appointed county Commissioner of Jurors. The person who held the deputy commissioner’s job for more than a decade was to stand aside and let Tom take the top spot.

The furor from other Democrats and Republicans alike was loud, causing Times Union Columnist Dan Lynch to investigate in a June 2, 1996 article. Lynch talked to Troy Personnel Director Al Spain, sound familiar? Lynch was trying to confirm Connolly’s birthday because State DMV records showed but one Thomas S. Connolly in their entire state database and he was born in 1958. Spain said he’d get back to Lynch, but when he didn’t call, Lynch did and got stonewalled by Spain. Lynch eventually confirmed the birth date elsewhere and verified Connolly had a drunk driving conviction and no drivers license which was a bit odd since he’d been driving all over the place. Just 4 months later, Connolly got stopped again in Brunswick by State Police for DWAI and was issued a ticket. His license had just been restored in June after the Lynch article ran. He was on probation with the license at the time of the October arrest. He never got the Jury Commissioner appointment. He eventually left the Democrats to join the Republicans and in June of 1999, he landed a job in the State Senate thanks to Senator Joe. From there, he changed parties to Independence and was later installed as the GOP’s Chairman of the taken over Independence Party.

Best of luck Mr. Connolly and to his opponents, many of those documents referred to are pictured here on the North Greenbush Pipeline. Oh, by the way, it should be interesting to see if the family war cry so often uttered when they get into a scrape, hold true after this election. "Nobody beats the Connolly's".

Connolly's Business Savvy

A decision by a down state NY State Supreme Court Justice contains a sentence that begs the questions of North Greenbush politico Tom Connolly's involvement in a criminal case being prosecuted in NY City involving the apparent procurement of more than 1 million dollars donated by Mayor Mike Bloomberg to the State Independence Party for a poll monitoring operation.

The decision points out that Connolly signed a contract on behalf of the Independence Party for a cool million dollars in services from another political operative John Haggerty who it is alleged, set up a sham company to receive the money and perform the services. The company, Special Elections Operations, LLC was created a month after Connolly signed a contract with Haggerty for the services which the DA alleges were never performed. Yep, Tom signed a contract for a million bucks in service with his party's money with a company that did not yet exist legally.

You can read the judge's decision ordering that the trial go forward here. It details that our ace politico and businessman Connolly, signed a contract on behalf of the State Independence Party on October 15, 2009. Unfortunately the company didn't even exist legally at the time and wasn't officialially created until December 3, 2009, the very same day that Haggerty submitted a bill for services amounting to $750,000. It's also alleged he used the money to help finance a house purchase.

The consulting agreement Connolly signed with Haggerty identified the company's address as 121 State Street in Albany, NY. and provided that Haggerty would receive no more than a 1.1 million dollar fee. Why are we not surprised to learn that Connolly would enter into an agreement with a company that didn't exist, and whose address turned out to be a sham, according to the prosecution. No office could be found there, no mail was delivered there and they could find no one who ever worked there.

Now its only a million bucks so we can understand how Tom Connolly could be so cavalier with his party's money. But what we can't figure out is why he didn't monitor the delivery of the million dollars worth of services he paid for. Further, we can't understand why Connolly wasn't the first person knocking on the door of the District Attorney to complain?

Unless of course getting ripped off for a million bucks didn't bother Connolly because just maybe there's going to be some explanation provided during the trial which begins on June 1st. That explanation is likely to detail what if any role Connolly may have played in facilitating this massive scheme to defraud.

While we await the outcome, one thing is for sure. Tom Connolly has not demonstrated much in the line of business savvy. He was either inept in handling the party's money or perhaps in this one up to his neck.

The money trail is always a tell tale for prosecutors. Anyone who received some of these funds had a legal obligation to report the income to State and Federal tax authorities but that becomes problematic if you weren't supposed to get any legally. So what folks in that situation often do is spend the cash in an effort to leave no trail.

Our suggestion is that the NY DA take a peak at the surveillance video at the high rollers lounge of the Albany OTB Tele-theater which we understand is a favorite hangout of one Independence Party politico who used to also be a full time employee of the NY State Senate working for the recently indicted Senator Carl Krueger. While prosecutors are counting the cash on tape, they can also compare the video time stamp with the time sheets on file in the State Senate. They can also check the card swipe records to see a detailed report of the days and time spent there. That's just in case they need a little more leverage to facilitate cooperation or additional indictments, whichever their strategy requires.

Hey you Rensselaer County folks who are waiting for Connolly to endorse your candidacy for the Independence Party nomination this fall may find that Wilson-Pakula signature of authorization a prize for your opponents to wrap around your political necks.

The trial starts June 1st. Stay tuned!

Manhattan DA Eyes Connolly

You have to wonder whether North Greenbush politicos will seek or accept the endorsement of town resident Tom Connolly when they seek re-election this year to the town board. Connolly is head of the County Independence Party, and is under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney.

Today's NY Post drops a new bombshell including charges of cover-up, back dating a contract and the usual stuff that is an integral part of Connolly's background here in our county. You can read the latest article here. A search of this blog details many of the past capers involving Connolly who was recently terminated from the payroll of a Democratic State Senator from a $100,000 a year job. The joke is how he got the job in the first place, through the largess of Joe Bruno, when he was head of the Senate Republicans. While on the "Democratic " payroll, he worked with the GOP, especially here in Rensselaer County, where he endorsed GOP candidates carte-blanche, except for one, his sister, North Greenbush Clerk Katie Connolly, who remains a registered Democrat like Al Spain.

Both, however, continue to align themselves with the Republican Party, with Connolly accepting the GOP endorsement in the last town election and Spain, likely to do so this time around. The only real question is whether they will be branded with the endorsement of the scandal ridden Tom Connolly by accepting his Wilson Pakula endorsement waiver to run on the Independence Party line which Tom Connolly still chairs.

Again, we invite our readers to do a search on this blog of Tom Connolly. You'll find a treasure trove of past indiscretions from a falsified Troy City Hall job application in which he falsely stated he had graduated from Manhattan College, to his stolen bicentennial prints gifted to his mother and a sitting district attorney. Hey Senate Republicans, planning to rehire him any time soon?

Connolly Manipulating Supreme Court Endorsement

It's amazing to hear stories on Tom Connolly's behind the scenes involvement in manipulating the Democratic Party and its endorsement decisions. On Friday, a Judicial Nominating Convention is scheduled to take place in Albany and long time Democratic Judge Pat McGrath is seeking his party's nomination for the one seat available this November.

That seat is held by a Republican, Anthony Carpinello and he is seeking the endorsement of the Democratic Party while holding the GOP endorsement. Sound familiar? It should because that's exactly what happened in North Greenbush last year with the so called Democrats under Spain and Connolly selling out their party to the Republicans and attempting to deny voters a choice at the polls in November. No matter which party line you voted on, you were likely to be voting for the same candidate.

Angry citizens saw this coming at created the Greenbush Party which gave town residents a choice and that line achieved more votes in November than any other party line on its own. Judge McGrath does not have that option and must win a majority of the Democratic delegates to get on the ballot in November to give voters a choice between himself and Republican Judge Carpinello.

That's where Tom Connolly playing Independence Party Chairman and honcho comes in. A true Republican operative, Tom has been busy twisting the arms of Democrats using his party nominations for local offices as leverage to get Democrats to vote against one of their own and for the Republican candidate.

It's time Democrats showed some backbone against Tom Connolly and the GOP he works for. Time for a vote for a democratic election by choosing a Democrat to provide voters a real choice in November between TWO candidates and not simply ONE candidate on every party line. It's time for Democrats to say no to Mr. Connolly and yes to their own party and a fair competitive election.

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County Democrats to Meet in North Greenbush

The Rensselaer County Democratic Committee will meet next Wednesday at the American Legion to elect its Chairman and officers. Current County Chair Tom Wade will receive a majority of the North Greenbush weighted vote as evidenced by the recent victory of committee members aligned with him.

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Town GOP's New Officers?

We heard the GOP town committee met and elected officers. But as of yet, nothing official was filed with the county Board of Elections. Until a letter arrives notifying the Board of the election of officers, the prior officers remain recognized at least officially. We'll let you know when papers are filed for all town parties and who the new officers are.

Political Pickins'

A Hefty Agenda

It appears the new town board majority has other things to do besides resolving some of the many problems confronting the town. Their so called agenda for the Workshop meeting this Thursday list but one item. Is this because they have no legislative agenda or because they are simply avoiding discussion of the many issues confronting the town.

Not a word, for example, on exactly what they find wrong with the Comprehensive Plan that the Board saw the need to dissolve the two year old Committee and replace it with a new one. Objective: Keep the community in the dark.

Perhaps the Board would like to finally shine some light on their mysterious Transition Team of 12 political apostles who they refuse to name and who recommended the controversial appointments including an non resident attorney with a criminal record and a disgraced former Troy judge to prosecute cases in town court.

Then there’s always the status of a new town comptroller. It’s clear there is no one on staff with the academic or professional qualifications to handle the town’s finances and prepare reports for the State Comptroller as well as prepare the town budget. Maybe the Supervisor will have to let the town clerk do yet another budget that she is unqualified to do while he seeks a fiscal officer in the want ads.

Of course they could also explain their plan to wind down Water 14 once the work is complete. It’s long overdue to be completed and the delays mean the taxpayers continue to pay for an inspector at $40k plus whose job is to inspect the work of the contractor and whose salary comes from the taxpayers of the water district.

Tom Connolly Fined by the State BOE

The State BOE website identifies Tom Connolly’s shadowy committee set up to solicit funds from contributors. It has never filed a report and like many committees, including Jeff Spain’s Democratic Committee, was fined $100.00 by the State.

This business enterprise is run from a private residence, as listed below. It’s the residence of Tom Connolly. Hmm, did he need a variance for that???? Better ask sister Katie. Tom, file your financial reports. You don’t need more bad publicity.

A21531 THIRD PARTY CHAIRMAN'S CLUB 19 Dobert Court Wynantskill NY 12198 Status = ACTIVE

The Ehrlich Saga

Yesterday we noted that Jeff Spain’s favorite “Democratic” attorney was busy helping the GOP retain a State Senate seat in western NY. We did not tell you that Joshua Ehrlich has been on the State Senate payroll on the staff of Democratic State Senator Krueger. Yep, a Democratic Senator has two GOP operatives on his staff working to keep the Democrats out of the majority and the GOP in the majority. The other GOP operative on the Senator's staff, why Tom Connolly, of course. Wouldn't you love to see those job applications!

Incidentally, the Republican lost and the Democrats are now just one seat away from becoming the majority. Not such a good job boys. You can read the results here.

Highway Babe II

When we reported yesterday that county GOP operatives Richard Crist and Robert Mirch had shown their willingness to meddle in North Greenbush elections once again, (the first time it was a 2005 absentee ballot scam involving Lou Desso, Leon Fiacca and Robert Ashe), our email account started to boil.

This time, the Victory lane duo decided to put a 19 year old in as their Working Families Party candidates for Highway Superintendent. They apparently gave no thought or concern to running a candidate so lacking in critically needed experience as to demonstrate their reckless disregard for the safety of town residents should such a candidate ever win.

Politics is first with this pair and politics may just bring them to a grand jury investigating their conduct in running a private company for personal profit using county and city resources. As for their 19 year old Highway Superintendent candidate, he works pumping gas at a local full service gas station here in North Greenbush. Since he signed his own petition, it is obvious, short of not reading what he was signing, that he is aware they were using him to run as a candidate.

Those of us who live here know how dangerous operating trucks weighing in at up to 40,000 ponds can be. We remember the horrific accident on Rt 43 involving a truck carrying hot asphalt which overturned, spilling it’s hot payload on top of a car with an open sun roof, critically burning the driver who ultimately perished. Mirch and Crist obviously don’t care about such things when they put up a kid barely old enough to shave to run for an office requiring experience and qualifications.

Upon examining the petition they created, it was odd to find a committee to fill vacancies consisting of three Troy residents, all of whom are Mirch’s candidates for Troy Mayor and City Council on the WF line. Christopher Consuello is a candidate for Troy Mayor, was a candidate for the Assembly forcing Ronald Canestrari to decline the WF endorsement and was again a candidate for Mayor of Troy on the WF line.

So it appears that North Greenbush is just a pawn to these political players who care only about power and nothing about the safety of our residents whom they would have served as town Highway Superintendent by a 19 year old gas station attendant who can’t legally drive a loaded town truck.

Tom Connolly Manipulates Conservative Candidate

Some Conservatives in North Greenbush nominated Florence Alberelli of Snyder's Lake to serve on the town board believing she would make an outstanding councilperson. Those nominating her considered her a friend and someone who would do a good job if elected. Trouble is Alberelli was not around when petitions had to hit the streets. Efforts to contact her were to no avail so the group continued to circulate the petition in the hope she would accept the designation upon her return home.

Before anyone could inform her of her option to accept or decline, Independence Chairman Tom Connolly, a relative by marriage, apparently got hold of her and twisted the facts to get Alberelli angry. He implied fraud was committed against her and he could take care of it. Connolly showed up at her door with a self serving statement that Alberili signed accusing her allies of fraud. Trouble is, Connolly knows no fraud occurred. No one signed a false name on the petitions and there is no fraud in nominating someone to run for office without their permission. The election law provides for a declination period in which candidates nominated can decline the nomination. This is what Alberelli did but she also signed Tom Connolly's missive not realizing his real purpose for writing the passage; to smear his political opponents. Nice work Tom and you can thank your boasting to friends for this tip to the Pipeline. Incidentally, even after the miscommunictaion, Alberelli's allies still believe she was the best candidte they could have nominated and stand by her ability to serve on the town council. They praised her in an email to the Pipeline.

Late Financial Disclosure Count:


Today is Day 10 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.

Let’s Play Political Jeopardy!

In the category of “He said what?” for Fifty Dollars, What’s funnier than a lawyer with a criminal record who is on the NY Senate payroll charging political opponents with election fraud?
Answer, a lawyer and a party chairman BOTH with a record of convictions and BOTH hard at work on the on the NY Senate payroll charging opponents with election fraud while spending their days in Rensselaer County courtrooms. Gee Governor, now there’s something the State Police can sink their teeth into and Senator Bruno can help explain their time away too!

You got to give attorney Josuha Ehrlich credit for having big kahoonas. Both he and sidekick Independence Chair Tom Connolly enjoy a lot in common. They work for the same turncoat Democratic State Senator from the Brooklyn; the both spend a lot of time out of their office working on elections lawsuits to keep everyone but their candidates off the North Greenbush ballot; and they both love to charge opponents with fraud. And why not, they are experts by now. Ehrilch charged candidates with 58 varieties of fraud in two separate but identically written petitions as far as the charges were concerned. That's one more form of fraud than Heinz has varieties of foods! Better yet, none of the smearing charges were true and Ehrlich never tried to prove any of them. He'd have had a tough time proving one that was in BOTH sets of court papers, that candidates had insufficient DEMOCRATIC signatures on the CONSERVATIVE and INDEPENDENCE petitions. Wild since Democrats can't sign them in the first place. Ehrlich is the attorney for Republicans, Independence and Conservative lawsuits and is Democratic Chair Jeff Spain's lawyer as well!

Seeing the pair on TV news last night making fraud charges in court brought a flurry of emails and recollections. First Ehrlich.

He got himself captured on camera by a local TV station driving with a suspended license on his way to a court appearance in Colonie. A document obtained from Colonie Town Court shows Ehrlich pled guilty to Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Aggravated unlicensed operation. He was fined $1310.00 and managed to get three other charges dismissed including Operating a Motor Vehicle under the influence of DRUGS, 1st, Failure to keep right and resisting arrest. Yes, Attorney Ehrlich knows crime when he sees it. If he keeps it up, he'll be living from week to week in a motel!

Tom Connolly:
When Tom yells fraud he to ought to know. According to the October 18, 1996 Troy Record, in May of 1993 Connolly pled guilty to DWAI in East Greenbush. His license was suspended and revoked until 1994 when he failed to attend court mandated alcohol education classes. He was arrested again in October 1996 by State Police in Brunswick on a DWAI charge while awaiting a political appointment as County Commissioner of Jurors. Before that he got himself a purchasing job in the City of Troy by fibbing on his job application that he had a 4 year degree from Manhattan College. In some places, filing that phony job application is called filing a false instrument. For Joe Bruno's State Senate, it's a five star recommendation that one lists proudly on the hire me sheets.

While on the city payroll, he got caught stealing a couple of bicentennial pictures which he gave as gifts to his mother and the then county District Attorney. No, he wasn’t charged because it was felt the administrative punishment was sufficient. A 30 day unpaid suspension and a signed admission of the charges. By the way, when the city found out about the falsified application, Connolly quit the job before he got fired.

What a great dynamic duo to be hard at work ferreting out corruption by allowing only their candidates on the North Greenbush ballot. Makes you feel kinda special, doesn’t it North Greenbush? When you're applying for a job in Joe Bruno's Senate, be aware of the qualifications you'll be expected to list on your job application.

Republican Primary
Looks like the slate of REPUBLICANS opposing Joe Bruno's "DEMOCRATIC" backed slate will slug it out in the September primary. Despite efforts to remove the slate from the ballot, a judge ruled that Republican town voters will get to decide whether to back the Democratic Slate of Jeff Spain and his so called reform Democrats which are the same as Casale Excavating's Conservatives slate and Tom Connolly's Independence slate. The ruling came after admissions that some 44 signatures were forged on the petitions. The petitions will stand because they still had double the number needed to get on the ballot.

Late Financial Disclosure Count:
Today is Day 30 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.

Connolly Veteran’s Exemption Episode II

Back on September 28th the Pipeline posted 2006 veterans exemptions for Tom and Kathryn Connolly listed by the Rensselaer County Tax Services department which are posted on the county web page. At the time we stated we did not know if they were in fact entitled to the exemption. We invited the Connolly’s to weigh in and tell readers the scoop. They were silent. So the mystery continued.

Now the county has posted the updated 2007 tax rolls. Kathryn Connolly’s combat veterans exemption has been removed for 2007 (page 347) leaving unanswered whether she got the break in prior years and was entitled to it. Tom Connolly, the County Independence Party Chairman still lists his non combat veterans exemption for 2007 on his property on Dobert Court in Wynantskill.(page 349)

We know for a fact that Tom Connolly did not serve in the military, leaving his wife as his only hope for deserving the benefit, if in fact, he did receive it. So again we invite the Connolly’s to post their side for all our readers to see. In the mean time, we’re confident readers will take the initiative to find out through official means whether the pair had and deserved the exemptions. Perhaps their good family friend the acting town assessor John Harkin can help answer the questions?

Late Financial Disclosure Reports

Kyran Devery
Today is Day 96 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. They are also 13 days late on a 32 Day Pre General filing due October 5th.Laws apparently don’t apply to the “reformed” democrats under Jeff Spain and his Treasurer, Tax Collector Kyran Devery.Also the Casale Conservative's have filed their 32 Day Pre General Report.

Payback Time Coming

When Lou Desso and Al Spain hatched their plan to fire Youth Director Jerry Sickles, it was rumored they intended to use some of the money to give extra cash to Conservative Party Committeeman and Building Inspector Mike Miner. The rumor was $10,000 would go to Miner, paid in of all things OVERTIME, which in his case would be a whopping $47.00 an hour.

Miner is the highest paid employee in town hall at $64,000 a year. Paying him time and a half to do some of Sickle's job is at best financially irresponsible and at worst, mismanagement of the highest order.

First you have to consider that Miner is a FULL TIME employee who is supposed to work the regular business hours of 9 to 5. Overtime, which has been strictly eliminated because of the $171,000 deficit, requires the approval of the Supervisor in advance, and would have to take place after regular work hours. Trouble is, any critical responsibilities that might need to be filled by Sickles firing would take place during the same business hours which Miner already works as a Building Inspector. The most critical part of the Youth Director's summer responsibilities involved his presence at the summer camp. Further, why would you think of paying the highest paid employee in town hall time and a half for overtime to do this work when you could either keep Sickles part time or hire someone for regular pay at a rate considerably lower than Miner's overtime rate? The reason seems clear. It's a corrupt political bargain.So stay tuned for this one as the great payoff is attempted.

Incidentally, Conservative Committee persons are supposed to be out getting designating petition signatures for Lou Desso town board run. We're sure Miner is not circulating a petition for himself to run as he did with former Supervisor Mark Evers, beating him in the primary and costing him the election. And were "sure" this little bone they are trying to throw his way has nothing to do with keeping a Miner designating petition for town board from hitting the streets in addition to the Desso one. Really, we're sure of it!

Special Board Meeting Friday at 4PM

The financial problems and the like may be the topic of the special meeting of the town board set for Friday at 4PM June 18th. We'll see if the cuts were personal as expected or whether the majority is capable of eliminating the jobs in town hall that should have been erased months before Jerry Sickles.

Tom Connolly Rides again!

We knew when word of the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation into the State Independence Party broke, that Party Vice Chair Tom Connolly's name would surface. Well it did. Here's a link to the NY Post story. Tom managed to get at least $5,000 of Mayor Bloomberg's money as "expenses". Gee, what a surprise! We bet there's more to come and a Grand Jury Subpoena into banking records to see if any big checks were cashed by those involved. Looks like it's time for Andrew Cuomo to reject the endorsement of the Independence Party for Governor. The last thing a great candidate needs is the endorsement of people up to their necks in a criminal investigation who run around singing his praises. Cuomo can and will win without such endorsements. He's that good a candidate.

Incidentally Andrew Cuomo's campaign might like to see some of the background of Mr. Connolly which is posted on this blog here. Oh, and there's plenty more to read. Just do a blog search of Tom Connolly on our home page and see if his endorsement is something to covet.

Connolly Story Grows With Call for Investigation

Looks like sleepless nights ahead for State Senate employee and Independence Party Operative, Tom Connolly with a call for a long overdue investigation into his activities using his position in the State Independence Party to curry favor with the GOP. You can read the latest AP wire story by Kyle Hughes.

The investigation is being called for by Dick Dadey, the respected executive director of Citizens Union and his echoed by the Pipeline. This call for action will get the attention of prosecutors, perhaps even the US Attorney, who has the resources to thoroughly examine the activities of Connolly's handling of campaign funds.

The article states "Prosecutors should review Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Moreland Commission finding that Senate Republicans improperly gave campaign funds to the Independence Party through Rensselaer County vice chair Thomas Connolly,"  It causes us to ask questions as to whether Connolly himself personally benefited from these funds? Each time we see something like this we properly ask what does he get out of it.  Take his recent actions in Troy and North Greenbush.  Connolly met with Rensselaer County Legislative operative Richard Crist and agreed to give a liberal Democrat on the Troy City Council a Wilson Pakula waiver for the Independence Primary. Aside from the reasons a GOP operative on the County Legislature would ask for it, why would Connolly agree to such a request to assist an opposition party candidate?  As for North Greenbush, we wonder what if any deal occurred to grant the GOP Town Justice candidate the Ind Party line after a tie primary vote allowed Connolly to decide the winner in his party leader capacity. Did he personally benefit from these actions?

We wonder if those on the North Greenbush Town Board who gleefully accepted his endorsements will stand up and echo the calls for an investigation.  Don't hold your breath as Al Spain, Lou Desso and their band of merry men on the 5-0 Connolly endorsed town board are sure to follow the example of the ostrich and hide their heads in the sand when it comes to Connolly.

Connolly's escapade with the GOP State Senate made No. 8 on Wednesday on Citizens Union “Top Ten List of Surprising and Shocking Findings from Moreland Commission Report,”.

We think some of his stuff locally is even more shocking, especially his mindless gift of a stolen bicentennial print from his then employer,  the city of Troy to, who else, a sitting District Attorney! Now who could be that dumb!

Here's a link to that episode and so many others documented here on his hometown blog, the North Greenbush Pipeline. In the meantime, a couple of sedatives may help calm those sleepless nights ahead.

Tom Connolly Getting the Attention He Deserves

North Greenbush resident Tom Connolly is getting a closer look from the media with today's embarrassing expose in the NY Post which you can read here.

Just think folks, his granting to every GOP candidate in N. Greenbush and Rensselaer County, an endorsement, is often the deciding factor at the polls where Dems are forced to run with one lone while the GOP enjoys 4.

We can only imaging how our soon to be town judge feels being covered with Connolly's endorsement after a tie due to 8 GOP carried absentee ballots which allowed Connolly himself to grant her the party's line for the November election.

We have documented Connolly's escapades in this blog repeatedly and you are welcome to do a search on the site to read his colorful history of falsifying his Troy job application to get a job without a required 4 year degree to his theft of pictures from city hall after he got the job.

Today he's collecting your tax dollars with an $81,000 job on the GOP State Senate payroll where his signature gives GOP candidates a line on the ballot they do not deserve.

So just think, it all began here, his career in dirty politics and he's our town's claim to fame and the claim of each and every elected Republican on the Town Board and town offices.

Connolly Turns To GOP Oppressors

It's hard to frame the incredible ironies presented by politics in North Greenbush. It was just a few short years ago that the GOP controlled Town Board was trying to remove life long Democrat Katie Connolly from her office as Town Clerk for failing to sign her oath of office more than a year into her term. This Saturday morning, the Republican County Committee is set to endorse her as their candidate for Town Clerk in exchange for a few pieces of political silver known as Wilson Pakula waivers from her brother Tom Connolly, who is still Chairman of the Rensselaer County Independence Party.

Well, the GOP is used to bartering for Wilson Pakula waivers, especially in North Greenbush where they bought themselves a few Conservative votes on the Town Board to place their candidate for Town Justice on the bench. Those votes were gathered in exchange for GOP Wilson Pakula waivers which would allow two of the town board Conservatives to run as Republicans this November. So giving another one out to Democrat Connolly as her lifeline in November should not come as a complete surprise especially since Connolly played a key role in turning over the Democratic endorsements to the GOP in last year's town board races for Supervisor and one Council seat.

Connolly's fall from the Democratic ranks comes after she joined a group of so called "reformers" in an effort to wrestle control of the party leadership from her longtime supporter Dan Ashley. She challenged Ashely in two party committee contests, the last one of which saw her defeated for a committee seat by Ashley who was then elected party chairman once again.

With that victory came a lot of explaining for Connolly, who sat in a sort of trial of Ashley for alleged disloyalty and voting to remove him from his County Committee seat, a power neither she or her fellow committee members had under election law.

With her adversaries back in charge of the Democratic Party, it was sure to be a little uncomfortable coming to the Democrats and asking for their endorsement and forgiveness. Apparently, it's easier to knock on Republican doors asking folks to sign the petition of their longtime Democratic nemesis whose mother was once the enchilada of local Democrats as the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee Chairman.

Town Democrats had informed Connolly and all candidates seeking their endorsement that they would not endorse anyone who had accepted the Republican line in order to ensure a competitive election in November and to prevent another attempt by Republicans to subvert the electoral process as they did last year in a cross endorsement deal that placed their candidates on all four party lines in November.

So Republicans in North Greenbush, get ready for a surprise visitor at your doors beginning June 9th as Democrat Katie Connolly, notary in tow, asks you to sign her designating petition. No, she can't get the signatures herself because she is not a notary or a Republican, nor can she even sign her own petition. That's up to you, the Republican voters of North Greenbush.

As for the meeting on Saturday, well surprise guest Paul Tazbir will do the nominating speech, refreshed from his efforts to have former Comptroller Tyler Sawyer sneak into the Clerk's Office and copy the oath book. Bob Ashe will drive in from Poestenkill to draw straws with Joe Styczynski, (did we spell that right Joe?) for the honor of seconding the nomination and GOP Town Chairman Greg "Get off my property" DeJulio will sign the first petition. Hey Greg, we have to ask, how long before she puts you on trial for "disloyalty"?

Connolly Booted From Senate Payroll

It was a long time coming but Thomas Connolly has finally been given the axe from the NY State Senate in a job provided for him by Joe Bruno when Bruno was the Majority Leader.

The savings to taxpayers is at least $100,000 a year and the folks at the Central Avenue OTB may feel the job loss even more so. Connolly worked for a renegade Democratic Senator who was part of the power coup last year that sent the Senate and State government into turmoil.

With Republicans recapturing a narrow majority, the Democratic payroll had to be reduced and some 197 people on the payroll of Democratic Senators or central staff were laid off as a result. Yes, Connolly was on a Democratic payroll even though he remained the benefactor of Rensselaer County and Town Republicans as Chair of the county Independence Party.

It will be interesting to see whether Connolly can convince a politician with a payroll that he has some value to them in his role as a Vice Chair of the Independence Party. It was that false perception that kept him on the payroll after Senator Bruno retired. But the new Republican Majority is not likely to see any reason to keep the controversial Connolly on a State payroll especially in the midst of the worst fiscal crisis the State has faced in decades.

To those politicos who might need a refresher course on Connolly's past, a search of this blog will provide enough fodder to fill a dozen resumes. Frank Morano, a former Independence Party officer provided a great analysis of Connolly before he quit the party in disgust recently. Before he left, he framed the now former $100,000 a year NY Senate employee to a tee in the Daily News. His quote, a gem, "but alas the Independence Party has become the Incumbent Dependence Party, a tool for influence peddlers like Tom Connolly to cater to the state’s most powerful leaders."

Help thy self and search before you think about hiring!

Union Approves "Desso's Deal"

The town hall union which first came into being thanks to a resolution recognizing the bargaining unit passed by the former board majority of Paul Tazbir and Robert Ashe in the final month of their reign has unanimously approved the latest version of a contract that has been at best a fleecing of taxpayers. Yes Mr. Desso, your former running mate let the mouse in the door as a final gotcha before he left office in 2005. He even tied up a room in town hall so they union could meet.

Democrats have been slamming the union for some time after it was learned, post passage by the successive town board which quickly divided into two factions of Evers and Kern verses Fennelly, Mihalko and Michaels, that it contained absurd insurance buyouts. Evers led the negotiations with the union and on the night the contract was finally approved, refused to allow the public to see or hear its contents before forcing a vote. As a result no one knows to this day if what was approved was actually the document Evers signed and bound the town to. Many former council members believe the document in front of them is not the one Evers signed which contained the absurd health insurance buy out provisions that have cost the town $40,000 a year. Evers was sucking up to the employees in town hall at the time of the vote before they too ditched him, like the current Democratic Party did soon after he was elected. Desso, incidentally ran with Evers as his running mate when he ran for the board in 2007 with Republicans running the so called Democratic Party in town which endorsed the GOP slate. That history aside, there is no excuse for this contract ever being approved anymore than there is an excuse for the resolution which recognized the union in the first place.

Now Lou Desso claims to be the new Henry Kissinger of North Greenbush. He somehow took the place of the Supervisor in negotiating a new contract which the union, after screwing the town with another round of buyout payments in June without a whimper from the town board, approved unanimously. It's pretty obviously they voted down the contract before June because they wanted to screw the town out of the next scheduled round of buyouts and yep, they did just that! No worry about a financial crisis with these folks.

We can't wait to read the fruit of Desso's negotiating skills done behind the back of the Supervisor and with one of the folks in town hall whom he just voted to approve an extra 10 grand in overtime the town can't afford in a time of fiscal crisis. Desso says he had no tools to force the union into relinquishing the buy out provisions. He apparently has not heard of the threat of job eliminations as a negotiating tool, but then again, many of these folks are his political allies and we presume the deficit will just have to grow as a result of maintaining a Building Department staff that is overblown and bloated.

For a contract to be successful, a number of things need to be included. First the buy out provisions need to be amended, reduced in size of the maximum payment permitted and amending the ability to qualify for the payments. No one should be allowed eligibility without first being in the insurance program as an eligible recipient. No one should be allowed to double dip, that is folks like Bill Miller and John Harkin should not be eligible for a buy out when they already receive full public funded health insurance from other employers.

Second, a time clock must be utilized in town hall. The notion of a staff coming and going as they please without supervision or some type of control is bad business and hopefully this will be corrected.

Also, we believe that managers should not be part of the bargaining unit. That means the Assessor and head of the Building Department should not be allowed in this union, the same union whose members they are supposed to supervise day to day.

Hopefully we we see some of these issues addressed in the new contract which is likely to be on the agenda this Thursday night for board consideration.

Tom Connolly receives a Broadside from his Party

You have to read this great analysis of Tom Connolly by Independence Party official Frank Morano. He quit the party in disgust this week but not before framing the $100,000 a year NY Senate employee to a tee. You can read the story here from the Daily News. His quote, a gem, "but alas the Independence Party has become the Incumbent Dependence Party, a tool for influence peddlers like Tom Connolly to cater to the state’s most powerful leaders"
We couldn't have said it better.

Germano jumps ship in petition fight

Yesterday we reported that the leader of the Republican backed insurgents attempting to primary and take control of the town Democratic Committee, jumped ship and signed a declination of his primary office of Committeeman in ED 5. Germano was none to happy at the Board of Elections casting aspersions on his Democratic adversaries and claiming, falsely, they were after his family.

With the captain of the ship in the first lifeboat, the rest of the crew is being left to answer charges of petition fraud on their own. The matter is likely to head to court where many will be subpoenaed to answer charges contained in sworn affidavits to be filed at the Board of Elections later this week. It should be quite a show.

Shortest Congressional Campaign On Record

Well, yesterday we reported exclusively that North Greenbush Resident and politico Tom Connolly was trying to gum up Congress by running in the Syracuse NY area's 25th Congressional District.

Today we sadly report that Mr. Connolly's campaign has come to an end as he issued a formal declination to the State Board of Elections. What will all those Dinosaur Bar-B-Que fans in the Syracuse NY area have to talk about at the bar now that Mr. Connolly has withdrawn from the race as the Independence Party's standard bearer?

We extend to them our sincere sympathies. Saranac will not taste the same nor will if offer as lively a conversation piece as a Congressional race with Rensselaer County's own Tom Connolly at the helm as a candidate.

Better luck next time Syracuse and the fightin' 25th CD!

An Endorsement and a Bragging Supervisor

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!

Monday Night "Prayer" Meeting

It was quite a sight for politically astute observers to behold. The political bosses and players in the Independence and Conservative Parties in North Greenbush all gathering at the Beverage Mart on Main Avenue to hold court.

We presume they were just gathered in prayer for the betterment of the town. Prayers were offered for a completed Water District 14 for the 6.4 million the contractor agreed to do the job. Upon completion of the prayer, Conservative Chairman Michael Casale reportedly wrote a check for the nearly $900,000 in overruns and placed in in the passing basket. Most of that money was paid without proper authorization with the help of his friends in the Building Department and the Town Supervisor.

Then of course a special prayer was offered by the County Independence Party Chairman Tom Connolly whose mini van with the distinctive TSC 12 license plate graced the front parking lot of the store turned church.

Tom asked for prayers that he does not loose his State Senate job when Democrats gain a majority after the November elections. With his Uncle Joe and benefactor in the Senate retiring, Tom will need a miracle to stay in a Senate job tending to the needs of the Republican Party in Rennselaer County when there is no Republican from Rensselaer County serving as Majority Leader.

For now, Mr. Connolly seems content to try and maintain a small share of the grip on power in North Greenbush presumably to keep his two cousins on the job in the Building Department where one played a role approving the payments to Casale Excavating which runs the local Conservative Party chaired by Michael Casale.

While no reports of a sighting of behind the scenes Democratic guru Jim Germano, the third part of this political triad with cohort Jeff Spain, one can be sure of his continued involvement in the political strategies aimed at maintaining control of the Democratic and Conservative Committees.

We presume the real purpose of this "political prayer meeting" was party designating petitions which are due this week.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

And the Spain - Germano "GOP"candidates for Democratic Committee are: Comprehensive Plan member Nancy Spain and Frank Guiliano in ED 1; Fire Chief and CPC member Richard French and CPC member Mark White in ED 2; Jeff Spain and Kyran Devery in ED 3; Pat Nolan in ED 4; Tony Farina and Ed Cassino in ED 5; Carl Fiacco in ED 6; Doreen Connolly and William O'Neil in ED 7; William Madsen and Kathryn Connolly in ED 8.

Upsetting the Tangled Political Web

It's no secret that the North Greenbush GOP has long had its candidates selected for the fall election and that Democrats are still looking to fill a slate. A familiar face, Jann Liberty, is considering another run for Town Clerk against incumbent Republican Kathryn Connolly.  Connolly is a registered Democrat who enjoys the unique distinction of being the only Democrat in the county who consistently receives a Wilson-Pakula waiver from the Independence Party with a guarantee of sorts that no opponent will ever receive such an endorsement for a Primary challenge.

That's because her brother, Thomas Connolly is a party Vice Chair in the Independence Party and can issue the Wilson-Pakula waivers allowing non members of his party to have their name on the ballot in any Independence Party primary. Any non party member who wants to challenge for that Primary line is forced to wage a write in effort while the recipient of the Wilson-Pakula gets the big advantage of having their name on the ballot.

Tom Connolly has managed to use his party position to get a tidy $80,000 a year job on the GOP State Senate payroll overseen by one Senator Dean Skelos.Does that name ring a bell? It should as he has been charged with corruption by the fearless U.S.Attorney from the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara. . In addition to the job for Connolly, Skelos also has his wife Gail on the Senate GOP payroll making over $100,000 a year.


Mr. Skelos and his caucus like Wilson Pakula waivers as much as our Town Clerk and the dozens of local GOP endorsed candidates who get these waivers every election cycle. Rare is the example of a local Democrat given such a waiver. That power and the advantage it gives Republicans who curry favor with Thomas Connolly with a State Senate job may enter the tangled political web involving Skelos and the charges against him. You see, Federal prosecutors love clear quid pro quos almost as much as the Senate GOP loves Wilson-Pakulas.

Veteran’s Exemption Question

We don’t have the answer. Just a couple of interesting questions from one of our readers. Why did the town clerk, Kathryn Connolly and her brother, Rensselaer County Independence Party Chairman Tom Connolly have both a combat and non combat veteran’s exemption on their homes in North Greenbush.

Here’s the link to the Rensselaer County Tax Assessment Roll web site. Pages 333 and 335 in the pdf are the properties in question.

Did Tom Connolly qualify for a non combat veteran’s exemption on 19 Dobert Court? It was worth $4,600 in reduction of taxable assessed valuation. Did his sister qualify for a combat veteran’s exemption worth $7,200 off the assessed valuation of 1 Crestwood Lane?

The dates listed are July 2005 to March 2006. We are told they were removed in the yet to be posted 2007 tax rolls.

Since we don’t know the answer, we invite the Connollys to post their comments or emails so we can tell our readers. Remember, no accusations printed here, just questions.


Kyran Devery
Today is Day 69 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.
Hint, we're told a lawsuit will be filed very shortly to force the filing of this report.