Zim, I agree with most of what you said and I also would vote for Tommasone but have a few issues with the way he has handled some of the water problems in the town. I believe that he has Rotterdam's best interest at heart but is listening to some wrong advise from his staff on some issues.
Iagree, but taking the wrong advicefrom some people is what happens when you overstudy and, in fact, cram for the tests that have been going on so much through the entire town.
Too much studying, not enough test taking.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
Year ago the Conservative party was closely aligned to the Republican Party. But lately I see the party changing. It does seem to be more of a special interest party. It seems to have left it's original platform. I think that the few real Conservatives that are left, are not enough to make a difference. I was a registerd democrat years ago. Their platform is still the same, but I have changed my views and don't agree with the Democratic platform anymore. I switched to the Republican Party quite a few years ago. There may be some Republican politicians I don't agree with, but I do agree with their platform. And I would also vote for Steve Tomasone. He may not have fixed the water problems, but at least he is addressing them. I don't remember the past supervisors doing that. And I also don't think that he would allow reckless developing as there was in the past.
Though I am unfamiliar with the platform on which he is campaigning, I am perplexed at how John Silva could be endorsed for a seat on the Rotterdam Town Board by the Democratic, Working Families and Conservative parties.
z2im - It is pretty simple here. If the conserv's are endorsing Silva, that can only mean that he will be a positive puppet player in the negotiation of the police contract. The Conservative party is on a 'search and destroy' mission. They want to render Mr. Mertz ineffective when it comes to negotiating the police contract.
We know that we will still have Mr. Mertz and Mr. Signore, who are both reps. Ms. mega mouth Marco and Mr. Bob no change Godlewski, who are both dems, will not seek re-election. Which then leaves the supervisors seat. We clearly need to keep Tomasone as supervior. That is key.
And putting aside this whole police thing, which is the driving force behind the conserv's, Mr. Tomasone has been a very effective supervisor, as with the rest of the majority. There have been more issues addressed in these last few years than there has been in a decade. They do an outstanding job in trying to get Rotterdam back on a sane track. They clearly have made a few foes, but not everyone likes to leave their little comfort zone and adapt to change.....even if it is for the betterment of the town.
They clearly have made a few foes, but not everyone likes to leave their little comfort zone and adapt to change.....even if it is for the betterment of the town.
Even if they have made some foes (I'll say it, enemies), let's look at it this way. At least they have given these people a chance to come in and scream at them and let their voice be heard. Whether they were right or wrong, they at least gave EVERYONE a chance to voice their opinion with obvious concern on their part. Maybe they study too much, but at least they do listen.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
03/30/2007 Schenectady County Board of Elections Page 1 10:54 am
Name Women Men Total
County Wide Voter Affiliation Statistics Voter Status of A - Active
Democratic 18,852 12,763 31,615
Republican 14,264 13,558 27,822
Independence 1,881 1,738 3,619
Conservative 1,182 1,518 2,700 Notice how there are more men enrolled than women. (cops)
Working Families 290 241 531
Green 97 142 239
Libertarian 1 2 3
Blank-No Party 10,235 9,257 19,492
DO NOT USE 284 177 461
DO NOT USE 161 116 277
Other - 45 56 101 ----------------------------------------------------------- Totals 47,292 39,568 86,860
ROTTERDAM'S POLITICAL PARTY BREAKDOWN
Schenectady County Board of Elections Page 18 12:58 pm Apportionment District List Built on March 30, 2007 - Data as of Friday, March 30, 2007
Rotterdam RO Rotterdam Total 19,007
951RO Rotterdam DEM 6,833
RO Rotterdam REP 5,852
293RO Rotterdam IND 825
RO Rotterdam CON 1,11740% of Reigistered Conservative's in Schenectady County are in Rotterdam.
56RO Rotterdam WOR 139
RO Rotterdam GRE 37
2RO Rotterdam 0 BLK 4,030
RO Rotterdam LIB 100
5RO Rotterdam 0 RTL 58
RO Rotterdam OTH 16
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is apt to spread discontent among those who are. ~ H.L. Mencken
First, of course there are more registered men than women in the conservative party ONLY...THEY ARE THE COPS!! A bit amusing, don't ya think?
Second, it is quite obvious that the reps have their work cut out for them since the conserv's will almost be the swing vote here. UNLESS the 'blanks' can pull it off. And just as a side note, it was the conserv's that backed Mr. jail bird Constantino..now that's a scary thought, don't ya think? And again we all know that the conserv's are, in part, the RPD and of course they want Cooke elected so he can be the one in charge of negotiating their contract next year. Let's remember that Cooke is the union rep for the Postal union and has been for years. It doesn't take a rocket scientist here my friends. Again, the conserv's backed Mr. Tomasone in the last election against Cooke. So the only difference this time?...you got it...the RPD contract!
Well, there is a hell of a lot more going on in Rotterdam that is of the utmost importance to it's residence and their future besides the RPD contract. Does Cooke have the vision, drive, passion or knowledge on these matters? Most people don't think so.
So with all of this said, the conserv's are at best, nothing more than a political whore who sells itself to ANY party that will accomplish their motives and agendas. So the general concensus from the people I've talked to say....DO NOT VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE THAT IS BACKED BY THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY! Not in this election anyways!
I have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Bill Cooke (D) who is running against Mr. Steve Tomasone for Town Supervisor. You may PM any questions or concerns to me and I will be happy to present them to him.
Well, I don't need to PM this, but I think all of us here would like to know his ideas on taxes, the MFRH boom that has been going through town. What's his vision?
How does he plan on keeping the boom going that the current Republican Majority seems to have swinging?
I think asking his feelings on the re-evaluation would be a little late coming to the table.
What does he think about people saying that he got the Conservative Party backing because he's a parrot for the P.D.?
What makes him a Conservative? Especially since last time, he wasn't (against the same opponent, none the less).
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
Sooner or later the MFRH boom will die off, I saw it down to Ocean City Md. where there were dozens of the condos, town houses, and apartments with for sale/ for rent signs on them.
Okay folks, these are the candidates to fill the 2 town board seats in the upcoming election. They will be filling Ms.Marco and Mr.Godlewski's seats.
DellaVilla endorsed by the reps and conserv's. Seems like a match, right? Well, we know the conserv's are backing the RPD. So are they aligning him to support the RPD's contract?
Silva - Conserv's and dem's are endosing him. How in the world can that be, since their idiology is miles apart. No where in line with one another.
Denny - Endorsed by dem's and rep's....so which on is he, since their idiology is miles apart also?
Leet - Is just a dem.
This is all a** backwards!
Remember that the conserv's are putting the push on for Cooke(d), so he will be the supervisor to negotiate the police contract. So if this were a chess game, how and where would you position you men to win the game? That's all this is my friends, is a political chess game to advance the cop's agenda with no regard for us, the taxpayers and the future of Rotterdam.
We need a politial watch group! Hold their feet to the fire. Make our taxpaid, elected officials be accountable and responsible TO US! Not to their political agenda, the cops agenda or a political party's agenda. It's about US!
Sooner or later the MFRH boom will die off, I saw it down to Ocean City Md. where there were dozens of the condos, town houses, and apartments with for sale/ for rent signs on them.
Not until the Boomers are gone......it has just begun.....cant you hear the creaking in the systems already???
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Though I was reluctant to accept the assertions made by others that my party sold out to the police union, I have begun to accept that this may be true.
Got a minute? Here's the story: When the reps, who were endorsed by the conservs, took control of the town board, in the last election, they promised to cut spending in all areas. Well one of those was the police dept. Who's budget is huge. Rotterdam has cops with a salary of approx $60 grand/year retiring at $90 grand with full benefits, at the taxpayers expense. They are encouraged to work as much ot as possible in their last 3 years of employment as that is what their retirement amount is based on. Now this was negotiated in their last contract, so in essence, they are allowed. HOWEVER, the republican majority wanted to form a police commission, which is also legal in NYS. Well the cops had a hissy fit. It was noted by some spectators at some town board meetings, where cops were actually 'flipping the bird' to the town board while the meeting was in session. Now if that's not a display of respect and professionalism, I don't know what is?!?
So the cops went to a meeting with black tee-shirts on with a 'no police commision' emblem on their backs. They were slouched in their seats, interupting anyone who spoke and displayed a total lack of professionalism. The cops VOWED to 'take the majority down'. And might I add that Ms. Marco(d) aka Mrs.Ricky Collins (xcop), was the ring leader. Joey abstain Guidarelli, who was a conserv on the board, sided with the cops.
From that point, every cop, family member of a cop and freind of a cop, changed their party affiliation to CONSERVATIVE. Hence, Randy Pasquarella becomes the new conserv chair.
Which brings us to the present...The conservs are endorsing Cooke(d) so HE will negotiate the cops contract next year, cause the reps will negotiate in a way that will keep the safety of Rotterdam the major concern and the financial fluff for the cops disolved. Well, the cops just ain't gonna for that one!
I'm sure I have left out some other incidents, as there were so many. But right now, the conservs have become at best a dysfuntional, special interest group that clearly does not think of US the taxpayers and clearly only their short sighted agenda at hand.
Thanks Bumble for the history. Based on your explanation, it sounds as though the members of the Conservative party, or at least the leadership, aren't conservatives at all but, rather, are opportunists who are hijacking the party for their own selfish interests. Is there anyone left who places country before self?
While I have always been a supporter of our law enforcement agencies, it is accounts such as this that make you question the commitment of "civil servants" to serve in the public interests, rather than to promote their own.
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