If you read my blog regularly, you will remember that back in March 2007, Jerry Green, New Hartford Town Attorney and Chairman of the New Hartford Republican Committee placed a phone call to Ed Wiatr who was contemplating running for Ward 2 Councilman to replace J.C. Waszkiewicz who has decided not to run for another term. The Republican Screening Committee was scheduled to meet on March 13, 2007 to make their selection. You can read my March blog here.Mr. Wiatr was not at home when Mr. Green called him on March 9, 2007 (4 days before the Republican Committee was even scheduled to meet), so Mr. Green decided to leave a message on Mr. Wiatr's answering machine. Here is Mr. Green's message on Ed Wiatr's answering machine. This is a wmv file and you will need Windows Media Player. On this tape, Mr. Green informed Mr. Wiatr that the Republican Committee already had their candidate; but Mr. Wiatr was welcome to screen. Well, wouldn't that be an effort in futility?
The "chosen" is Christine Krupa from New York Mills. I don't know her personally, but it is kind of an ominous sign that she was "chosen" before the screening even took place, don't you think? Then, again, this Republican Party seems to do everything Back-Assword. Don't get me wrong, I am a life-long Republican, but lately after some of the "shenanigans" this administration has pulled, I prefer to vote for the person, and what they bring to the table, not necessarily the Party "chosen".
Russ Cerminaro, who has been endorsed by Concerned Citizens for Honest & Open Government, also wanted to be screened by the Republican Committee. However, Mr. Green never even bothered answering Mr. Cerminaro's several phone calls. Mr. Cerminaro told Mr. Green's secretary exactly why he needed to speak to Mr. Green. I guess once you pick your "candidate", screening isn't all that important--at least it's not important to the New Hartford Republican Committee!
Mr. Cerminaro, who truly wants to represent Ward 2 residents, and members of Concerned Citizens worked hard, visited many homes and talked to residents. In the end, although we only needed 75 signatures to qualify for the Republican Primary, we garnered over 200 signatures of registered Republicans. Mr. Cerminaro (who actually visited and collected 140 signatures just by himself) will now be a Republican candidate for Ward 2 Councilman in the upcoming Republican Primary on September 18, 2007. Ms. Christine Krupa, the "chosen" Republican candidate, only bothered to collect 24 signatures herself with 120 signatures being collected with the help of the Republican Committee people. Of the remaining 120 signatures, 20 of the people who signed her petitions did not even live in Ward 2. A 'no-no' since only registered voters in Ward 2 can sign the petition, a fact that Mr. Green as town attorney and Republican Party Chairman should have been well aware of when he submitted Ms. Krupa's petitions to the Board of Elections. Mr. Cerminaro challenged those illegal signatures and they were ultimately thrown out by the Board of Elections.
After collecting over 200 signatures to get Mr. Cerminaro in the Republican Primary, Russ Cerminaro and Concerned Citizens for Honest & Open Government collected over 200 additional signatures (114 signatures were required without regard to party affiliation) of registered voters in Ward 2. As a result, we have now created the Concerned Citizens party line for the November 6, 2007 General Election in the Town of New Hartford because we strongly believe that residents deserve a choice in matters of town government.
As a member of Concerned Citizens, Russ believes in honest and open government. Russ has a website where you can view his Platform for Change or send Russ an email.
This November 6, 2007, regardless of your party affiliation, ALL registered voters in the Town of New Hartford - Ward 2 will have a choice as to who will represent them on the New Hartford Town Board. There is no Democratic candidate for Ward 2 Councilman. We urge all voters in Ward 2 to vote for Russ Cerminaro on the Concerned Citizen line this November. Show New Hartford politicians that enough is enough!
Vote for Russ Cerminaro on the CONCERNED CITIZENS Party line!
2 comments:
RUSS CERMINARO has my vote!
Thank you for your support....Together, we can make a difference!
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