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| Republicans Trample Dem Hopes in County Lej; Iron. Supervisor; Sheriff Races |
By: Christopher J. Wilmot
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Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 5:47 am
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6:45 a.m., Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Rochester, NY - While few would expect President Obama's 'coat tails' to extend so far down the political food chain so as to help Monroe County Democrats yesterday, local political observers did anticipate Monroe County Democratic Chairman Joe Morelle to have some sway with voters. He did not.
In a nightmarish scenario for local Democrats, the 'Big Tent' party had their heads handed to them by the local GOP. To follow, a brief summary of the most important, and surprising races:
Sheriff:
Patrick O'Flynn (R) 69% (incumbent)
Dan Greene (D) 31%
Irondequoit Supervisor:
Mary Joyce D'Aurzio (R) 54%
Mary Ellen Heyman (D) 46% (incumbent)
Henrietta Supervisor:
Michael Yudelson (R) 72% (incumbent)
William Wu (D) 22%
Greece Supervisor:
John Auburger (R) 51% (incumbent) *
Dan Maloney (D) 49%
Mendon Supervisor:
John Moffitt (R) 57%
Ian McNabb (D) 43% **
Monroe County Court Judge:
John DeMarco (R) 58%
Brian McCarthy (D) 42%
Monroe County Legislature:
Republicans 15-seats
Democrats 14-seats
(All incumbents won)
* Auburger squeaked by his Democratic opponent, despite massive police and internal governmental scandals in Greece.
** Mendon Supervisor's seat formerly controlled by Democrats.
Local Republicans vs. Democrats: Four Substantial Upsets
With President Obama still enjoying a majority of support among Americans in recent polls (54% approval), local Democrats hinged their hopes on Obama's popularity and freshness, and the ill-effects of the Republican Robutrad scandal. Neither propelled local Dem's to victory, especially in four key races. The Monroe County Legislature looked ripe for the pickens for Morelle and his band of marauders on Tuesday, with Dem's smelling blood, and hoping to take control of the highest legislative body in Greater Rochester, for the first time in more than 15 years. It was not to be.
All county legislative incumbents were victorious, meaning that the slim Republican majority (once 19-10), would stay in vogue, at 15-14 seats. One of the greatest hopes for a flip in the majority rested in Perinton, where young incumbent Republican Ciaran Hanna handily defeated over-qualified Democrat Nora Bredes, an aboriginal down-stater and Columbia University graduate. Bredes had perhaps the strongest resume of any candidate, in either party, in races for the Monroe County Legislature.
Morelle and former U.S. Attorney Brian McCarthy (Patricia "Patty" Lamb McCarthy's husband) got caught with their 'pants down', when the Monroe County Democratic Committee and McCarthy's campaign aired an inflammatory TV ad, that even Gannett found objectionable, and McCarthy was slapped down by the D&C editorial board, and Judge John DeMarco received the D&C's endorsement. As a result, DeMarco cruised to an easy victory over McCarthy in the county-wide race for Monroe County Court Judge..
Morelle received more bad news, this time in his own backyard: The Town of Irondequoit (Morelle has lived in the town his entire life). Democratic incumbent Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman lost to Republican challenger Mary Joyce D'Aurzio, 54-46%. In addition, Democrats lost control of the Irondequoit Town Board.
Heyman likely lost her Supervisor's seat for two important reasons: 1.) Congel Development failed to pay the town hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars it owed to the town for the rights to develop the former Irondequoit Mall / Medley Center site. This virtually empty behemoth has served as a sore spot for Heyman and the town board for years. 2.) On-going disputes about the cost and location of libraries and community centers.
We interviewed Irondequoit Supervisor-Elect Mary Joyce D'Aurzio two months ago, and to put it mildly, this author found her to be ultra-qualified, comfortable, sociable, and confident. Heyman declined our request for an endorsement interview. Also, at least on television, former Supervisor Heyman never seemed comfortable in her role as the leader of a town of 55,000 residents. A clear repudiation of the Morelle machine.
The fourth and perhaps most surprising victory occurred in the suburban land of corruption, Greece, NY. Longtime incumbent Greece Supervisor John Auburger (and former President of the Monroe County Legislature) narrowly defeated his Democratic challenger, Dan Maloney, 51-49%. In fact, late into Tuesday night, Maloney still wouldn't concede defeat, though YNN (former R-News) had already declared Auburger the winner.
Greece has been riddled with school district and police department scandals for the past two years. Voters, however, seemed to not connect Auburger with, especially, the police scandal, and returned the incumbent to serve another term.
City of Rochester: Political Business as Usual
There were absolutely no surprises in City elections last night. All Democratically endorsed candidates won, every seat. In the race for City Council, Mr. Dana Miller, Carolee Conklin, Loretta Scott, Jacklyn Ortiz, and Matt Haag were victorious yesterday. Third party candidate Harry Davis lost, receiving 3% of the vote.
Taking a look at the race for Commissioner of Schools for the Rochester City School District (RCSD) board, Van White, Jose Cruz, and foul mouthed incumbent Cynthia Elliott all won going away. Third party candidates Howard Eagle and Christopher Edes garnered only single digit vote percentages
Incumbent RCSD board commissioner Tom Brennan, who lost a Democratic Primary for the City Council in September, agreed to a last minute write-in vote, to retain his seat on the RCSD board. However, it was not known at press time how many write-in votes he mustered, and until the Monroe County Board of Elections announces the final write-in vote tally for Brennan, big mouth Cynthia Elliott can not be 100% sure she was re-elected. However, the vast majority of write-in campaigns in the U.S. are unsuccessful, yet not all. Stay tuned.
Conclusion: Recent, Big NY State and National Democratic Victories Do Not Necessarily 'Trickle Down' to Mon. Co.
Stand-up comedian Bill Maher used to tell a joke in the late-1980's / early-'90's that former President Ronald Reagan, and former V.P and President George H.W. Bush, who each advocated 'Trickle Down Economics' (where tax cuts at the top would trickle down to average Americans in the form of more jobs and increased wages, theoretically), were each admitting that they unconsciously held average Americans in contempt, since 'Trickle Down' was a euphemism for "pissing all over" Americans, by assisting the rich, and sticking it to the middle class and poor. I think Maher was right.
In this instance, yesterday's local elections proved that simply because Democrats control the Governor's mansion, and both houses of the State Legislature, as well as the Presidency, and Congress, doesn't mean residents of Monroe County will follow in lock step, especially voters (although less than a third of them showed up to cast a vote).
In Monroe County, I believe neither party put on a convincing show, and with voter turn out so low (9% less than two years ago), voters stayed home, metaphorically, not literally. Monroe County voters did not project feelings of massive unrest and hatred of the local political system. To the contrary, the status quo reined supreme. If there was a slight partisan shift toward one party, then certainly the local Republicans were the benefactors of that minimal, but perhaps important shift.
Certainly, Republicans scored big in town supervisor races (Irondequoit, Mendon, and Greece), but every where else, Democratic and Republican incumbents and challengers finished about where they were supposed to. Clearly, Morelle and Company's biggest disappointment was squandering the opportunity to take back the County Legislature. But the Democrats are controlled, apparently at all levels of government in NY State, by public employee unions, which prevents Democrats from asserting or following through with any message or platform of reform.
Too, since local Republicans are so scared to upset their own apple cart in the suburbs, and advocate for what Republicans should advocate for--smaller, less expensive government for taxpayers--local GOP winners did not demonstrate any appetite for real, and needed, change.
Government by fiat, and default.
Christopher J. Wilmot served as a Legislator in the Monroe County Legislature from 1996-2005. He currently is a film maker, and the owner of several small companies, headquartered in Downtown Rochester.
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Member Opinions:
By: Howard on 11/4/09
Howard J. Eagle P.O. Box 19442 Rochester, NY 14619-0442 http://www.howardeagle.com 585) 752-1426; heagle@rochester.rr.com PRESS STATEMENT(2009 Board of EducationCampaign) ******************************************** For Immediate Release..For Immediate Release ******************************************** November, 4, 2009 With regard to our Rochester Board of Education Campaign, and my continued journey as a public servant, first I thank God, and secondly my family (the latter of whom have endured great deprivation over the past 6 months). I thank my campaign manager and assistant manager (Minister Lawrance Evans and Mr. Dana Bratcher, respectively), and of course, I thank all of my friends, colleagues and associates for their material and other types of much-valued support, which will never be taken lightly. The primary goal of our campaign (to win) was not accomplished (this time). On the other hand, we did meet our secondary goal, which was to make history --- by getting more votes (well over 3,000) than any other Working Families Party candidate that has campaigned for a seat on the Rochester Board of Education. It is very significant that (running on a third-Party-line, in a race that included three incumbents and a term-limited county legislator, the latter of whom was hand-picked by the incumbent mayor) --- we were able to garner about 9% of the total votes. Thus, although we were not totally successful --- we are very proud of our solid, historic, accomplishment. I remain convinced that I am thoroughly prepared to help provide the type of bold, knowledgeable, and committed leadership, which is so desperately needed on the Rochester Board of Education, and which our children and families deserve. This is why I will continue to pursue a seat on the board in the future. Our campaign acknowledges and understands that one of the greatest tasks that we face is educating and convincing the 90% or more of uninvolved,inactive, eligible Rochester voters that many of our children's lives literally (without exaggeration) hinge to a large degree on significantly, increased participation in local elections. We will issue a more comprehensive statement regarding the outcome of the 2009 Board of Education election at a later date. Sincerely, (The People's Candidate) Howard J. Eagle
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