BREAKING — No Democratic candidate for County Exec
Here’s the full press release:
A Statement from Chairman Joseph Morelle regarding the Monroe County Executive Race
“After a wide ranging search and discussions with many fine potential nominees, I regret that we will not be fielding a candidate for Monroe County Executive in 2007.
“The absence of a county executive candidate does not indicate acquiescence to Republican policies that we believe have led to budget deficits, economic stagnation, and a loss of the public’s faith in the integrity of county government.
“Instead, we believe the best way to address these issues is to focus on the many important campaigns for the Monroe County Legislature, which in recent years has abdicated its role as the body charged with providing oversight and checks and balances in the face of executive power.
“We are confident that in 2007, the Monroe County Democratic Party will continue the resurgence of the past two years, and continue to offer the citizens of Monroe County true leadership and a genuine vision for a better future for this community.â€
Update (file under “beaten to the punch”): The time stamp on the D&C article on this is 3:34, amost half an hour after we reported it. How do you like them apples?
Looks like Exile and I posted this at the same time. The difference is I added commentary which I’ve cut and pasted below.
We win elections by running candidates. What I mean to say, is we win elections by running candidates or put another way - we win elections by running candidates. I can only hope that MCDC and the town committee leadership redoubles their efforts to develop, cultivate and nurture a candidate farm system so they will be able to maximize the opportunities in the future.
Also - Yes, I’m upset or, more the point, disappointed in the lack of a candidate but I’m not calling for Joe’s head on a platter - either - As with anything including MCDC’s performance there have been pluses and minuses. I remember MCDC a several years ago- I see it now. They have come a long way. They need not get comfortable but they have come a long way.
Now lets focus on the races that need to be run and won and restore some checks and balances to Monroe County government.
Oh, one more thing - Maggie Brooks is not running unopposed.
Why not fusion-voting cross-endorse Stainton?
That’s disappointing. Still, I’m reasonably confident that the dems can take the lej.
Told ya so.
You guys know I’m a Republican, so take this with as many grains of salt as you like, but any way you spin it, the failure to put forth an opponent for Maggie Brooks is an embarrassment to the Democrat Party.
I guess the Democrats hope that voters will rally around Ms. Palumbo’s vacuous “12 point (non)plan” to take back the County. Of course, its easier to rally around ideas which are carried forth by a leader. If that plan is so good, why couldn’t the Democrats get someone to run on that platform?
And I don’t buy the “its hard to get someone to be a sacrificial lamb” theory. The Democrats had some people who could have made a race of it, but who would either not risk their current jobs (e.g., Ms. Frankel) or who would not risk harming their future electoral plans (e.g., Mr. Koon). Boy, there are some examples of selfless and courageous leadership! I can see why we would be much better off with Democrats in charge of the County.
John, I’m not going to argue with you when you say this isn’t good for Monroe County Democratic party.
I have a question for you, though: what’s your take on how Stephen Minarik runs the county? Do you think the county GOP would be healthier without him? I’m not trying to bait you here, I’m curious what your opinion as a Republican (and, whatever our disagreements are, generally reasonable guy) about this.
I object to your negative characterization of a plan that involves opening up the County government, but w/e man. You’re entitled to your opinion.
See, thats the problem. In a perfect world, elections would be about ideas. Instead, elections, especially local elections featuring lots of low-information voters, are really determined by media.
A candidate that gets free airtime can use it to expose people to Maggie’s wrongdoings, and also her connection to the Minarik machine.
However, there’s free media and paid media. Maggie can use lots of paid media. However, paid media gives decreasing marginal returns. Therefore, our position is that we should have a candidate, if only to use his free media to force Maggie use counter with paid media.
This bleeds her warchest, so she can’t use it for the state leg.
Unfortunately, we have a political culture that doesn’t have much truck for losers. Otherwise, we’d have Kerry running again in 08. It’s not cowardly to pick your battles.
Many of you have read past comments I’ve posted on here regarding the Democrats and my thoughts on how they can win this election year. After reading the article in the D&C Saturday morning that the Democrats didn’t have a candidate,so far, to oppose Maggie Brooks, I went down the list of their legislature candidates and came to the conclusion that while the dems might pick up one, perhaps two seats, that won’t be enough to give them majority control of the County Legislature. My advice to Morelle and Company is just give up this year and wait until Duffy runs for County Executive four years from now. By then the general public will have had it with the Minarik Machine and the GOP’s one-stop budget gaps to deal with future county deficits. Also by then the public will have had it with the upcoming plan that will be put in place AFTER the election to reduce the county’s share of sales tax revenue from the city, towns, villages and school districts they’ve enjoyed for nearly two decades under the Morin-Ryan agreement.
I disagree; very much so. Even if the Dems have little chance of getting enough seats, they owe it to the people to give them a good choice from the status quo. Looking at it more strategically, why not run everywhere? For one thing, a formerly “safe” Republican can have a Macaca moment. For another thing, you force the opposition to spend money. I don’t see any reason to give up at all.
Of course, you were probably just trying to emphasize their perceived inability to win and I respect your opinion. It just burns me up when there are uncontested seats.
I disagree. Although I can cite Morelle for the failure, this in no way compares to the massive national failure of the GOP and it’s trickle down effects to the local governments. I think the “sweep” theory will still hold strong for not only the Dems, but *anyone* other than the Republicans.
And I also believe that as November nears, there will be yet another “October” surprise that will hit them square in the eyes. This is why I find the failure of Morelle to put forward a candidate a reflection on HIM - not the other candidates who have boldly stood up for change.
And now, regardless of platform, the push for Stainton has to be a big one.
I agree and after speaking with Stainton earlier today, I think he has a lot of new ideas to offer.
He needs to concentrate on the massive debt that Maggie has run up and cross compare it to the debt that Bush has run up and show the true face of the Republican Party.
They like to call the Dems the “tax and spend” party - but it doesn’t even come close to the Republican “deficit devastation”.
Someone should do the math and figure out how, with the current debt, a child born today will be “x” years old by the time the debt of this county is paid off.
Then someone should also FOIL the Water Authority, Airport, RGRTA, Monroe Ambulance, and Monroe County’s personnel records and start picking off the names of the chosen who have been blessed by this infrastructure created to serve the Queen. And hit hard and heavy on Minerik - he’s not well like by his own, let alone others. And everyone knows he’s the one running the show.
With no race at the top of the ticket, the Republican turnout will hopefully be lower.
Not to be too much of a goody two shoes here, but I’m not rooting for low turn out. The last thing we need is a disengaged electorate.
On the contrary, the GOP wants a large voter turn-out because they will be funneling monies from Brooks’ war chest against those Democrats running for the legislature that the Republicans consider to be possible threats. Low voter turn out will give the Democrats a fighting chance to pick up some seats.
So be prepared to have your mailboxes filled to capacity on a daily basis from now until Election Day with brochures warning about “Liberals, Metro Government, Tax and spend Democrats”; the whole shebang. It’s a typical Minarik campaign tactic. Throw mud at ones opponent then spread lies on top of the mud. Remember what Frederick Douglass once said. “In order for a man to keep someone in the gutter, that person has to get into the gutter also.â€ÂÂ
Voice O’Reason,
You forgot about mailers that implicate that Democrats are for Terrorists. Nothing generates both laughter and anger in me more than that accusation.
I want to see a bumper sticker that says, “Too bad Maggie can’t formulate a budget the way she rakes in campaign money.”
Won’t matter - the Queens warchest will now be dumped against every Dem or otherwise running - so Morelle just cut his nose off to spite his own face.
What a guy.
[...] of an interview we did with Andy Stainton who is running against Maggie Brooks (and is the only person running against Maggie Brooks) for County [...]
This announcement is an utter disgrace for the Democratic Party. In one fell swoop, Morelle erased all the work he and his team completed in the last 2 years.
Let’s start with the announcement. First of all, I want to know why at the last minute Joe didn’t put himself up as a candidate? He is not in any danger of his seat being up. He is an obvious fund-raiser. He has ties across the state and the nation and no one can argue that he isn’t “bringing home the bacon.”
If he thinks that he can salvage the Leg races, he and the Party are sadly mistaken. The last election when Mayor Johnson ran against Maggie, the Dems didn’t turn out and they HAD a candidate. I want concrete evidence that the Dems are going to turn out. Let’s also factor in national issues because like it or not, they play out here too. Is there any Dem that is satisfied with the way things are going with the new Congress? I’m not. They could do a lot better. When Dems don’t feel like there is a reason to vote, they don’t. Republicans on the other hand…if the flag, school prayer and mom and apple pie are on the ballot, they go out an vote.
Another issue is David Nachbar. Seriously, how could a guy that wants our blessing for Congress not be selfless and “take one for the team?” He is obviously qualified for County Executive. I am still questioning his motives on his “run” for Congress and think that it is all about how to better himself and not the voters.
Ok, so back to the disgrace part. I would like someone to explain to me how this gets people interested in the County Dems? How does this help fund-raising for the committee or help our legitimacy at the state and national level? Did anyone think that the party wasn’t going to be written off by the people? Does Joe realize the impact this has on Eric Massa raising money from moderate Dems in Monroe County? Does Joe realize that they best thing for County Leg candidates to do now is to pack it up and go home?
I also what to know why a lot time and resources at MCDC were spent on Spitzer’s campaign last year (a sure win) when Joe’s priority should have been the House and looking for a County Executive candidate. If there is one thing I learned in my years in politics is that it is never too early to look for candidates.
I will most likely be labeled a defeatist here. Fine. But these are all questions that we need to address and should be answered by Joe and the party leadership. I’m not going to entertain the notion of Joe’s resignation but I think the people deserve a better answer than the sound bite we got on the news.
What happened to progressive politics in Monroe County that would let this happen?
Um, I think aside from a few decent folks here and there on the County Leg and in the towns, we ARE the progressive politics in Monroe County, along with a couple other good organizations like DfA and MoveOn. (Not counting MetroJustice, since they are progressive on issues but can’t be for/against specific candidates, being a 501c3.)
So it’s like the quote:
A little freaky, yet empowering at the same time. We have a lot of opportunity, and a lot of work to do.
You are 100% correct. I honestly have to wonder if all of this isn’t just “get back” for Joe not getting the Comptrollers job. His scenario single-handedly changed the Spitzer administration in the public eye from “day one”. Seems to me that since that situation occurred, he’s been oblique and invisible, with a silent motivation that to me is frightening and angering in the same breath.
Joe needs to be put to task and the Democrats need to ask themselves the hard question. The tone from here on out will set the precident of whether or not people turn out to vote.
Joe Morrelle has some answerin’ to do. Not to the media - but to those who have worked hard and long to achieve, only to see such major disappointment occur.
Timewarp March 2007:
http://mustardstreet.blogspot.com/2007/03/hack-in-saddle-again.html
[...] politics is local right - so we first posted that the Democrats punted when it comes to a County Executive. Not to worry someone stepped up and is running against Queen [...]
[...] interview with him. The MCDC put up Adam Bello as its candidate placeholder, then they chose not to run any candidate against Maggie Brooks. Democrats in the County Legislature started up their own [...]