It took me a while but this week’s endorsements were too much. As we said earlier, the D&C endorsed Nixon and Gumina. OK - I’m sure Nixon and Gumina are fine people. I’ve met Nixon - his heart is in the right place and his intelligence and passion help keep it there. I’ll most likely meet Gumina next Tuesday. Neither is in my district but both represent a change in how the Monroe County Legislature will conduct business in the future. We know how the lockstep legislature conducts business now, and it isn’t that good. But, back to change and James Lawrence’s editorial board. See, they really don’t want change -

Let’s look at their endorsements…..

Can’t have Willa Powell. Per the D&C, she is the root of all that is wrong with the Rochester Schools and, per the D&C, the situation hasn’t improved. They want Duffy to run the city and the RCSD as well, so she does not deserve to be reelected. From the Oct 16th D&C Edition. (You need a MC Library card)

This page cannot support school board incumbents who over long tenures have overseen this decline.

Willa Powell, first elected in 1997, falls into this category. In her two terms, district spending has skyrocketed far past the rate of inflation. Yet dropout rates rose and middle-grade test scores fell. Powell is smart and forceful. But she neither acknowledges failure nor pledges to do things differently.

So, the D&C throws Willa from the train because she is an incumbent and they want change. OK, let’s apply that same logic to the Legislature endorsements.

D&C Endorsed Ray DiRaddo because of “His acquired knowledge and record of addressing community concerns”. Beebe “has a solid record of public service” as well, but the D&C supports DiRaddo ” largely based on his longtime record of civic engagement in the community he seeks to represent for the next four years.”

No mention of the 50 million dollar Monroe County deficit, no mention of residency, no mention of double dipping government jobs. No mention of Maggie’s policies. Let me say this clearly, if DiRaddo was solely a Greece Council person (an appointee of the Town of Greece as their attorney) I really could care less, but that he is an appointed in Greece AND wants to be elected in Monroe County. A legislature position that affects me. Is he representing only Greece?

Um, Ok- Does DiRaddo even reside in his district? Is there a conflict of interest between town attorney and Legislature?

D&C endorsed LaFountain Why? Because he has experience. “Of course Levin, is clearly capable and smart, with a background in optics and physics.” LaFountain has followed his Republican masters well in the Legislature. We have a 50 million dollar deficit, in 90 minutes we implemented the unF.A.I.R. plan w/o community involvement something. He is part of the Legislature that is supporting REN Square ( or as I like to say the project 5x worse than the Fast Ferry) where even the D&C wants to tread lightly. He is part of the problem.

Then there is Mike Barker. Now I know the ed board struggles with the endorsement process. God knows they say how difficult and mentally taxing it is. All those one hour meetings and such. Well - This line in Barker’s endorsement grabbed me by surprise.

One prominent leader in the district told this page that Barker has the pulse of the district, is active on a variety of committees and has been an advocate for towns and villages in regard to the F.A.I.R. plan. Barker was also characterized as someone unafraid to speak up regardless of the politics involved. More leaders should follow suit.

Heck - who needs a meeting simply to quote an unnamed “prominent leader”. But this should be about the candidates, right? - so

Susan Davis, who has a background in computer science and interactive media design, is Barker’s opponent. Davis, who has the Democratic line is smart with a firm grasp of the issues.

Barker has an opponent who is smart and has a firm grasp of the issues. But because some “Prominent Leader” says or Barker who was also involved in the unF.A.I.R plan, the REN center, and basically the lockstep legislature. he deserved to be relected.

I mean the D&C is looking for experience. These incumbent candidates have experience - How has that worked out for Monroe County? Their opponents have experience as well, but just not in the Monroe County legislature. I mean Beebe was a Mayor - an elected official.

It is like a job interview right? But it seems the only way to get the job is to already be doing it?

Does that make sense?