Breaking: Chili Supervisor David Dunning Switches Parties.
From City News. Recently elected Democratic Town Supervisor David Dunning announced he is joining the Republican party.
“I am still the same person you have trusted with the leadership role in our community,” writes Dunning. “I don’t see this decision as a compromise in my values, rather support for my belief in the need for a unified leadership team.”
Great - what does that mean?
Well - Good Luck.
The bigger question we need to ask here is why? Does this mean the Republicans in Chili wouldn’t work across the aisle? Can you hear it now - “oooh, if we talk to you we will get cooties”
Switching parties is OK in my book- I too switched parties. It came after a long search for which party more often than not supported my philosophical beliefs.
What is not OK in my book is switching parties as a tool for self-promotion. I suppose time will tell. The bigger question is did Dunning put himself over the citizens who elected him?
Let’s hope the residents of Chili don’t get screwed over. I suspect many feel stabbed in the back.
Somewhere Steve Minarik is smiling.
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is this for real? i guess his mentor is david bonnachi. i have a HUGE problem with this. he was elected as a dem and should serve as one.
According to City News it is. The date was April 3rd.
See Jim Jeffords - he left the Republican Party shortly after being reelected as a Republican and become a Democrat in everything but name
Yep. I recall but that was a good thing - but seriously.
What was Jeffords voting record like before switch - I don’t know. I’m guessing Jeffords record (guessing - mind you) was moderate in his record so folks had some idea of his leanings.
The issue here is Dunning has no record prior to the election.
The fundamental difference is elected vs relected. What was Dunning saying during the election? It would be great to review the speaking out essays, Lit pieces, and whatever else there was as he tried to push Demcoratic Values against his opponent.
Now a few months later - he becomes what he likely railed against?
After a long philosophical search - fine. That doesn’t sound like what Dunning is about to.
i would have been pissed as a repub. it is a betrayal. and for dunning it is a cop out. did he realize it is hard work to work across the aisle? was there some sort of gridlock destroying chili? if he respects them regardless of party, don’t they respect him enough to work with him regardless of party?
My friends in Chili were telling me that Dunning was a republican all along
and was funded by Bernie Iacovangleo. He was running as a democratic only for the purpose of getting rid of Tracy Logel. TL was clearly at odds with Iacovangleo over development and other issues. Theses chili residents were skeptical of Dunning from the start and of any reform agenda. They seem to have been correct.
It was a bad sign when Dunning picked Dennis Schumerich to be his deputy supervisor. That was an indication he was with Bernie. I don’t know if Dunning ran afoul of the democratic party. I tend to go with the idea it was stealth maneuever by the republicans myself but I’m not in a position to say that with authority
I wasn’t pissed at Jeffords - his lack of loyalty made me glad he left - but in both cases the men had been recently elected and it is sort of fraud to run on one party’s ticket and then switch to another so soon
I think if you are going to switch you should do it before an election, but that is water under the bridge.
I am choosing to focus on the fact that a Dem can get elected in Chili - even if he was a Lieberman Democrat.
And to think … all of that time, energy, money and effort wasted on Dunning by Democrats could have gone into Todd Dunn’s County Legislative bid ..and we’d have a Democratic County Lej ….
There is a difference between election and Reelected.
Track record verus no track record. If Jeffords’ party was pissed at him they had an opportunity to run primaries (AKA Lamont/Lieberman). I see this as totally different. The people saw Jeffords voting record and could agree with it or not.
Dunning has no record. I see this more of an affront.
Great point…
So I’m going to pitch my idea for a new law - maybe Dennis O’Brien can help to get it passed…
If and when a person, regardless of party, is elected to a position, with the full support including manpower and finances at the Federal, State, County and Local levels and is elected - that after the election and the oath of office the individual decides to change his/her poliltical party offiliation, thereby constituting a change in their philosophical principals, and elected representations, that individual must:
1. Make their declarations in writing
2. Once received, the individual MUST make immediate reimbursement to the Federal/State/County/Local level for the actual expenses incurred in accordance with the records of the NYS Board of Elections for the costs associated for their election/reelection to the responsible parties of record in full.
3. The individual, in making their declaration knowingly and willingly agrees to a special election, to be held the following November subsequent to their announcement.
4. The individual, once publicly declared a representative of a differing party or organization is disallowed from being considered an official candidate in the special election term of his/her new political party affiliation until payment in full is rendered for all receipt on record with the NYS Board of Elections and the NYS Board of Elections has determined all outstanding debts owed are paid in full.
Think anyone can lobby to get that through? How about a petition effort to put it on the ballot?
I want to know if he can be recalled. That’s the solution.
I don’t know if you can mandate staying with a party by state law.
David Bonacchi - poster child of the King of the Diaper whiners for the GOP! I never saw ANYBODY EVER cry so hard and so long when Koon took back what the people wanted from him. Stamp your feet, bring in your cousins to public meetings as ringers to pose as residents who are upset! HAHAHA! That Marisa Rendaty didn’t even come close to Oscar for Best Performance by a RELATIVE!
Lesson to the Big Boy Dunning - tick tick tick
The PEOPLE wanted change - now you’ll get a taste of that - instead of being part of it!
Look, What Dunning did sounds like a cop out. Join a party to get a long. Someone earlier used the words cop out. Which I believe are true.
The larger question is this.
What aren’t there other qualified candidates looking for this office. Take the race to replace Reynolds or Walsh - lots of Republicans have stepped up. Debate their merits but lots of folks are available especially after the more well known have bailed on the race. Take the SD -56- Frankel, Dollinger, and Powell - same thing.
Point is there is a bench to choose from in these races.
Now - Is the a bench in Chili? Is there an organization that is cultivating candidates? Are we in Monroe County cultivating candidates? Are we growing a bench? Do we have a farm team?
I wrote an April 1st post that was only half tongue in check. Go back and reread it.
The next question is are we actually choosing our Democratic Candidates or are the Candidates choosing us. Are in an a buyers or Sellers Market. I don’t want a party so despite for a candidate that it takes anything.
One more thing - if you are looking to start laying this totally at the feet of Joe Morrelle - don’t. yes MCDC needs to focus more on towns - we still need people to step up. (that is a broad statement non-specific to Chili just in general)
This Dunning voter feels stabbed in the back. Keep in mind that Dunning initially faced primary competition from an actual Democrat.
It’s not staying - it’s reimbursing, and then holding a special election. It’s also called the will of the people.
Please reread.
this is not the party’s fault for sure. the guy is somewhere in the ball park of liar, fraud, spineless, unprincipled, misguided, or whatever. we all fell for it. recall would be great. the governor can recall a county wide elected official, maybe that power extends lower. i had only ever looked at it to be used for county exec.
it will be fun to get democrats elected back to back as supervisor in chili even if it is 2 different candidates.
Which is why there needs to be a law in place for reimbursement and special election. That way there are ramifications and responsibilities attached to your decision.
Morelle didn’t birth Dunning…(I’m having a horrible visual right now, so please excuse my pause)…
But his responsibility was to the PEOPLE of Chili - and he should have to make good to those who supported him financially because of his platform.
Here’s an easier way to look at it.
You walk into a car dealer and pick out a Chevrolet truck. You put your money down after checking the specs on the vehicle, pick out your color, your interior, and order a truck that suits your taste, your style, your personality.
You get a call from the dealer that it’s time to pick up your truck - it’s in - and you excitedly drive to the dealership.
When you get there, you’re given the keys to a Ford Focus. It’s not what you ordered, it’s not what you paid for, it’s not what you EXPECTED.
Should you get your money back? Or should you be forced to accept that you have no alternatives and must drive the Focus?
Denning is the FOCUS. People invested in a Chevy Truck. BIG DIFFERENCE. And they shouldn’t be forced to drive (live in a Town) that they didn’t get.
Yessiree Dennis…and think of the fun we’ll have making all the nice artwork and selling posters of the GOP Diaper Gang. You know Dunning will be whining when he’s ousted by the community.
He can have slick Dave send his relatives in for back up!
here is a website to search town codes:
http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/globalsearch.asp
it may be helpful. although i have a second to vent here, i don’t really have the chance to sift through town law this afternoon.
If this comment is in reference to me bringing up MCDC - I agree it isn’t the fault of MCDC - If it was interpreted that way - my apologies
A strong bench of committed individuals is really really important. I see MCDC being able to play a critical role in this.
I couldn’t resist…
http://www.sconsetmonkey.com/Hype/Aprilfools.jpg
So I guess I’ll be the one to ask the magic question…when does Tracey Logel switch to Democrat?
Can it be considered fraud what Dunning did? Morelle has a pretty strong quote in the D&C about this:
Monroe County Democratic Committee Chairman Joseph Morelle was outraged by the move.
“You can measure a man’s character by the commitments he honors,†Morelle said. “Sadly, today the community learned a lot about David Dunning’s character.â€ÂÂ
As the former Dem leader in one of those “Republican stronghold” towns I agree that it takes a combination of MCDC and the local committee developing quality candidates and keeping a bench so to speak of people who could run good campaigns.
In Parma we’ve run some great quality candidates - we were able to do this first because we did the work in organizing the party out here in the hinter lands and second because when we found good candidate’s Morelle and MCDC stepped up to the plate and invested in our team - and although we didn’t close the deal so to speak - we have come close (very close even) in most of the races we’ve run. This partnership has worked well for Parma. As for Dunning, I met him a couple of times and read about the internal feud over his candidacy going on in the Chili committee and quite frankly he made me nervous - not saying I had any forsight into this but I am not surprised he switched and as Morelle said - his character is now out there for everyone to see.
tisk tisk
The “hinter lands” of Parma - I love it. Boy, it gets really DARK in your neck of the literal woods! When I was last there, I swore the raccons were 6 feet tall and walked on their hind legs! It’s enough to make a sane man go mad!
Tracey Logel was a Democrat. Seems to be a theme developing.
David Dunning is a political joke. I have rarely witnessed such stupidity outside of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in recent years. Nobody likes a candy@$$. You flip after 3 months in office? Smart. Way to tough it out, man. Really gutsy. Hey Dave, in the three short months you’ve been in office, you hit such political turmoil in the “off-season” you felt you had to turn against your friends, and the voters? Democrats voted for this guy because he was a Democrat and committed to the party. Republicans voted for this guy because he’s not Tracey Logel. Oops - I guess he is.
This guy is a joke. If he had a fraction of a brain he would have at least chilled out a while and waited for some “problem” to flip over. Nah. Brainiac wanted to do it now. So he could be part of a “unified team”. Doesn’t his bowling league cover that little need?
This guys hilarious - unless you live in Chili…
Congrats Dave - you are a political candy@$$!!
A Clerihew
David Dunning
claimed while running,
he was a Democratic pol -
guess he fooled us all!
The thing is out in the GOP controlled towns you have to be more Republican-like to win - look at the lone “Democrat” on the Gates town board.
It’s like Republican politicians in NYC - in the rest of the coluntry they’d be considered Democrats.
Reading the blurb about this in the D&C this morning I see Joe’s quote:
Monroe County Democratic Committee Chairman Joseph Morelle was outraged by the move.
“You can measure a man’s character by the commitments he honors,” Morelle said. “Sadly, today the community learned a lot about David Dunning’s character.”
What I can’t help but wonder this morning if Joe would say the same thing about Rick Dollinger and his inability to stick to what he has committed to in recent years?
HAHAHA! Obviously the character of Richard Dollinger has more than a few Republicans nervous about old Joe’s future!
Here were have HEP, the poster boy, asking us to examine Dollinger’s loyalty over ROBACH - who DID THE EXACT SAME THING DUNNING DID AFTER GETTING ELECTED TO A SENATE SEAT!
Dollinger served WELL in the Senate, WELL as a judge, and he’s one hell of an attorney. I’d love to see you say that to his face HEP!
Be careful when judging others HEP - you may want to consider the worm your party has. And at least the DEMOCRATS have the knowledge of knowing which worms are turncoats and liars - because they always seem to end up in YOUR party!
Thanks for the good laugh! You guys make this WAAAY too easy!
And it takes even more talent HEP to get your father to roll in his grave - yeah that’s a real asset to the ROBACH team!
Gads! Think before you speak!
Robach flipped to the Republicans because he cut his own throat in the Assembly. He was one of the Bragmanista’s that attempted to pull the coup on Shelly Silver and lost. So rather than eat his oatmeal and be in Shelly’s doghouse, he flipped. I’m sure he thought if Bragman became Speaker he’d be in line for Majority Leader. Whoops.
So he switched. Since he’s more right-leaning on social issues, I say good riddance. Robach was a victim of his own ambitions, which obviously happens.
Robach loves to tout his pork (if I can actually use that as a phrase) and his constituents probably buy into that - which is understandable. However, what happens to his pork-barrel when the Dems take the Senate in November? Methinks it dries up…and so does Robach. Hopefully, any candidate running against him will be able to emphasize that little point to the voters.
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