How, exactly, do you remove a Political Committee member?
There are two ways:
- Accept absolute control of a Party Chairman and simply obey
- Follow the rule of law, have a hearing and ultimately a decision is rendered.
If you are the Mendon GOP, you are a metaphorical dumb pony-ride pony whose purpose it is to be lead around in a circle (following the butt in front of you). You simply obey Party Chair Steve Minarik. Why? Because it is simpler.
Turns out Jiminy Bizbo was correct in the comments as they provided a pertinent section of election law.
16-118. Proceedings to review removal of committee member or officer.
S 16-118. Proceedings to review removal of committee member or officer. The action of any political committee or independent body in removing a member or officer thereof may be reviewed by a proceeding pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.
Again, from a D&C article this morning:
Minarik said he can eliminate the committee, but state election law states that committee members, who are elected every two years, can be removed for disloyalty or corruption, but only after a hearing. Disloyalty includes failure to carry out the duties of the office. There have been no hearings.
Monroe County Democratic Committee Chairman Joseph Morelle said it’s not possible for a committee chairman to dismiss committee members at will.
Seems like the gate is open here. Does the Mendon GOP want to walk through it?
The bigger question is, do they even know how?
Here’s a primer on Article 78 proceedings. Perhaps there is a good Democrat who is a lawyer that will take the case for free!
http://article78.com/primer/1.shtml
Minarik will likely just not put them on this years petitions for committee members, thereby eradicating the committee. He doesn’t have to do anything but that. Their term is effectively done. Technically, there is nothing wrong with that.
As far as the Mendon GOP goes, it’s certainly not surprising that they are not pushing back. Local Republicans just don’t stand up to Minarik. What’s the word for that?
This is a gem:
Not to belabor this point, but at the April 7 Mendon Committee, I myself heard one committee member state, “we don’t exist to help our election officials, they exist to work for us!” I may have been paraphrasing, but you get the point. The attitude is ludicrous.
Mr. Minarik might want to check what the term “public servant” means next time. Sheesh!