BREAKING: Esposito Not Running For Gates Town Super in 2009
According to the Messenger Post:
[Ralph] Esposito, a Republican, has decided he will not seen re-election to the post he’s held for 20 years so he can spend more time with his wife, Nancy, their children and six grandchildren — three of whom live in Chicago, and the other three in Pittsburgh.
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Esposito was appointed supervisor in 1989 to replace the late Supervisor Jack Hart. A former deputy Monroe County executive, he won five county legislator elections, 10 supervisor elections and one primary for supervisor. While he lost in a bid to serve as state senator in the 1980s, he said he carried the town of Gates.
Some observations:
- “Spend more time with family” is usually political-speak for “getting the hell out for other reasons”. Is it getting too hot in the kitchen? Is that why Esposito’s been so camera-shy recently?
- Is he damaged goods in some way, and clearing the path for a new, fresh Republican to run?
- Gates is turning blue at a rapid pace. Was Esposito seeing this and saying “What’s this on the wall? Why, it’s writing!”
- Speaking of blue, who’s running from the Dem side for this open seat? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Related posts:
GATES, the town which is:
1. Under longtime Republican control.
2. Fighting to keep its residents from receiving quality public access TV by stiffing the existing provider, Edu-Cable.
3. Finding its local party machine in disarray with their Republican leader indicted for corruption in the Rob-U-trad scandal.
4. Seeing its voter registration turn Democratic… is it any wonder?
I think the 2009 local elections are a beautiful chance for local Dems to really start spreading out from the core Democratic areas in the City, Brighton, and Irondequoit (sorry for the misspelling), and start getting onto the Town Boards, especially in solidly Republican areas (Greece, Gates, Chili).
We need a strong, alternate vision to the current Republican machine and their lack of a comprehensive, holistic vision for Monroe County, it’s citizens, and their future.
We need community-wide solutions to problems ranging from taxes, education, crime, development, the environment, waste disposal, and so much more. The 2008 election showed that people are ready for change, especially in the Rochester area. We now need to transmit that thirst for change from the national and to a lesser extent state level and bring it down to the county and town level.
It is time to take the fight to the local Republicans. The moment is right to show that almost total control of most of Monroe Counties towns and villages for decade after decade has left our community poorer, more dependent on outside help, and with less control over our own future. The time for change is now.
Well past time for Ralph to go. He only won the last two elections by a very slim margin. The democrats really have a chance with good organization and
dedicated candidates. Downtown needs to lend some support Duffy’s war chest is full too.
Tail between legs running - poor John DeCaro - I wonder if he’s on the lamb too?
Where is John Di Caro anyway?
Looking for another job. I hear that far from being solvent as the Esposito claims gates has at least 1 million in federal and state payments owed.
Plus can you spell ROBUTARD
They all seem to be quitting their jobs to “spend more quality time” with their families…West side is vacating. Make room for Daddy!
How about Mark McIntee for Gates supervisor??
Mark is a great guy. He lacks experience though. Someone to watch in the future
Since Gates has always been Republican run, what Dems will they be able to find with experience?
Just a couple random points for all of you deep thinkers to ponder:
Ralph Esposito is one of the finest public servants to have worked for us in this area. He was an FBI agent, a County Legislator, Deputy County Executive, and for 20 years, Gates Supervisor.
He is a smart, astute politician and government leader and I can only hope the residents of Gates realize how lucky they have been to have him as Supervisor.
Ralph has been the kind of leader who leads, rather than panders. As a result, he has critics. Most successful, decisive people do. He always did what he thought was best, not what he knew would be popular.
I’ve seen many posts on this blog decrying incivility in public life. I guess that’s so much eyewash for many of you. Did it ever occur to any of you to thank Ralph for his service or to wish him well in his retirement? No, instead you feel free to make your baseless and mean-spirited remarks. Well, no matter, Ralph has always brushed off light-weight critics like you.
And one last thing, as the Gates GOP leader I can assure you that the Gates GOP is going to run a strong campaign in the Fall. The GOP administration has an exemplary record. Don’t count on painting Gates blue just yet.
While I disagree with Ralph politically, I do agree with you that it’s wrong to presume there’s more behind his retirement than a retirement. After 20 years in that position, I’d be more than ready to move on too. I’d be suspicious if it were a decision made after a couple of years, but not after 20.
One word: ROBUTRAD
Let the residents of Gates - those who have had to live under the rule decide his “legacy” - let’s not let it be self-imposed.
November will decide how happy people are, and whether or not the handwriting was on the wall…the past 2 elections were squeakers, so discontent was already high.
ROBUTRAD…only takes one bad apple to spoil the entire cart.
and if his lawyer is successful, that one bad apple will tip the cart right over and dump out all the apples, exposing the rot from within.
In my view Ralph was more like an attack dog than a leader. He growled at his political enemies and sat in the lap of his friends His legacy is 20 years of grudges and vendettas against those he perceived as his enemies and littel of substance achieved for the people of Gates. The list of grudges is long here are just a few. The library ( haven for “democrats”, the fire commissioner (when he was a a democrat) town employees, public access.
You would be hard pressed to find any articulated leadership “principles” on Ralph’s part. If so was so interested in his community why did stop the access channel from taping him this week.
In the meantime Gates is going downhill.
Some legacy.
RG:
Gates is going downhill? In what way? That’s your view, not one held by the many new residents moving into town every month.
Ralph blocked the access channel from taping him this week? According to whom? You and Mr. Caterino are simply wrong about that, Ralph had nothing to do with keeping the cameras out of the Chamber meeting.
Anyone who has read your many posts can tell you are a high-minded, even-handed critic, who only deals with facts rather than partisan rumor. Its amazing that a bitter, vendetta driven guy like Ralph was able to win election 10 times. I guess there just weren’t enough astute people like you in Gates who saw Ralph for what he is.
Or, maybe, just maybe, you, and like-minded, bitter, critics are just tasting sour grapes.
John:
You seem to have an adversarial relation to the truth. I Spoke to chamber official and another chamber member said that same thing to a third party. I suppose they are all liars.
I know in your job you have bluff a lot but you shouldn’t go too far you know . There are ethics boards,.
If Ralph were the great leader you say he is he would own up to the truth.
I put your staement on a par with Ralph’s claim that we refused to be interviewed as the supervisros walked out on us.
Ralph always manges to blame someone else for his mistakes. It’s always his opponents trying to smear him. He is never accountable or responsible.
he’s a legend in his own mind
Mr. Caterino:
I have an adversarial relationship with the truth? Coming from you, that is quite a hoot.
I spoke with Ralph directly on this point. He did not have anything to do with the decision to keep you out of the meeting. Honestly, why would a politician who was going to give a glowing report on the state of his jurisdiction want to limit the spread of his message? Its enough to make me wonder at the nature of your relationship with reality.
Its a funny thing, you and and the very vocal critics of Ralph Esposito all sing from the same book. For twenty years, thousands of Gates residents voted for and supported Ralph. But you few who don’t like him, the things he’s done, or the things he stands for, you think you know better.
You’re a loser Mr. Caterino, and like so many other of Ralph’s critics, you’re a sore loser.
Somebody give me a bucket!
In October 2007, we were asked to tape a candidates night the gates chili chamber was having featuring candidates for the two towns. When we arrived we were almost barred from filming it. Turns out one of the candidates said he would refuse to appear if we taped. We prevailed.
Cut to February 2009. We were asked to tape the state of the town speeches. When we get there we are not allowed in. Turns out one of the parties would not consent to taping. There are only two candidates in common with these events. You do the math.
I guess I can forgive John Dicaro since he seems to have a man crush on Ralph. Again a bow to the facts might show him wrong in his view that the people of Gates are so equally enamored.The democratic and chronilce in its piece on Ralph noted that Gates had become contested terrain. IT doesn’t matter what dicaro thinks our motives are here there is a lot of opposition to Ralph and to the republicans. Are they all just bitter Ralph hates and sore losers?
Anyone who has a smattering of knowledge of political strategy can script out the moves in this game. Of course the chamber is going to take the fall for this one. That’s how Ralph works.
Ralph, Republican…hey they both start with “R” and the connections continue on from there! Yes, he ran the town for 20 years…got his big retirement time in…and won elections in a PRIMARILY REPUBLICAN town. Don’t forget either, the demographics of Gates as it has been until recently…(must be politically correct and polite here) Esposito, after all ends in a vowel I say with my tongue in my cheek.
He played by the Republican handbook right down to the cronyism and the “good old boy’ theory of governing. I grew up in Gates, I know the folks who benefited and also the ones who lost out because they had too much character to play the political games.
Susan Swanton is a highly intelligent person with a lot of common sense. She cares about her town and the people in it. She was highly effective in her library positions and she knows the issues inside out. She came close to winning the last election and I think if she runs in the next one, she will win. This, I say, in spite of the “good old boy” and “old country” networks in Gates. The demographics, they are a’ changing!
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