Thursday, May 21, 2009
This blog is no longer being maintained
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Working Families Party 2007 Endorsements
WFP Staten Island Club 2007 Endorsements
WFP Western New York Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Buffalo Comptroller
Andrew A. SanFilippo - City of Buffalo Council Member Delaware District
Michael John LoCurto - City of Buffalo Council Member Ellicott District
Bryon J. McIntyre - City of Buffalo Council Member Niagara District
David A. Rivera - City of Dunkirk Council Member
Bob T. George - City of Elmira Council Member District 6
James E. Hare - City of Elmira Mayor
John Tonello - City of Jamestown Council Member At Large
Gregory Peter Rabb - City of Jamestown Council Member Ward 1
Stephen F. Szwejbka - City of Jamestown Council Member Ward 3
Michael Alexander Taylor - City of Jamestown Council Member Ward 4
Vincent DeJoy III - City of Jamestown Council Member Ward 5
Maria B. Jones - City of Jamestown Council Member Ward 6
Paul D. Whitford - City of Jamestown Mayor
Samuel Teresi - City of Lackawanna City Court Judge (Ten Year Term)
Frederic Marrano - City of Lackawanna Council President
Charles Jaworski - City of Lackawanna Councilman 4th Ward
Joseph J. Schiavi - City of Lackawanna Mayor
Norman L. Polanski Jr. - City of Lockport Alderperson Ward 3
Flora M. McKenzie - City of Lockport Alderperson Ward 4
Patrick W. Schrader Sr. - City of Lockport Alderperson Ward 5
John Lombardi III - City of Lockport Mayor
Michael William Tucker - City of Lockport Treasurer
Michael E. White - City of Niagara Falls City Court Judge
Robert Merino - City of Niagara Falls Council Member
Nicholas Ligammari Jr. - City of Niagara Falls Mayor
Paul A. Dyster - City of North Tonawanda Alderperson
David J. Burgio Sr. - City of North Tonawanda Alderperson District 9
Anthony J. DiBernardo - City of North Tonawanda Council Member District 10
Kevin John Brick Jr. - City of Tonawanda City Attorney
Ronald C. Trabucco - City of Tonawanda City Treasurer
Joseph M. Hogenkamp - City of Tonawanda Councilmember 1st Ward
Colleen R. Perkins - City of Tonawanda Councilmember 2nd Ward
Gary C. Waterhouse - City of Tonawanda Councilmember 3rd Ward
James P. Kossow - City of Tonawanda Councilmember 4th Ward
Rick D. Davis Jr. - City of Tonawanda President of the Common Council
Carleton R. Zeisz - County of Cattaraugus County Legislator District 10
Linda L. Witte, John J. Padlo - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 1
Keith David Ahlstrom - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 10
Wally J. Huckno Sr. - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 11
Victoria Renee James - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 12
Charles Franklin Cornell - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 13
Tina Marie Hallquist - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 15
Maria M. Kindberg - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 16
James J. Ventura - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 18
Rudy Mueller - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 20
Elizabeth Marie Starks - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 21
C. Ronald Vahl - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 23
Thomas Dejoe - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 24
David F. Kleparek - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 25
Stephen W. Keefe - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 4
David Thomas Wilder - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 6
Rebecca White - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 8
Robert L. Anderson - County of Chautauqua County Legislator District 9
Kenneth B. Brentley - County of Erie County Clerk (To Fill Vacancy)
Kathy Courtney Hochul - County of Erie County Court Judge
James McLeod - County of Erie County Executive
James P. Keane - County of Erie County Legislator 10th District
Michele M. Iannello - County of Erie County Legislator 11th District
Lynn M. Marinelli - County of Erie County Legislator 12th District
Robert B. Reynolds Jr. - County of Erie County Legislator 13th District
Suzann M. Cushman - County of Erie County Legislator 14th District
Thomas A. Loughran - County of Erie County Legislator 15th District
Michael James Robitaille - County of Erie County Legislator 1st District
Daniel M. Kozub - County of Erie County Legislator 2nd District
Timothy M. Kennedy - County of Erie County Legislator 3rd District
Barbara Miller-Williams - County of Erie County Legislator 6th District
Maria R. Whyte - County of Erie County Legislator 7th District
Betty Jean Grant - County of Erie County Legislator 8th District
Deborah S. Kubiak - County of Erie County Legislator 9th District
Timothy M. Wroblewski - County of Niagara Clerk
Wayne F. Jagow Jr. - County of Niagara Coroner
James M. Joyce - County of Niagara Coroner Fourth District
Robert DuBois Jr. - County of Niagara County Legislator District 1
Richard A. Marasco - County of Niagara County Legislator District 10
Joseph Andrew Rich - County of Niagara County Legislator District 11
Scott Andrew Schultz - County of Niagara County Legislator District 12
Jerry Mosey - County of Niagara County Legislator District 14
Kyle R Andrews - County of Niagara County Legislator District 15
Harry James Apolito - County of Niagara County Legislator District 16
William Keith McNall - County of Niagara County Legislator District 18
Merrill S. Bender - County of Niagara County Legislator District 2
Renae Kimble - County of Niagara County Legislator District 3
Mario P. Tonellato - County of Niagara County Legislator District 4
Dennis Virtuoso - County of Niagara County Legislator District 5
Sean J. O'Connor - County of Niagara County Legislator District 6
Robert Samuel LaBarbera - County of Niagara County Legislator District 7
Roger Louis Chenez - County of Niagara County Legislator District 8
Charles Joseph Naughton - County of Niagara County Legislator District 9
Edward T. McDonald - County of Niagara Family Court Judge
Linda M. DiPasquale - Town of Alabama Highway Superintendent
Robert Kehlenbeck - Town of Albion Supervisor
Judith Ann Koehler - Town of Amherst Councilman
Mark A. Manna, Jerome D. Schad, Bill Kindel - Town of Amherst Highway Superintendent
Robert Anderson - Town of Amherst Town Justice
Geoffrey K. Klein - Town of Aurora Councilman
Gregory Szematowicz - Town of Aurora Supervisor
Allan A. Kasprzak - Town of Boston Councilman
James E. Pluta, Cathy A. Maghran - Town of Boston Town Clerk
David J. Shenk - Town of Brant Councilman
Daniel B. Kujawinski - Town of Brant Town Clerk
Diane M. Czyz - Town of Brant Town Justice
Debra A. Ritz - Town of Chautauqua Council Member
James V. Kurtz - Town of Chautauqua Supervisor
Donald D. Emhardt - Town of Cheektowaga Councilman
Richard James Maisano - Town of Cheektowaga Town Justice
Thomas S. Kolbert - Town of Clarence Councilman
Timothy B. Pazda - Town of Clarence Supervisor
Scott A. Bylewski - Town of Concord Councilman
Raymond R. Hubert, Mark I. Adamchick - Town of Eden Assesor
Sharon A. Brockman - Town of Eden Councilman
Glenn McLaughin - Town of Eden Town Justice
Melissa L. Zittel - Town of Ellery Supervisor
Patrick l. Lucariello - Town of Elma Councilman
Michael J. Fanelli, John E. Dudek - Town of Elma Supervisor
Donald E. Przybyl - Town of Elma Town Justice
Joseph A. Sakowski - Town of Evans Councilman
Thomas A. Partridge, Charles P. Militello - Town of Evans Supervisor
Francis J. Pordum - Town of Grand Island Clerk
Patricia A. Frentzel - Town of Hamburg Councilman
Vincent R. Gugliuzza, Richard A. Smith - Town of Hamburg Town Clerk
Catherine A. Rybczynski - Town of Hanover Clerk
Janine L. Salzman - Town of Hanover Council Member
Kevin K. O'Connell - Town of Hanover Highway Superintendent
Gerald M. Olsen Jr. - Town of Hanover Supervisor
Dana Albert Tietz - Town of Lancaster Councilman
Donna G. Stempniak - Town of Lancaster Town Clerk
Johanna M. Coleman - Town of Lancaster Town Justice
Mark A. Montour - Town of Lewiston Board Member
Mark V. Sarro - Town of Lewiston Council Member
Michael A. Johnson - Town of Lewiston Supervisor
Ronald Robert Winkley - Town of Lockport Council Member
Paul W. Siejak - Town of Newfane Board Member
Michelle Joy Wheeler - Town of Newstead Councilman
Justin M. Rooney, Cheryl M. Esposito - Town of Newstead Supervisor
David L. Cummings - Town of Newstead Town Justice
Richard C. Baran - Town of Niagara Council Member
Robert E. Herman Sr., Robert Allen Clark - Town of North Collins Town Clerk
Margaret J. Orrange - Town of Orchard Park Councilman
Deborah L. Yeomans, Anne Marie C. McManus - Town of Poland Highway Superintendent
Larry Ralph Mee - Town of Pomfret Council Member
Michael C. Barris - Town of Royalton Board Member
James G. Budde - Town of Royalton Highway Superintendent
Carson James Kelley - Town of Sardinia Councilman
Darren J. Farthing - Town of Somerset Assesor
John Henry Keough - Town of Somerset Council Member
Richard N. Ray Jr., Randall J Wayner - Town of Somerset Receiver of Taxes
Ruth H. Wendler - Town of Somerset Supervisor
John Edward Sweeney Jr. - Town of Tonawanda Councilman
Daniel J. Crangle - Town of Tonawanda Supervisor
Anthony F. Caruana - Town of Tonawanda Town Clerk
Melissa M. Brinson - Town of Tonawanda Town Justice
John J. Flynn, J. Mark Gruber - Town of West Seneca Councilman
Sheila M. Meegan, Dale F. Clarke - Town of West Seneca Supervisor
Christina Wleklinski-Bove - Town of Wheatfield Clerk
Mary Catherine Joyce - Town of Wheatfield Council Member
Samuel Conti Jr. - Village of Kenmore Mayor
Patrick Mang - Village of Kenmore Trustee
R. Timothy McCarthy
WFP Westchester-Putnam Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of New Rochelle Council Member District 1
Susan I. Kettner - City of New Rochelle Council Member District 2
Albert A. Tarantino Jr. - City of New Rochelle Council Member District 3
James Count Stowe - City of New Rochelle Council Member District 4
Roberto Lopez - City of New Rochelle Council Member District 6
Marianne L. Sussman - City of New Rochelle Mayor
Noam Bramson - City of Peekskill Council Member
Patricia Riley, Joseph V. Schuder, Donald Francis Bennett Jr. - City of Peekskill Mayor
Mary F. Foster - City of White Plains Council Member
Dennis J. Power, Benjamin Boykin 2ND, Milagros Lecuona - City of Yonkers City Court Judge
Mary Anne Scattaretico-Naber - City of Yonkers Council Member District 1
Patricia D. McDow - City of Yonkers Council Member District 5
Jodi Mosiello - City of Yonkers Mayor
Dennis Michael Robertson - County of Putnam County Legislator District 5
Gerard V. Furey - County of Westchester County Court Judge
James Hubert, Barbara Zambelli - County of Westchester County Legislator District 10
Vito J. Pinto - County of Westchester County Legislator District 12
Thomas J. Abinanti - County of Westchester County Legislator District 14
Bernice Spreckman - County of Westchester County Legislator District 16
Ken Jenkins - County of Westchester County Legislator District 17
Jose I. Alvarado - County of Westchester County Legislator District 2
Peter B. Harckham - County of Westchester County Legislator District 3
John Nonna - County of Westchester County Legislator District 4
Michael B. Kaplowitz - County of Westchester County Legislator District 5
William J. Ryan - County of Westchester County Legislator District 6
Martin L. Rogowsky - County of Westchester County Legislator District 7
Judy Myers - County of Westchester County Legislator District 9
William E. Burton - County of Westchester Family Court Judge
Janet Jordan - Town of Cortlandt Council Member
Richard H. Becker - Town of Cortlandt Town Justice
Anthony M. Giordano - Town of Greenburgh Council Member
Steven Bass, Sonja M. Brown - Town of Greenburgh Supervisor
Suzanne Berger - Town of Greenburgh Town Justice
Doris T. Friedman - Town of Kent Council Member District 4
Joseph Andrew D'Ambrosio - Town of Kent Council Member District 6
Paul Spiegel - Town of Lewisboro Council Member
Daniel Xavier Welsh - Town of Lewisboro Councilman District 6
Bruce Pavalow - Town of Lewisboro Supervisor
Edward W. Brancati - Town of North Castle Councilman
Kevin C. Eccleston - Town of Ossining Council Member
Martha L. Dodge - Town of Ossining Town Justice
Edwin S. Shapiro - Town of Patterson Board Member
Patricia E. Ploeger - Town of Patterson Town Justice
Scott Auster - Town of Putnam Valley Supervisor
Wendy M. Whetsel - Town of Rye Council Member
Michael J. Borrelli, Dominick Lagana - Town of Rye Highway Superintendent
Vincent A. Sapione - Town of Rye Receiver of Taxes
Nicholas C. Mecca - Town of Rye Supervisor
Robert A. Morabito II - Town of Rye Town Justice
Anthony M. Provenzano - Town of Southeast Highway Superintendent At Large
Michael L Fila Sr. - Town of Yorktown Council Member
Nicholas J. Bianco, James J. Martorano - Town of Yorktown Supervisor
Donald Scott Peters - Town of Yorktown Town Justice
Ilan D. Gilbert - Town/Village of Harrison Clerk
Frank A. Acocella - Town/Village of Harrison Council Member/Trustee
Robert C. Paladino, Patrick A. Vetere - Town/Village of Harrison Mayor/Supervisor
Joan B. Walsh - Town/Village of Harrison Town Justice
Ronald Bianchi, Marc Lust
WFP Suffolk Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- County of Suffolk County Executive
Steve Levy - County of Suffolk County Legislator 11th Legislative District
Thomas Francis Barraga - County of Suffolk County Legislator 12th Legislative District
John Michael Kennedy Jr. - County of Suffolk County Legislator 14th Legislative District
Wayne R. Horsley - County of Suffolk County Legislator 15th Legislative District
Elie Mystal - County of Suffolk County Legislator 16th Legislative District
Steven H. Stern - County of Suffolk County Legislator 17th Legislative District
Louis D'Amaro - County of Suffolk County Legislator 18th Legislative District
Jon Cooper - County of Suffolk County Legislator 1st Legislative District
No Endorsement aaendli - County of Suffolk County Legislator 2nd Legislative District
Jay H. Schneiderman - County of Suffolk County Legislator 3rd Legislative District
Kate M. Browning - County of Suffolk County Legislator 4th Legislative District
Brian J. Beedenbender - County of Suffolk County Legislator 5th Legislative District
Vivian M. Viloria-Fisher - County of Suffolk County Legislator 6th Legislative District
Bryan Lilly - County of Suffolk County Legislator 7th Legislative District
No Endorsement aaendli - County of Suffolk County Legislator 8th Legislative District
William Lindsay - County of Suffolk County Legislator 9th Legislative District
Ricardo Montano - County of Suffolk District Court Judge 2nd District
No Endorsement aaendli - County of Suffolk District Court Judge 6th District
William A. DeVore, Chris Ann Kelley - County of Suffolk Family Court Judge
Theresa Whelan - Town of Babylon Councilman
Jacqueline A. Gordon, Ellen T. McVeety - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 1
No Endorsement aaendli - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 2
Bill Shilling - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 3
Kevin L. Hyms - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 4
Constance M. Kepert - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 5
Jack N. Fath - Town of Brookhaven Council Member District 6
Edward J. Hennessey - Town of Brookhaven Highway Superintendent
John H. Rouse - Town of Brookhaven Receiver of Taxes
Louis J. Marcoccia - Town of Brookhaven Supervisor
Brian X. Foley - Town of East Hampton Councilman
Bill Gardiner - Town of East Hampton Supervisor
William J. Wilkinson - Town of East Hampton Councilman
Peter J. Hammerle - Town of East Hampton Supervisor
William J. Wilkinson - Town of East Hampton Town Justice
Steven Tekulsky - Town of Huntington Councilman
Susan A. Berland, Glenda D. Adams-Jackson - Town of Islip Councilman
John H. Edwards, Gene Parrington - Town of Islip Receiver of Taxes
Deborah L. Slinkosky - Town of Islip Supervisor
Phil Nolan - Town of Riverhead Assesor
Robert B. Gottschalk Jr. - Town of Riverhead Councilman
George M. Bartunek, Amy L. Csorny - Town of Riverhead Highway Superintendent
George 'Gio' Woodson - Town of Riverhead Receiver of Taxes
Michael K Roth - Town of Riverhead Supervisor
Philip J. Cardinale - Town of Riverhead Town Justice
Robert Lowery - Town of Shelter Island Assesor
Albert F. Hammond - Town of Shelter Island Councilman
Karen K. Moran, Glenn W. Waddington - Town of Shelter Island Supervisor
James Dougherty - Town of Smithtown Councilman
Thomas P. Cleere, Bruce Jay Ettenberg - Town of Southampton Councilman
Sandra L. Dunn, Anna E. Throne-Holst - Town of Southampton Receiver of Taxes
Bruce A. King - Town of Southampton Supervisor
James S. Henry - Town of Southampton Town Justice
Andrea H. Schiavoni - Town of Southold Councilman
William P. Edwards, Daniel C. Ross - Town of Southold Supervisor
No Endorsement aaendli - Town of Southold Trustee
Bob Ghosio Jr.
WFP Southern Tier Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Binghamton Council Member District 1
Bob Weslar - City of Binghamton Council Member District 2
Martin J. Gerchman - City of Binghamton Council Member District 6
Charles E. Kramer - City of Binghamton Council Member District 8
Edward Collins - City of Oneonta Alderperson District 4
Mike E. Lynch - County of Broome County Court Judge
Joseph Cawley - County of Otsego County Legislator District 7
Philip Anthony Durkin - Town of Cherry Valley Council Member
Mark D. Cornwell - Town of Vestal Supervisor
Barry L. Klipsch - Village of Endicott Trustee
Frank J. Flint - Village of Endicott Village Justice
Theo Totolis
Monday, July 16, 2007
WFP Rockland County Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- County of Rockland County Legislator District 1
John L. Kezek - County of Rockland County Legislator District 10
Harriet D. Cornell - County of Rockland County Legislator District 11
John J. Mangan Jr. - County of Rockland County Legislator District 12
Withers Joseph Withers - County of Rockland County Legislator District 14
Vijayendranath P. Pradhan - County of Rockland County Legislator District 17
Connie L. Coker II - County of Rockland County Legislator District 3
Jay Hood Jr. - County of Rockland County Legislator District 4
Ilan S. Schoenberger - County of Rockland County Legislator District 5
John Christos Fellas - County of Rockland County Legislator District 6
Bruce M. Levine - County of Rockland County Legislator District 8
William L. Darden - County of Rockland District Attorney
Thomas Patrick Zugibe - County of Rockland Sheriff
Tim O'Neill - Town of Clarkstown Clerk
David S. Carlucci - Town of Clarkstown Council Member
Shirley Lasker, Frank Borelli - Town of Clarkstown Highway Superintendent
Bill McCue - Town of Clarkstown Justice
Joel Flick - Town of Clarkstown Supervisor
Alexander J. Gromack - Town of Clarkstown Town Justice
Howard Gerber - Town of Haverstraw Highway Superintendent
Frank H. Brooks - Town of Haverstraw Supervisor
Howard T. Phillips Jr. - Town of Haverstraw Town Justice
Thomas Walsh II, Peter Branti Jr. - Town of Orangetown Council Member
Michael Maturo - Town of Orangetown Judge
Paul Phinney III - Town of Orangetown Supervisor
Thom Kleiner - Town of Ramapo Council Member
Frances M. Hunter, Edward Friedman - Town of Stony Point Clerk
Joan Skinner - Village of Haverstraw Mayor
Michael F. Kohut - Village of Haverstraw Trustee
Thomas L. Watson Jr., Rafael Bueno - Village of Haverstraw Village Justice
Ronald De Caprio - Village of West Haverstraw Mayor
Edward P. Zugibe Sr. - Village of West Haverstraw Trustee
Joseph A. Denise Jr., Frances R. Nardi - Village of West Haverstraw Village Justice
John Grant
WFP North Country Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Plattsburgh Council Member Ward 1
Timothy R. Carpenter - City of Plattsburgh Council Member Ward 2
Mike Kelly - City of Plattsburgh Council Member Ward 6
Chris Jackson - County of Clinton County Legislator District 5
Keith Marvin Defayette - County of Clinton County Legislator District 9
John William Gallagher - County of Clinton Treasurer
Kimberly Kleist - County of Jefferson County Legislator District 11
Doris C. McLallen - County of Jefferson County Legislator District 3
Dean T. Morrow - County of Jefferson County Legislator District 5
Cindy McNultry Ross - County of St. Lawrence Sheriff
Gus Burns - Town of Beekmantown Council Member
Sharron Garden - Town of Beekmantown Highway Superintendent
Samuel R. Dyer - Town of Chazy Council Member
Christopher W Latremore - Town of Macomb Town Justice
Lafayette Young Jr. - Town of Madrid Board Member
Bill Tyndall - Town of Massena Council Member
John Martin Wicke - Town of Morristown Board Member
Christopher B. T. Coffin - Town of Plattsburgh Clerk
Amy Lynn Duquette - Town of Plattsburgh Council Member
Tom Wood - Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor
Bernard Charles Bassett - Town of Plattsburgh Town Justice
Randa Buompensiero-Filion - Town of Rutland Supervisor
Ronald H. Cole - Town of Saranac Supervisor
Joe Gerardi
WFP Nassau District Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Long Beach Council Member
Robert Tepper, Gina T. Guma, Lawrence Benowitz - County of Nassau County Court Judge
John M. Galasso, Jerald S. Carter - County of Nassau County Court Judge
Norman St. George - County of Nassau County Legislator District 1
Kevan Abrahams - County of Nassau County Legislator District 10
Judi R. Bosworth - County of Nassau County Legislator District 11
Wayne H. Wink Jr. - County of Nassau County Legislator District 13
John Rossi - County of Nassau County Legislator District 14
David L. Mejias - County of Nassau County Legislator District 15
John Michael Clark - County of Nassau County Legislator District 16
Judith A. Jacobs - County of Nassau County Legislator District 17
Edward P. Mangano - County of Nassau County Legislator District 18
Diane Yatauro - County of Nassau County Legislator District 19
David W. Denenberg - County of Nassau County Legislator District 2
Roger H. Corbin - County of Nassau County Legislator District 3
Ali A. Mirza - County of Nassau County Legislator District 4
Denise Ford - County of Nassau County Legislator District 5
Joseph Kenneth Scannell - County of Nassau County Legislator District 7
Jeffrey W. Toback - County of Nassau County Legislator District 8
Michael Uhl - County of Nassau District Court Judge 2nd District (Hempstead)
Robert Spergel - County of Nassau District Court Judge 3rd District (North Hempstead)
Erica Prager, David Goodsell - County of Nassau Family Court Judge
Edmund Dane, Amy Rood - Town of Hempstead Clerk
Mark A. Bonilla - Town of Hempstead Council Member District 2
N. Scott Banks - Town of Hempstead Council Member District 5
Robert S. Young - Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes
Donald X. Clavin Jr. - Town of North Hempstead Clerk
Leslie C. Gross - Town of North Hempstead Council Member District 2
Thomas Kennedy Dwyer - Town of North Hempstead Council Member District 4
Maria-Christina Poons - Town of North Hempstead Council Member District 6
Fred L. Pollack - Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes
Rocco Iannarelli - Town of North Hempstead Supervisor
Jon Kaiman - Town of Oyster Bay Council Member
Anthony David Macagnone - Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor
John Venditto - Town of Oyster Bay Council Member
Keith Scalia - Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes
Marie F. McCormack
WFP Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Beacon Council Member At Large
Lee Kyriacou - City of Beacon Council Member Ward 2
Charles Patrick Kelly - City of Beacon Council Member Ward 4
Sara Jane Pasti - City of Beacon Mayor
Steve Keith Gold - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 2
Jennifer Ann Ringwood - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 3
Charles Landi - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 4
Matthew G. Ryan - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 5
Ann Marie DiBella - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 6
Robert W. Gillon - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 7
William P. Reynolds - City of Kingston Alderperson Ward 8
Robert L. Senor - City of Kingston Mayor
James M. Sottile - City of Middletown Alderman 1st Ward
Maxine Leigh Meyer - City of Newburgh Council Member
Marge Bell - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 1
Thomas E. Parise - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 2
Erik Haight - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 3
Robert L. Mallory Jr. - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 4
Brian Doyle - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 5
Penny Lewis - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 6
Mary S. Solomon - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 7
Gwendolyn C Johnson - City of Poughkeepsie Common Council Member Ward 8
Dennis G. Weinel - City of Poughkeepsie Mayor
Fred Knapp - County of Dutchess Clerk
Richard M. Anderson - County of Dutchess County Executive
Joseph Ruggiero - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 11
Joel Tyner - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 13
William F. McCabe - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 14
Sandra Goldberg - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 15
Roger P. Higgins - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 18
Ronald S. Ray - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 19
Richard A. Hermans - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 2
Susan Tooker - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 20
Susan Goldstein - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 22
Matthew James Hanson - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 24
Peter G. Wassell - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 25
Margaret G. Fettes - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 4
Diane Nash - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 5
Richard F. Keller-Coffey - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 6
Frederick Bunnell - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 7
Dan Kuffner - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 8
Jane Smith - County of Dutchess County Legislator District 9
Steve White - County of Sullivan Clerk
Neil M. Gilberg - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 1
Patrick Joseph Harrison - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 2
Kathleen Mary LaBuda - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 3
Elwin M. Wood - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 6
Peter Frederick Gozza - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 7
Mark J. Sherman - County of Sullivan County Legislator District 9
Sam Wohl - County of Sullivan Sullivan County Judge and Surrogate
Cindy Barber - County of Ulster County Legislator District 10
Susan E. Zimet, Hector Samuel Rodriguez - County of Ulster County Legislator District 12
David Donaldson - County of Ulster County Legislator District 2
Donald J. Gregorius, Brian Shapiro - County of Ulster County Legislator District 3
Robert S. Parete, Richard A. Parete, Peter George Kraft Jr. - County of Ulster County Legislator District 4
Joshua Paul Boughton, Joseph P. Roberti Jr., Gary Bischoff, Bonni Nechemias - County of Ulster County Legislator District 5
Brian B. Cahill - County of Ulster County Legislator District 6
Jeanette Provenzano, Frank R. Dart - County of Ulster County Legislator District 7
Sal Silvestro, Philip C. Terpening, Alan Lomita - County of Ulster County Legislator District 8
Tracey Bartels, Tim Hunter - County of Ulster District Attorney
Jonathan R. Sennett - Town of Amenia Council Member
Glenn Caldarelli, Joel E. Pelkey - Town of Amenia Supervisor
Wayne M. Euvrard - Town of Bethel Council Member
Janet M. Scherf - Town of Bethel Supervisor
Daniel Sturm - Town of Blooming Grove Supervisor
Victor Quinton - Town of Callicoon Board Member
Sonja Hedlund - Town of Cornwall Supervisor
James Anthony Sollami - Town of Deerpark Supervisor
Mark David House - Town of East Fishkill Clerk
Lisa M. LaPine - Town of East Fishkill Highway Superintendent
David Neil LaPine - Town of Esopus Council Member
Stephanie R. Aivaz - Town of Esopus Highway Superintendent
Michael Joseph Cafaldo Sr. - Town of Esopus Receiver of Taxes
Susan M. Carnes - Town of Esopus Supervisor
Deborah Silvestro - Town of Esopus Town Justice
Sarah Rakov - Town of Fallsburg Supervisor
Kenneth Michael DeMars - Town of Fallsburg Town Council (Four Year Term)
Kevin Austin McDaniel, Ada E. Cole - Town of Fallsburg Town Council (Unexpired Four Year Term)
Deborah Chandler - Town of Fishkill Board Member
Patricia Susan Fleming - Town of Fishkill Supervisor
David E. Eberle - Town of Fishkill Town Justice
Linda Lebensold - Town of Highland Council Member
Kenneth J. Byrne - Town of Highland Council Member District 2
Paul Zimmermann - Town of Hurley Supervisor
Michael C. Shultis - Town of Hyde Park Council Member Ward 4
Rich Perkins - Town of Hyde Park Town Justice
David Steinberg - Town of Lloyd Supervisor
Joseph James Avampato Jr. - Town of Lumberland Board Member District 1
Keith Edward Gilmour - Town of Lumberland Board Member District 2
Van B. Krzywicki - Town of Mamakating Council Member
Richard Wayne Morris - Town of Mamakating Supervisor
Robert Eugene Fiore - Town of Marbletown Supervisor
Vincent C. Martello - Town of Marlborough Council Member
Madeleine Myers-Stearns - Town of Marlborough Supervisor
Alphonso Philip Lanzetta - Town of Poughkeepsie Town Justice
Richard Wolf, David Sears - Town of Red Hook Town Justice
Jonah Triebwasser - Town of Rochester Council Member
Francis Gray, Donna-Marie Ragonese - Town of Rochester Supervisor
Pam Duke - Town of Rochester Town Justice
Paul Shaheen - Town of Rosendale Supervisor
Patrick McDonough - Town of Rosendale Town Justice
Robert Vosper Jr. - Town of Saugerties Board Member
Leeanne Thornton, Fred M. Costello Jr. - Town of Saugerties Supervisor
Gregory L. Helsmoortel - Town of Stanford Council Member
Virginia Stern - Town of Stanfordville Council Member
Johanna Shafer - Town of Thompson Supervisor
Anthony P. Cellini - Town of Ulster Highway Superintendent
James Corrigan - Town of Ulster Supervisor
Nicky B. Woerner - Town of Ulster Town Justice
Edward Aleo - Town of Wallkill Council Member Ward 3
Kevin J. Mulqueen - Town of Wallkill Council Member Ward 4
Nina Guenste - Town of Wappinger Clerk
Chris Masterson - Town of Wappinger Council Member Ward 3
Maureen McCarthy - Town of Wappinger Council Member Ward 4
Joseph Patrick Paoloni - Town of Woodstock Supervisor
Jeff Moran - Town of Woodstock Town Justice
Franklyn J. Engel
WFP Herkimer-Oneida Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Rome Common Council Member Ward 3
Angela B. Petty - City of Rome Common Council Member Ward 4
Ramona Luiere Smith - City of Rome Common Council Member Ward 7
James R. Murphy - City of Utica Common Council Member At Large
Lynne Mishalanie, Lorraine E. Arcuri, Frank Anthony Meola - City of Utica Common Council Member District 2
James A. Zecca - City of Utica Common Council Member District 5
Bill Phillips - County of Oneida County Legislator District 1
Frank Puma - County of Oneida County Legislator District 14
David Joesph Gordon - County of Oneida County Legislator District 22
Shannon Lee Scott - County of Oneida County Legislator District 23
Rose Ann Convertino - County of Oneida County Legislator District 24
Emil R. Paparella - County of Oneida County Legislator District 25
Larry R. Tanoury Jr. - County of Oneida County Legislator District 26
Daniel N. LaBella - County of Oneida County Legislator District 27
Vincent Peter Scalise - County of Oneida County Legislator District 29
Patricia A. Hudak - County of Oneida County Legislator District 7
Frank D. Tallarino - County of Oneida District Attorney
Scott D. McNamara - Town of Kirkland Council Member
Michael D. O'Neil - Town of Kirkland Supervisor
Robert J. Meelan - Town of Kirkland Town Justice
Stephen Samoyedny - Town of Verona Supervisor
Darrell C. Curtis
WFP Fingerlakes Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Rochester School Commissioner
Vincent Rodney Felder - City of Canandaigua Council Member Ward 4
Margery L. Anthony - City of Canandaigua Mayor
Ellen M. Polimeni - City of Geneva Council Member
Jacqueline A. Augustine, Rocco "Chip" Capraro - City of Rochester Council Member Northeast District
Lovely Ann Warren - City of Rochester Council Member Northwest District
Carla M. Palumbo - City of Rochester Council Member South District
Adam Caesar McFadden - City of Rochester School Commissioner
Willa W. Powell, Melisza Campos, Malik Evans - County of Monroe County Executive
Patrick Christopher - County of Monroe County Legislator District 1
Todd Dunn - County of Monroe County Legislator District 10
Ted Nixon - County of Monroe County Legislator District 11
Susan L. Davis - County of Monroe County Legislator District 17
Edward M. O'Brien - County of Monroe County Legislator District 26
Steve Eckel - County of Monroe County Legislator District 27
Willie Joe Lightfoot - County of Monroe County Legislator District 6, Four Year Term
Richard A. Beebe - County of Monroe County Legislator District 8
Carmen Gumina - County of Monroe Family Court Judge
Sidney Farber - Town of Brighton Supervisor
Sandra L. Frankel - Town of Brighton Town Justice
Karen Morris - Town of Chili Supervisor
David J. Dunning - Town of Clarkson Council Member
Sheldon Meyers IV - Town of Gates Council Member
Mark A. McIntee - Town of Gates Supervisor
Susan Irene Swanton - Town of Greece Council Member Ward 2
Judy Mae Knights - Town of Greece Council Member Ward 3
Maureen V. Dauphinee - Town of Greece Council Member Ward 4
Gary Pudup - Town of Irondequoit Council Member
Stephanie Aldersley, John Perticone - Town of Irondequoit Supervisor
Mary Ellen Heyman - Town of Irondequoit Town Justice
Edward Knaak Jr. - Town of Ogden Council Member
Anthony Leroy McCollough, Wayne McCrossen - Town of Ogden Supervisor
Garry L. Cranker - Town of Parma Town Justice
Harriet Zunno - Town of Penfield Council Member
Elizabeth D. Andrzejewicz - Town of Perinton Council Member
David A. Wolf - Town of Riga Supervisor
Kenneth J. Kuter - Village of East Rochester Mayor
Jason William Koon - Village of East Rochester Trustee
Andrew Serrano, Herman L. Parson III
WFP Central New York Chapter 2007 Endorsements
- City of Syracuse City Auditor
Philip J. LaTessa - City of Syracuse City Court Judge
Vanessa Bogan, James Cecile - City of Syracuse Commissioner of Education
Ned Deuel, Nancy K. McCarty, Laurie J. Menkin, Calvin L. Corriders - City of Syracuse Councilor At Large
Bill Ryan, Kathleen Joy - City of Syracuse Councilor District 2
Patrick J. Hogan - City of Syracuse Councilor District 3
John Ryan Mcmahon II - City of Syracuse Councilor District 4
Thomas M. Seals - City of Syracuse Councilor District 5
Lance Denno - County of Cayuga District Attorney
Michael G Bass - County of Onondaga County Executive
William B. Magnarelli - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 1
James Borchik - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 12
Victoria Lightcap - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 14
Gary Morris Sr. - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 16
Sam Laguzza - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 18
Monica Williams - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 2
Donald J. MacLaughlin - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 3
Brad Ward - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 4
David M. Stott - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 5
Phil Drury - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 6
Karen Hanford - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 7
Thomas C. Buckel Jr. - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 8
James Arthur Corbett - County of Onondaga County Legislator District 9
Mark Stanczyk - County of Onondaga District Attorney
Tina C. Bennet - County of Onondaga Family Court Judge
Marc Waldauer - Town of Cicero Clerk
David Christopher Olson - Town of Cicero Council Member
Lynn Jennings, Jessica Zambrano - Town of Cicero Supervisor
Chester A. Dudzinski Jr. - Town of DeWitt Council Member
Vicki Baker - Town of Dewitt Supervisor
Ed Michalenko - Town of DeWitt Town Clerk
Barbara Klim - Town of Liverpool Council Member
Thomas Stack - Town of Onondaga Council Member
Brian David Madigan - Town of Salina Council Member Ward 2
John R. Davies - Town of Salina Council Member Ward 3
Chris Benz - Town of Salina Council Member Ward 4
Sharon A. Jacquin - Town of Salina Supervisor
Michael P. Giarrusso - Town of Salina Town Justice
George Alessio Jr. - Town of Skaneateles Council Member
Nancy Murray, Kathryn A. Carlson
Friday, July 13, 2007
WFP Endorses Ed Kosiur for the 105th AD
Ed Kosiur is a Schenectady County Legislator who has gotten the WFP endorsement in the past. Ed was instrumental in passing a resolution supporting Fair Share for Health Care in the County Legislature, and has been supportive of the Working Families Time to Care Act.
There will be a July 31 Special Election to fill the Assembly seat in the 105th AD. The special election will fill the vacancy left by Paul Tonko, who has resigned to to take a position with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
WFP Capital District Chapter 2007 Endorsements
The Capital District Chapter's top priorities are two of its earliest endorsements, Mike Manning for Mayor of Watervliet and Ken Zalewski for Troy City Council. Manning, who was endorsed by the WFP in his 2005 run for City Council, has brought a lot of change to the City of Watervliet as a council member and will do even more as Mayor.
Ken Zalewski, candidate for Troy City Council, will bring energy and vision to the City of Troy. The WFP, which is running Zalewski's field campaign, is excited about the work Zalewsi has been doing within the community, most recently as a visible proponent of the WFPs local efforts to bring integrity to City government in Troy.
- City of Hudson Alderperson District 1, Second Ward
Lyle J. Shook Jr. - City of Hudson Supervisor 4th Ward
Staley B. Keith - City of Mechanicville Commissioner of Accounts
Stacie A. Salvi - City of Mechanicville Commissioner of Finance
Salvatore C. Izzo - City of Mechanicville Supervisor
Thomas Joseph Richardson - City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts
John Paul Franck - City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance
M. Jane Weihe - City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety
Ronald J. Kim - City of Saratoga Springs Mayor
Valerie Keehn - City of Saratoga Springs Supervisor
Cheryl L. Keyrouze, Joanne Dittes Yepsen - City of Schenectady Council Member
Thomas Augustine Della Sala, Denise K. Brucker, Margaret C. King, Joseph L. Allen - City of Schenectady Mayor
Brian U. Stratton - City of Troy Council Member At Large
Marjorie Mahar DerGurahian, John F. Brown, Clement W. Campana - City of Troy Council Member District 1
Victor M. DeBonis - City of Troy Council Member District 2
Mary E. Sweeney - City of Troy Council Member District 3
Peter John Ryan Sr. - City of Troy Council Member District 4
William S. Dunne - City of Troy Council Member District 5
Kenneth J. Zalewski - City of Troy Council Member District 6
Gary L. Galuski - City of Troy Mayor
James J. Conroy - City of Watervliet Council Member
Charlie Diamond - City of Watervliet Mayor
Michael P. Manning - County of Albany County Comptroller
Patricia J. Slavick - County of Albany County Executive
Michael G. Breslin - County of Albany County Legislator District 1
George Infante - County of Albany County Legislator District 10
Daniel P. McCoy - County of Albany County Legislator District 11
Gary W. Domalewicz - County of Albany County Legislator District 13
William Mcneal Clay - County of Albany County Legislator District 14
Raymond F. Joyce III - County of Albany County Legislator District 15
Phillip G. Steck - County of Albany County Legislator District 17
Sean E. Ward - County of Albany County Legislator District 18
Shawn M. Morse - County of Albany County Legislator District 2
Lucille McKnight - County of Albany County Legislator District 20
Timothy D. Nichols - County of Albany County Legislator District 25
Ryan Vincent Horstmyer - County of Albany County Legislator District 26
Richard A. Gross - County of Albany County Legislator District 27
Richard P. Jacobson - County of Albany County Legislator District 30
Allen F. Maikels - County of Albany County Legislator District 31
William F. Aylward Jr. - County of Albany County Legislator District 36
Howard A. Shafer - County of Albany County Legislator District 39
Kevin G. Crosier - County of Albany County Legislator District 5
Norma Chapman - County of Albany County Legislator District 6
Christopher Thomas Burke - County of Albany County Legislator District 8
Doug Bullock - County of Columbia Coroner
George F. Davis - County of Columbia District Attorney
Eugene Keeler - County of Columbia Treasurer
Carol Gilbert-Sacks - County of Rensselaer District Attorney
Richard J. McNally - County of Saratoga Coroner
Matt Sousa - County of Schenectady County Legislator District 1
Vincent M. DiCerbo, Michael John Petta - County of Schenectady County Legislator District 2
Gary E. Hughes - County of Schenectady County Legislator District 3
William R. Chapman, Paul C. Webster III - County of Schenectady County Legislator District 4
Robert Joseph Godlewski, Anthony W. Jasenski Sr. - County of Washington Coroner
Sheela Joyce Martel - Town of Austerlitz Town Justice
Cheryl Roberts - Town of Ballston Council Member
George Seymour - Town of Ballston Supervisor
Patti Southworth - Town of Brunswick Clerk
Jean A Howard - Town of Brunswick Council Member
Susan Hoff Haynes, James J. Brearton - Town of Brunswick Supervisor
Vito Grasso - Town of Clifton Park Clerk
Theresa Izzo - Town of Clifton Park Council Member
Nancy Bellamy, Margaret Catellier - Town of Clifton Park Town and County Supervisor
Arthur Vandervoort - Town of Clifton Park Town Justice
Robert Rybak - Town of Colonie Council Member
Robert D. Becker - Town of Colonie Supervisor
Paula A. Mahan - Town of Copake Council Member
Carl Ritchie - Town of Copake Supervisor
Linda Sue Gabaccia - Town of Duanesburg Town Justice
Camille J. Siano Enders - Town of Glenville Town Justice
Carol M. Dillon - Town of Greenfield Board Member
Lisa M. Kosek - Town of Halfmoon Town Justice
Jeffrey Hartnett - Town of Hillsdale Town Justice
Russ Immarigeon - Town of Hoosick Council Member
Robert H. Ryan - Town of Hoosick Supervisor
Marilyn K. Douglas - Town of Johnsburg Council Member
Ronald G. Vanselow - Town of Kinderhook Board Member
Peter - Bujanow, Francis J. McKearin IV - Town of Kinderhook Clerk
Kimberly Ann Pinkowski - Town of Kinderhook Supervisor
Doug McGivney - Town of Malta Clerk
Cynthia C. Young - Town of Milton Board Member
Margaret Stevens - Town of Moreau Board Member
Gina Maria LeClair Jr. - Town of Moreau Supervisor
Preston Leroy Jenkins Jr. - Town of Nassau Council Member
Susan Hains, Fred Nuffer - Town of Nassau Supervisor
Michael I. Roland - Town of New Lebanon Town Justice
Darcy L. Poppey - Town of Niskayuna Clerk
Helen F. Kopke - Town of Niskayuna Council Member
Liz Orzel Kasper, Julie Bean McDonnell - Town of Niskayuna Justice
Stephen F. Swinton Jr. - Town of Niskayuna Supervisor
Joe Landry - Town of North Greenbush Council Member At Large
Josephine Ashworth, Brian Dwyer - Town of North Greenbush Highway Superintendent
Mark J. Premo Sr. - Town of Pittstown Town Justice
Paul Mac Naughton - Town of Princetown Council Member
Rose Norkus - Town of Rensselaerville Assesor
Jeffry Pine - Town of Rensselaerville Council Member
Gary Jon Chase Jr. - Town of Rensselaerville Council Member
Marie Dermody, Gary Jon Chase Jr. - Town of Rensselaerville Town Justice
Victor La Plante - Town of Rotterdam Council Member
Richard W. Leet, John M. Silva - Town of Rotterdam Supervisor
William J. Cooke - Town of Sand Lake Clerk
Christine Marie Kronau - Town of Sand Lake Council Member
Burton J. Rounds, Raymond C. Turner - Town of Sand Lake Receiver of Taxes
Barbara Ann Biittig - Town of Sand Lake Supervisor
William C. Reinhardt Sr. - Town of Stillwater Supervisor
J. Gregory Connors - Town of Stuyvesant Board Member
Rosalind Gumaer, Marilyn F. Burch - Town of Stuyvesant Supervisor
Lee Jamison
Monday, July 09, 2007
More WFP at TPM Cafe
Fusion: What’s in it for Democrats?
In the first two posts, I tried to make the case for “fusion” voting as something that will really help liberals, progressives, labor, enviros, anti-poverty activists, climate change campaigners, you name it. Today I’ll try to make the case for fusion as a good reform that Democrats as a party should favor.
But a quick reminder if you’re just joining: “fusion” is a simple election reform that allows voters to vote for a candidate on more than one party line.
In New York, Governor Eliot Spitzer won last year running on both the Democratic and Working Families lines. The 155,000 New Yorkers who voted for him on the Working Families line were helping elect a Democrat and end 12 years of Republican misrule in Albany, but they were also helping to build an independent progressive third party and signal that they wanted the new governor to focus on the economic interests of working people – affordable health care, stronger unions, fairer taxes and support for working parents. One result – Gubernatorial support for a universal Paid Family Leave program.
For progressives, fusion is a no-brainer. And it will be even more so in the – knock on wood! – coming era of Democratic dominance on a national level. We’ll be constantly faced with the choice of devoting our energy to supporting the Democrats or maintaining an independent presence to their left. Fusion lets us do both.
But what’s in it for the Democrats?
Fusion was once legal in all 50 states but is now banned in all but half a dozen. Why should legislators in Maine or Oregon or Colorado or New Mexico want re-legalize it?
I don’t want to overclaim, but as it turns out, there are several good reasons for Democratic elected officials to favor the re-legalization of fusion voting. The impact of fusion is at the margins – even in New York, Working Families has never reached even 5 percent of the statewide vote (though we will soon!) But plenty of elections are decided by just a few percentage points. How can fusion move those critical last points to good, progressive Dems?
First, by attracting independents and “Reagan” Democrats. They may not like the Democratic Party, but they like the idea of a third party that advocates for things like universal health care and higher wages. Second, by attracting “greens” and other progressives who want to “send a message” to the Democrats from the left without spoiling. Third, by bringing new voters into the political process. And fourth, by fostering creation of fusion parties like the WFP, which, if I can boast a moment, runs one of the best grassroots electoral operations in the country.
I’m going to start by talking about the second piece – fusion as a tool for attracting progressives and solving the “spoiler” problem. Tomorrow I’ll turn to the even-more-important question of independents and new voters.
The left. Also known as solving the Nader problem. But actually, spoiling is a persistent problem, not a freak occurrence in 2000. . In New Mexico, the Green vote exceeded the Republicans’ margin of victory in the 1994 Governor’s race and again in a 1998 Congressional race. In the latter race, if even half the Green voters had supported the Dem, he would have won. More recently, several well-meaning but not very strategic Green candidates in Maine have enabled Republicans to win elections they would have almost certainly lost. (On the right, Libertarians have done the same thing to the advantage of Democrats, but in general spoiling is a much bigger problem for our side].)I hasten to say, I don’t especially blame Green (or Libertarian) voters. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do in a democracy – coming out and supporting the party they believe in. The problem is an electoral system that means their votes have the exact opposite effect of what they intended.
With fusion, they would have another choice – support both their preferred party and a candidate who can actually win. Some voters will still choose to vote for the third-party candidate, of course, but most would prefer not to vote for a spoiler if there’s another way to support a progressive third party. That’s certainly the case in New York, where many Green Party voters have migrated to the Working Families Party, and in so doing are helping to “green up” the WFP’s identity. Most citizens prefer to cast a meaningful vote than a purely symbolic protest vote, if there’s a principled way to do it.
It’s undeniable that if we’d had fusion and a Working Families-type party in Florida in 2000, we’d now be in the seventh year of a Gore presidency. That’s why important leaders of the Democratic Party – people like Chuck Schumer -- are active supporters of fusion. They don’t agree with us on everything– but they know that in the big fights we’re on the same side. And they know that an independent fusion party brings something they vitally need in close races – credibility with the small but active and energetic group of voters who want to send a message to the Democrats.
Small, however, is a key word. I don’t mean to dismiss progressives – I’m one myself. But we aren’t where the big game is. That’s in the “center,” with swing voters, especially the “Reagan Democrats” (anyone ever hear of a Kerry Republican?), working-class voters who are with the Dems on economic issues but won’t vote for them because of their (real or perceived) stances on hot-button issues like gun control or prayer in schools. Fusion helps there too, and the potential gains are even bigger. So that will be the subject of my next post.
Join the discussion. Do you think we need a way to put pressure on Democrats while still electing them to office?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
WFP at TPM Cafe: The Value of Independent Organizations
What do you think? Head on over to TPM Cafe and be part of the debate.Yesterday I wrote about how fusion voting works in New York:
By allowing voters to support a major party candidate on a minor-party line, fusion solves the “wasted vote” and “spoiler” dilemmas that otherwise plague third parties. There have been many fusion parties in our nation’s history – the Populists being the most famous – but it can be used by left, right and center. Democracy means everyone gets to play.
For a progressive-minded party like New York’s Working Families, we have almost always cross-endorsed (or “fused”) with Democrats, but occasionally we will endorse a decent Republican, run our own stand-alone WFP candidate against the major parties, or leave our line BLANK when there didn’t seem to be a good reason to endorse anyone.
By delivering 8,000-plus votes for Brian Higgins in his 2004 Congressional race, we were the margin that put another good Democrat (make that, Dem-WFP) in Congress. By delivering 155,000 votes for Eliot Spitzer for Governor, OK, we weren’t close to the margin of victory, but we did signal that a substantial fraction of the New York electorate expects real progress toward universal health care, public election financing, and universal paid family leave and sick days over the next four years.
Great, that’s New York. Why should the rest of the country care? Here’s why.
Nathan Newman, a TPM regular and long time friend of the Working Families Party, has been predicting for some time that the election of a Democratic president will trigger a fracture of left blogistan and progressives generally. Barring a devastating ferret invasion or divine intervention by the angel Moroni, this prediction is very likely to be put to the test in January 2009.
The lines of the split are already visible. On one side are those who see progressives as the loyal foot soldiers of elected Democrats. For them, the inevitable difficulties and disappointments of the coming Democratic era will be testimony to the inherent inertia of American politics and the tenacity of Republican dead-enders. Every setback will be a further argument for tighter discipline and a narrower focus on the achievable.
On the other side are those for whom the program, not the party, is foremost. If, come year three of a Democratic administration, American troops are still in Iraq, millions of Americans still lack health coverage, and K Street is still thriving, it will be a sign to some that the strategy of supporting Democrats has failed. You can go through the exercise yourself of guessing who will fall on which side, but there’s no question there will be a split.
In the classic tradition of practical politicians, I’d argue that both sides are right.
Atrios, who is as likely as anyone to bridge this divide, says “More and better Democrats”. That’s right. At the Federal level especially, the damage done by the Bush crowd is monumental and monumentally depressing, and the first rule is to get control and STOP. Of course, the more we elect “better” Democrats, not just more, the happier we’ll be. That means maintaining our independence, institutionally as well as intellectually, so we can insist in a meaningful way on what it means to be a good Democrat and get actually existing Democrats to come closer to this standard.
It’s not a new problem. It’s the same dilemma that faces any institutional actor whose heart still beats on the left – unions, immigrants, gays and lesbians, health care advocates, students, whoever. As a practical matter, the more Democrats are in office, the more likely we are to get at least some piece of our agenda enacted. At times, electing Democrats can be literally a matter of life or death.
But on the other hand, the more firmly we bind ourselves to the Dems, the less leverage we have over them. The Democratic Party isn’t like Old Labour in the U.K.: unions and other organizations don’t have any direct role in governing it. (Actually, it isn’t really a party at all, but that’s a subject for another time.) Power means voice or exit; if we don’t have a voice we need the option to exit; but where, realistically, are disillusioned progressives to go?
Not to third party candidates, that’s for sure. Under America’s winner-take-all electoral system, third-party politics is a chump’s game. Anything short of a plurality might as well be nothing. So at best you should have stayed home; at worst you accomplish the exact opposite of what you intended. (See Nader, R.)
At the local level there are times and places when third party candidacies do make sense, but building them into a coherent movement is another story. Electing progressives in Democratic primaries is a much more promising approach, but it does nothing to build a lasting organization that can work 365 days a year to advance our issues in real-time. People who go this route become, for better or worse, part of the vague, amorphous milieu of Democratic politics. The Jesse Jackson campaign was the most exciting effort to build progressive power within the Democratic Party in the past generation, and left a positive institutional legacy – but it’s still just a legacy, and not an organization. Michael Harrington used to say that true leftists had to build organizations. He was right.
We need a strategy that allows us to wholeheartedly work for “more and better Democrats” without simply being absorbed in the Democratic Party. And we need a strategy that lets us build our own distinct progressive institutions without losing sight of the need to exercise real power in the here and now. I DON’T claim that fusion is the ONLY approach that resolves this dilemma, but it’s certainly one of the most promising ones.
Fusion allows progressives to actively, wholeheartedly campaign for good Democrats without giving up the idea of a distinct party for working people and their allies. In fact, progressive Democrats in New York – both elected officials and organizational leaders from labor and community and environmental groups – are our strongest allies, because we all want the state and nation to move in a better direction, and this is a uniquely potent tool for making that happen.
Some readers don’t think the left needs its own independent political structure, supportive of but distinct from the Democrats. That’s a legitimate view, and if you’re in that camp, you don’t need fusion or the Working Families Party.
But if you do think there’s a space for a political structure to prod the Democrats in a more progressive direction [think MoveOn], then fusion is the ticket. Our strategy, in fact, might be understood as providing a ballot line that could and hopefully will be the natural and happy home for MoveOn members, union members, ACORN members, Sierra Club members and so on and so forth.
I don’t mean to be a bore, but third parties without fusion (remember – it was once legal in EVERY state) are just writing themselves out of politics. Run in a close election, and you spoil. Run in a safe Dem district, and you might as well run in the Democratic primary instead. And whatever the district, you’ll never recruit candidates to run year in, year out, which is what it takes to develop a reliable vote. Whatever you want to call the political orientation TPM readers share, there are a lot of us, but not a plurality. And 3 percent or 5 percent or even 10 percent just doesn’t allow you to accomplish anything under winner-take-all.
With fusion it’s a different story. The Working Families Party supports Democrats in close races – just ask the five Congressional Ds who owe their election in some measure to the votes they got on the WFP line – that’s the “more Democrats” part. But, unlike other organizations that support Democrats in particular races, every election under fusion is also a chance to enlarge the population of reliable progressive third-party voters. And we don't need to recruit candidates to run in each of the hundreds of districts we're present in each year. Fusion is about the organization, not the individual candidate.
Without fusion, progressives have a stark choice. Support the Dem and forego the chance to develop an alternative political identity. Or run a third-party candidate and help send a Republican to Washington. With fusion, we get to have it both ways. We help elect the Democrat, but we also increase the pool of voters voting on the WFP line, giving us a credible threat to exit if the Dems don’t deliver.
Good deal for progressives? Absolutely. But what’s in it for the Democrats? That’s the subject for my next post.