POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: A nose by any other name

Local News

July 13, 2008

By Mark Scheer<br><a href="mailto:scheerm@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Mark</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sun Jul 13, 2008, 01:00 AM EDT

Will any member of any executive committee in any party ever put pen to paper and describe any sort of altercation or disagreement with another party official in Niagara County again?

Not unless they can be sure the document and the matter stays internal, which is what Lewiston Democratic Chairperson Diane Roberts intended when she wrote her now infamous resignation letter to the party’s executive committee.

Of course, the details about Roberts and top Democrat Dan Rivera’s nose-tugging incident got out somehow.

So, who was the mole?

Maybe a better question is: What did this person have to gain by letting the letter outside the inner circle of Dems?

Rivera insisted this week that Gary Parenti, former foe of Democratic Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, is orchestrating the protests that have followed the letter’s public release. Parenti’s former campaign manager, Kathryn Mazierski did organize this week’s protest at the Democratic fundraiser at the Red Coach Inn.

Rivera also suggested this week that Parenti and others calling for his resignation have gone as far as to form an unholy alliance with Republican forces, including state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane.

Of course, Maziarz has said publicly that he likes Rivera where he is, boasting that Republicans have faired well against Democrats during Rivera’s tenure.

All of it adds up to one fact: The top Democrat in the Senate — Minority Leader Malcolm Smith — came to Niagara Falls, got a whiff of what was going on and turned around and left.

Not exactly a great impression for a guy who could literally become one of the “three men in the room” in Albany if the Dems secure the senate Majority this fall.

Probably right

Rochester billionaire and Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano weighed in this week with an announcement that he plans to set up a political action committee and begin supporting state legislative candidates of his choosing with money from his own $5 million fund.

To get in on the deal, all the candidates have to do is provide Golisano with answers that satisfy his questions to eight categories appearing on a questionnaire he plans to send around this fall.

Local political pundit, Dr. Kevin Hardwick, who hosts the weekly political talk show Hardline with Hardwick on AM radio’s WBEN 930, said Golisano’s plan sounds like an interesting play, one that could have quit an influence on some key races.

He said Golisano — a three-time, self-financed gubernatorial candidate — obviously has a passion for politics.

Hardwick added that it’s likely most Western New Yorkers wish he’d devote more time and resources to a different type of game.

“I’m sure a lot of people would have preferred he spend $5 million on a defenseman for the Sabres,” Hardwick said.

What’s the deal

Golisano aide Steve Pigeon said he would expect all candidates that will appear on the ballot in this fall’s state Legislature elections will get one of Golisano’s questionnaires. He said the answers will be reviewed by a committee, which will ultimately decide which candidates get in on the Golisano campaign sweepstakes.

Pigeon, who was once a rather big power player in the local Democratic Party, insisted the money will be made available to Democrats, Republicans and minor party candidates, provided they support Golisano’s ideals on things like reigning in state spending and taking on New York’s property tax situation.

“What he’s asking for people to support is an agenda that will get rid of the gridlock in Albany,” Pigeon said.

Good luck with that.

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