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Party Leaders Often Remain Out of Step with Their Constituencies
Dear Editor:
Politics have not changed since I ran for Congress in a Democrat primary in 1992, garnering 44-1/2 percent of the vote against the anointed candidate of party leaders in four counties. Later, one confessed to me that the party erred and that the primary results confirmed that I would have been a stronger candidate against incumbent Congressman Fish.
But, what's done is done. Or, is it? Party leaders often remain out of step with their constituencies. The Putnam County Republican chairman stomped on Legislator Regina Morini, who came close to making it in the primary without his committee's support.
Catherine Lilburne of Garrison School Board infamy embarrassingly trailed her running mate, Nancy Montgomery, in the Democrat primary for town board and, despite Committee endorsement, only narrowly edged out unendorsed Michael Gibbons. Obviously, if Gibbons did this well without formal support, he was the stronger candidate to oppose the Republican slate.
Oh, yes, the Republican slate. One hopes that the capable Barbara Scuccimarra will not be dragged down by her running mate. My introduction to Cary Downey dates back to when his father installed our plumbing. Cary offered to take debris to the dump for a price. On a subsequent trip the price went up because, he told us, the dump was charging more. Some items were traceable to us. The senior Ed Doyle called us to complain about dumping on his property.
We forgive teenage sins in hopes that youths might evolve into law-abiding citizens. During a Conservative caucus, I pulled into a parking spot near the VFW post rooms and noted that the man emerging from the vehicle ahead of me had parked by a clearly visible fire hydrant. "Did you realize you parked by a fire hydrant?" I asked. Cary Downey arrogantly replied, "Yep" and kept walking. Later, probably having second thoughts about our confrontation, he handed his keys to a lackey to move his vehicle.
The most egregious out-ofstep with-its-constituency endorsement accrues to the Conservative Party, required to rerun its caucus because the original one had been illegal when the local chairman and her county dictator sought to prevent Democrat candidates from learning of the caucus. Ultimately Supervisor Bill Mazzuca trounced Vinny Tamagna despite the fact that Tamagna had received the original endorsement at the illegal caucus.
There are two reasons why the populace has little say in selection of candidates. Philipstown is a commuter community. The day starts early and ends late for many who would like to be more involved. And, despite our burdensome school taxes, civics is no longer effectively taught. Unbiased education in civics would be a starting point for community involvement.
Catherine Portman-Laux
Garrison
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