City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party
28 Johnson St
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
News
Congratulations City of Plattsburgh Democrats, we have a lot to celebrate!
First, hats off to Tim Carpenter, Mike Kelly, Amy Valentine and Chris Jackson!!!! Fine job done by all. Well run campaigns and substantial victories by each.
A little perspective: We went into the election with only one incumbent. So did the Republicans and the independents. All Parties came through the election with their incumbents. But we also picked up an additional three seats!
City of Plattsburgh Democrats picked up every open seat!!!!
Again, a fine job by all our candidates. All three incumbents were returned to office suggesting that voters are not as displeased with the council as the Mayor suggests. Some have opined that Democrats were elected to the open seats on the council because there wasn’t a choice to vote against the Mayor. I believe each candidate stands on their own merits and deserves their victory, as well.
Let’s work together to grow our city while keeping taxes as low as possible. Let’s look to the future, and invest wisely in our city. Let’s not be caught in the myopic mantra of cutting spending at any cost.
Let’s look at center city issues and shared services with the town.
Let’s look at the Arts Corridor and the Downtown Hotel project. Let’s dovetail with the new Airport.
Let’s look at the big picture, the quality of life in Plattsburgh. Let’s make Plattsburgh a city our children will be proud to call home—and one they can afford.
Congratulations again to our fine candidates—our new City Council representatives, Mike, Tim, Amy and Chris.
With Zeal,
Tim Merrick,
Chair, City of Plattsburgh Democrats
PRESS RELEASE
FROM: CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
RE: ANNUAL FALL BANQUET
The Clinton County Democratic Party announces that Jessica Bassett will be the main
speaker at the annual fall banquet. Ms. Bassett is the Deputy Regional Representative
for Governor Spitzer and has offices in Plattsburgh and Watertown.
Ms. Bassett will speak about her job responsibilities and will answer questions from the floor. Topics of local interest are alien licensing and job appointments.
Local candidates will also be present and available for campaign updates.
Plattsburgh Elks Club on
Saturday, October 27th at 5:30 PM.
Tickets are $35. each or $60. for two.
Contact Doug Brockway at 563-3603 for tickets.
Some tickets will be available at the door. Public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
City of Plattsburgh Debates
In case you missed the announcement in the paper, there will be debates between City Council candidates at the Koffee Kat tonight (Oct 17th at 6:00 PM), Thursday (Oct 18th at 6:00 PM), and Friday (Oct 19th at 6:00 pm.)
Please come to support our Democratic candidates if you possibly can. From experience, I’ll tell you it makes a huge difference seeing “friendlies” in the crowd. It also helps sway the perception of the audience when we pack the audience with fervent Democrats!
I know our candidates will be grateful. And I want to take this opportunity again to tell them how much we appreciate their willingness to step forward. Running is not easy work. It’s a great sacrifice.
Thank you!!
Tim Merrick
Chair, Plattsburgh City Democrats
County Legislator John Gallagher receives Schumer Endorsement
September 21, 2007
"I am pleased to endorse John Gallagher for re-election to his seat
as Area 9 legislator on the Clinton County Legislature. Over the years
I have had the good fortune to work closely with the legislature -- and
with John Gallagher in particular.
I know that he is committed to his community and a tireless worker for
its betterment. I ask you to support his election so that he might
continue to represent his area, and all of Clinton County, with distinction."
Senator Charles E. Schumer
313 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Plattsburgh, NY – Members and supporters of North Country Democracy for America will gather for a Candlelight Vigil for Peace this Saturday, September 22 at 7:00 pm. The hour-long Vigil will be held at the base of the Macdonough Monument across from City Hall in downtown Plattsburgh. Everyone is invited to join in this community event.
The purpose of the Candlelight Vigil is to bring community members together in support of peace and non-violence. The event is also being planned in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, which the United Nations General Assembly designated as September 21.
Our program is dedicated to peace awareness and remembrance of lives lost during the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A reading of names of New York State Military who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be held. As well, a prayer lead by clergy and other words will be spoken in support of peace. Some US Veterans will be also present.
North Country Democracy for America is a progressive citizens action group made up of North Country neighbors working in support of peace and justice.
For more information, please contact Amy Sotherden at (518) 834 7669 or alsother@hotmail.com. The North Country Democracy for America website is located at www.ncdfa.org
Letter to Attorney General Cuomo:
=======================
August 28, 2007
Honorable Andrew Cuomo
New York State Attorney General
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341
Dear Attorney General Cuomo:
We, the undersigned petitioners, Democratic Party officials who have been hampered in our campaign efforts due to malicious, intentional, and partisan, actions that have resulted in unequal staffing at the Clinton County Board of Elections, request the Attorney General’s office to commence an inquiry into improper--and quite possibly--illegal actions of Clinton County Legislators.
This letter is being included in a Federal Court Case brought by the Democratic Commissioner of Elections. Included in this letter is a copy of an Order to Show Cause in that case.
The Board of Elections, created and protected by the State’s Constitution, is the agency imbued with the responsibility for ensuring and maintaining fair elections and equal access to representation in our county. The Board of Elections is meant to be impervious to the partisan nature of the elected Legislature in order to prevent undue influence from that elected body.
Due to what we perceive as an egregious over-stepping of the Legislators jurisdiction in usurping power from the Board of Elections in a dangerously partisan manner, we the undersigned Democratic Party representatives urgently request an investigation to determine if improper or illegal actions have been performed by the County Legislators.
We also seek determination whether further action is appropriate or required to protect the independence of the Board of Elections. Specifically we ask if members of the Legislature or County Administration have committed offenses that warrant or demand their removal from office.
The following events stand as a basis for our concerns and as a justification for our request for your inquiry and/or opinion:
On July 19th, the Democratic Commissioner of Elections for Clinton County, John Brunell terminated the employment of Deputy Elections Commissioner Debra Bruno. He then hired a replacement and made a request of the County Legislature to approve the backfill.
Although they publicly acknowledged at both their August 8 and August 22, 2007 Board of Legislators meetings that they were aware that it was not within their jurisdiction to deny the backfill, and while they also publicly acknowledged at the same meetings that leaving the Board of Elections office with unequal representation is also not legal, they never-the-less voted 8-0 at their August 8, 2007 meeting to deny the backfill hiring of a new Democratic Deputy Commissioner. [Legislators Celine Paquette (R-Area 1, Champlain) and John Gallagher (D-Area 9, City of Plattsburgh) were absent.]
While the Democratic Deputy Commissioner’s post was vacant, the Republican Deputy Commissioner was allowed to continue working.
At the August 22nd meeting they again voted on the backfill, approving it by a vote of 7-3. Robert Heins (R-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh), Sam Trombley (R-Area 2, Ellenburg), and Jackie Walker, (R-Area 8, City and Town of Plattsburgh) again voted against the backfill.
Also at the August 22nd meeting, the Legislators sequestered themselves in executive session to “discuss a personnel issue.” The issue discussed was the possible removal of the Democratic Elections Commissioner. It is not clear to us that the Elections Commissioner fits the legal definition of “personnel” under the law and whether the executive session was in fact legal and proper under the “Open Meetings” law.
After executive session at the August 22nd meeting, they announced that a reading of Election Law by County Attorney Dennis Curtin stated that the Election Commissioner could not hold any additional elected position while being Commissioner. Based on that reading, and their belief that the Democratic Elections Commissioner’s position as part-time, appointed Assessor in the Town of Altona fit that description, they determined that the Democratic Elections Commissioner was serving illegally. They decided at the August 22nd meeting that he would need to be removed from the payroll and be sent a letter of explanation on the following day.
On the following day, August 23, 2007, instead of halting his pay and sending him a letter as determined and announced in the legislative session the evening before, the County Personnel Director and Deputy County Administrator--on orders from the Chair of the Legislature, Jimmy Langley--demanded Mr. Brunell’s keys and escorted him from the building.
A letter from Mr. Brunell’s attorney, Mark Schneider, to the County Attorney, Dennis Curtin, following Mr. Brunell’s removal noted that by the New York State Constitution only the Governor could remove an Elections Commissioner, and only after a hearing. The County stood by their decision and would not let Mr. Brunell back into his office until after he resigned from his part-time, appointed position as Assessor for the Town of Altona.
The Legislator’s determination to follow the law was extremely selective, in that they did not demand the Republican Commissioner leave the building, nor did they close the Board of Elections office to maintain equal representation, which they readily knew, and publicly acknowledged to be a violation.
On August 23rd, a Democratic Party representative presented to the Board of Elections office for assistance where no Democratic staff were present to assist him. A Republican representative employee assured him that she or the Republican Commissioner could help him saying, “We essentially all do the same work here.”
There can be nothing more basic to our freedom than fair elections. We feel that this process has been tainted by actions of members of the Clinton County Legislature.
Furthermore, the Democratic Party in Clinton County has suffered negative public attention that may have deleterious effects on our candidates in November’s elections. We therefore request an inquiry and opinion from your office in an expedited manner to set the record straight in popular opinion.
The public needs to know that the Democratic Commissioner of Elections and the Democratic Party have abided by the law, and if members of the Clinton County Legislature have perpetrated improper or illegal actions, this too should be known.
Most sincerely in the name of democracy and fair representation,
Tim Merrick, Chair (bio) (email)
City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
Larry Ross, Chair
Town of Altona Democratic Committee
June Levenson, Chair
Town of Peru Democratic Committee
Larry Begor, Chair
Town of Mooers Democratic Committee
Hilda Danforth, Chair
Town of Ellenburg Democratic Committee
Kathleen Ryan, Chair
Town of Champlain Democratic Committee
Staub Spiegel, Chair
Town of Chazy Democratic Committee
Sandra Senecal, Chair
Town of AuSable Democratic Committee
Pete Barber, Chair
Town of Dannemora Democratic Committee
Sherwood Parent, Chair
Town of Clinton Democratic Committee
Harold Ryan, Sgt. at Arms
Clinton County Democratic Committee
Mike Kelly, Ward 2 Chair
City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
Ed Connors, Ward 4 Chair
City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
Shirley O’Connell, Ward 5 Chair
City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
Bill Provost, Ward 6 Chair
City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
August 31, 2007
From: Tim Merrick, Chairman, City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
RE: Official Website Launch BernieFoSupervisor.com
Contact: Bernie Bassett (email)
Bernie Bassett has launched his officil bernie for supervisor web site. The site, buit with the help of Multi Media Marketing, is informative and allows oppotunity for involvement and participation.
Please visit: http://www.bernieforsupervisor.com
Chairman, City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party Committee
August 24, 2007
For immediate media release
FROM: Tim Merrick, Chairman, City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
RE: Clinton County Board of Elections and John Burnel
CONTACT: Tim Merrick, Party Chair: 518-566-8919 (bio) (email)
I stand before you today as the Chairman of the City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee, and more importantly, as a concerned citizen.
I am proud to be an American. I am proud of the freedoms we enjoy and the liberties we leave as a legacy to our children. I am proud that as an American I can stand here today and proclaim to you that our government has done wrong.
As you know, freedom is not free. It takes constant vigilance to preserve our democracy. Luckily, we have the guidance and wisdom of our founding fathers. Our Democracy is safe when we adhere to the system of law set forth in our Constitution.
However, I am deeply saddened—no that is not strong enough—I am offended and outraged that the laws of our State as set forth in the Constitution—the basis of our very freedom—have been broken—broken by our County Legislators.
These laws have been broken more than once. Two weeks ago they knowingly broke the law when they refused to approve the hiring of a Deputy Commissioner that would give equal representation in the Board of Elections office, as required by law.
Far more seriously, yesterday they removed an Elections Commissioner from office without due process. The Constitution of the State of New York clearly says that this can only be done by the Governor—and only after a hearing.
This megalomaniacal power grab by the legislature not only contraverts the letter of the law, but the intent of the law which is to protect free elections by keeping the partisan Legislature from being able to usurp power and authority the way they have just done.
Due to the seriousness of this action—perhaps I should say crime—I am calling on the Attorney General’s office to launch an investigation into whether criminal activities have taken place and whether any of the Legislators need be removed from office.
They took an oath to uphold the Constitution and they have betrayed the law and the citizen’s trust. It is my fervent hope that the citizens of Clinton County think long and hard about the Legislators’ willingness to take the law into their own hands when they vote this fall.
Chairman, City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party Committee
August 10, 2007
For immediate media release
FROM: City of Plattsburgh Democratic Committee
RE: City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party elects new Chairman
CONTACT: Tim Merrick, Party Chair: 518-566-8919 (bio) (email)
City of Plattsburgh Democrats redoubled their resolve and rejuvenated their ranks on Monday when forced to reorganize the party’s leadership. At a regularly scheduled meeting Kevin Duniho announced his retirement as City Democratic Party Chairman to pursue his education.
Previous Vice Chairman, Tim Merrick, who ran an energized race for State Senate last year, called a special meeting, where he was elected Chairman. Patty Bentley, past President of the Plattsburgh Chapter of the United University Professions, was picked for Vice Chair.
Mike Kelly, IT Director at Adirondack Medical Center and a strong candidate for City Council Ward 2, had volunteered to serve on the executive committee saying, "It's the busy people who change the world." The committee chose Merrick for Chair, based on his leadership and campaigning skills, enabling Kelly to keep busy as a candidate.
Incumbent Amy Valentine, Councilor in Ward 5, said, "I'm eager for and hopeful about the new leadership of the City Democratic Party. We have a strong slate of candidates representing the best in democratic values and a sincere desire to work hard to preserve and protect our quality of life."
“I’m happy to serve the Democratic Committee especially during this important local election cycle,” said Merrick. “It’s going to be another great year for Democrats. So many people feel that the Republican leadership model in America has let them down.”
City Democratic Ward Chair, Tim Carpenter, a favorite for City Council Ward 1, said after the meeting, "I am very proud of our city Democratic Committee. We met our challenge head on and have emerged a stronger group because of this. I have a lot of confidence in our leadership and direction and am looking forward to the upcoming election season."
Endorsed Democratic City Council candidates include Tim Carpenter, Ward 1; Mike Kelly, Ward 2; Henry Hart, Ward 3; Irving Breyette, Ward 4; Amy Valentine, Ward 5; and Chris Jackson, Ward 6. Also endorsed are John Gallagher, County Legislator Area 9; and Kimberly Kleist, County Treasurer.
28 Johnson St
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
