politics

Carl Paladino wants to be your next governor.

Frankly, I never heard of the guy until he announced his candidacy. 

Let's just say, his first impressions have not been favorable. He made a rather tasteless comment that Obama's health care reform would kill more Americans than the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We also learned that he apparently fathered a child out of wedlock 10 years ago.

Now come revelations by Buffalo blogger Alan Bedenko (his wife works in Batavia), who has exposed racist and pornographic (to put it mildly) e-mails Paladino forwarded to his political and civic associates. Click here, if you must, but keep in mind that even Bedenko's sanitized versions are not appropriate for children.

The images include screen shots (some parts blacked out) of pornographic movies, including one involving an animal, as well as blatantly racist shots at President Obama, such as a video of African tribesmen dancing under the caption "Obama inauguration rehearsal."

Here's what Paladino said about the e-mails, according to the New York Daily News:

"I confess to being human and imperfect, as are all of God's children," he told a Buffalo crowd Monday. "I am proud that I've created hundreds of jobs and opportunity for people of every ethnicity, color and sexual preference."

Paladino said he "didn't originate any of these e-mails" and was "somewhat careless" in forwarding them.

He said he tried to send the e-mails to "a very specific bunch of friends who somewhat enjoy that humor."

Paladino apologized to women for passing along porn -- but not men.

"I say this to the men out there who have never opened a graphic image on the Internet: Don't vote for me. For those who have, I welcome your vote," he said.

Paladino's campaign manager dismisses the revelation of the e-mails as "we think this is a smear campaign authorized by Democrats in Albany," according to the New York Times.

Paladino is running for the GOP nomination. The NY Daily News says he has ties to the Tea Party Movement.

UPDATE: Buffalo News has a pretty complete story on the topic of the e-mails. Apparently, Paladino thought he was being funny:

Paladino said Satalin referred to Bob Lanier, a Paladino friend and All-America center who led the Bonnies to the NCAA Final Four in 1970.

"He takes me to task, and I respond, "Jim, you've lost your humor,'" Paladino said, adding he was trying to explain he sent the items only for the sake of their humor.

UPDATE II: Now the Buffalo News reports that even tea party leaders want nothing to do with Paladino.

And in Albany this morning, the same Tea Party Express group that staged a rally at Erie Canal Harbor on Monday distanced itself from Paladino — who just a day ago was emerging as a key ally of tea party groups.

"You've seen the emails ... so what makes you think we would support him? That's absolutely incompatible with anything we stand for," said Mark Williams, the group's chairman.

"Pornographic, racist e-mails. How do you think that we would ever support something like that?"

I have not posted a blog entry in a while and was feeling it was long overdue. As most of you know I began blogging on The Batavian when I was running for LeRoy Town Council last fall. I continued blogging on The Batavian because it is an excellent forum for which to discuss what is going on in our world.

I am blogging today to announce (in case you haven't heard) that I am running for Trustee in the Village of LeRoy in the local March elections. Many of the issues that I ran on for Town Council are cross over issues that remain valid and important to the Village of LeRoy as well. I have blogged here in the past on most of the campaign issues. Most of you have also already read about my credentials in a past blog. I don't want to waste your valuable time by repeating myself.

The bottom line is that I believe in the Village of LeRoy and its future. I continue to want to be a part of the solutions and not a part of the problems. It is my goal to be YOUR voice on the Village Board! Everyone deserves to be heard and deserves equal representation regardless of any demographic factors. Please feel free to post comments, questions, and concerns here. If you do not feel comfortable with this open forum then feel free to contact me at my new/private campaign e-mail:

Keys4Trustee@rochester.rr.com.

I have begun knocking on your doors in this lovely Western New York in February weather and look forward to knocking on more.

As always, thank you for your time and consideration!

I hope you have taken a look at the LeRoy Pool Poll from Sunday's LeRoy Penny Saver, and maybe even filled it out.

I'm curious to know what everyone's thoughts are on the poll?

I've heard some interesting feedback already, such as why do we have to fill out our names and addresses, asking if you are a homeowner or if you rent could make people feel that their opinion may be weighted or even discounted based on the answer, what about those who may be don't own or rent but who are old enough to have an opinion and to contribute to the economy, it sounds negative and doesn't focus on the earning potential...

What are your thoughts? Do you think it hits the topics? Do you think it accomplishes the purpose? Do you have any thoughts about specific questions? Is it thorough enough? Is it confusing?....

As always, I look forward to the enlightening conversation and thank you in advance for your participation.

I'm very curious to know your thoughts on sidewalks.

What do you think about sidewalks? What do sidewalks say about a community? Are some sidewalks more important than others? What is your favorite kind of a sidewalk (slate, brick, cement, dirt path...)?

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my opponent for Le Roy Town Council, 2-year term, Kelly Lathan, on her win this evening. I will be calling you tomorrow (thought it kind of rude to call this late as your daughter might be sleeping).

Thank you so much to every one who helped and supported me with my campaign. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet so many new people and hear their concerns. This has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to many more.

My name is Darryl Sehm and I am seeking the position of LeRoy Town Justice in the upcoming November 3rd election.

I have lived quietly in LeRoy for over 40 years and recently retired from a 34 year career in Law Enforcement.  I served 7 years as a Police Officer, 13 years as a Detective, 10 years as a Detective Sergeant, and the last 4 and 1/2 years as Chief of Police.

It was an honor and a privilege helping people in the community with their problems on

a daily basis.  It was very satisfying to be able to resolve conflicts, solve crimes and help restore some sense of order to victims' lives. 

I still have a strong desire to serve the public.  As I neared retirement I contemplated the idea of running for Town Justice sometime in the future.  This would allow me to continue to serve the public, except this time I would be able to serve the community in which I live.  This would provide me an opportunity to give something back to LeRoy.

If elected, I pledge to protect the rights of the people, be a stabilizing presence in LeRoy Town Court, and to be fair and impartial in the administration of justice. 

I was just recently endorsed by the Genesee County Deputy Sheriff's Association.  These are the road patrol Deputies that work throughout the County, including the Town of LeRoy and who assist the Village of LeRoy Police.  I was honored by their support and I feel it clearly demonstrates their faith in my ability to serve as a LeRoy Town Justice.  That being said, I feel it is my obligation to hold all police to a high standard in court if I am elected. 

During this campaign, I have knocked on the doors of over 2,000 residences in LeRoy.  It has been an honor to listen to the questions and opinions of so many people on their doorstep. 

I would greatly appreciate your support on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Darryl Sehm  

Dear Friends and Neighbors of the 8th District,

We are nearing the end of the campaign season and by Election Day I’ll have knocked on every door in the 8th District.  It has been a long and interesting road but meeting and talking with you has made it all worth the effort. 

Over the course of the campaign we have discussed balance, oversight and transparency as being the essential ingredients to an efficient and open government and it is plain to see how much you and I really believe in them.  So, today, I would like to put all of the campaign talking points and issues discussions aside and let you know what your vote means to me.

I believe that your vote is a distinctly personal thing. Your vote means that you believe in my ability to successfully represent you and your ideals with the energy and tenacity that you deserve.  For six months now I have represented the 8th District as a private citizen.  Many of you have witnessed firsthand my willingness to make phone calls, write letters and elevate the issues that are important to you.  As your Legislator, I intend to continue this work and to treat your family as if they were my own.

I believe your vote is a measure of thanks for the time I spent on your doorstep discussing your concerns.  I will commit to you now as much of my time as you need to continue our discussions.  I will not disappear from your neighborhood, like most politicians, until the next election season when I need your vote again. Instead I will continue to walk the Wards I represent and hear what you have to say.  I will actively represent you and your ideas.

I believe that your vote is, at its core, a gift.  I will not take it lightly or treat it with disdain.  If you see fit to give me your vote, I will, in turn, give you the very best of myself.  I will give you the full measure of my time and effort, but more importantly, I will offer you an open door, an open ear and an open mind.

So I am asking you, the people of the 8th District, to give me your vote.  Rest assured, that I will cherish, honor it, and treat it with all of the dignity and respect that it, and you, deserve.

Sincerely,

Chris Charvella

We still have our election survey online (link below).

PLEASE READ: I have invalidated at least HALF of the surveys cast so far.  People are not following the instructions. If you say you're voting for one candidate for County Legislature in District 7 and then also select a candidate in District 8, I'm throwing out your survey.  That is by far the biggest reason for invalidating a survey.  I've also invalidated surveys for voting in every jurisdiction.

Also note that I've only included in the survey races that are competitive. For jurisdictions or districts that have candidates running unopposed, there are no survey questions.

var PDF_surveyID = '290AD911A70E920F'; var PDF_openText = 'View Survey';

A local gun-rights lobby group likes what it sees in seven of the 11 candidates standing for election to the County Legislature on Nov. 3.

The Genesee County chapter of SCOPE (Shooters Committee On Political Education) ranked five of the candidates "highly favorable," including two running in competitive seats.

Democrat hopeful Chris Charvella, running for the District 8 seat received a "highly favorable" rating, while his opponent, incumbent Republican Hollis Upson notched a "favorable" rating.

In the District 7 race, Republican Robert Radley scored "highly favorable" while Democrat Rose Mary Christian was ranked "favorable."

The ratings were the result of a survey SCOPE asked each candidate to complete.

Two current county legislators up for re-election, but running unopposed, were classified "requires education on the issue."  They were Mary Pat Hancock and Anne Lawrence.

Ed DeJaneior and Esther Leadley did not respond to the survey, according to SCOPE.

Also receiving "highly favorable" ratings were Ray Cianfrini, Jay Grasso and Charles Zambito.

Also, SCOPE announced that John O., of Genesee County, won the group's raffle. The prize was a Thompson Triumph Black Powder Rifle.

If anyone knows Rose Mary Christian better than anyone, it's me, her daughter. Throughout the years I have seen my mom tackle tough issues, read council packet after council packet, and always accept calls from city-wide residents who call my mom for her help because they know she gets things done.

From when I was little, I always remember my mom being involved with community things and helping people. She has been a Brownie leader, a softball coach, assisted families that needed a helping hand, volunteered for numerous things and causes, she orchestrated and accomplished sending close to 50 parents of deceased Vietnam veterans who were killed in action to visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall, and most importantly she has been a wonderful mother.

I have multiple sclerosis and there was no MS support group for people in Genesee County. In 2007, my mom is the person who initially contacted the right people to get a group started, and now, our group of about 12 members, called "Miracle Strides" has been running successfully and making great strides ever since. This group has been so beneficial for all its members. My mom has also turned out to be quite the nurse by giving me my weekly injections of the medicine that I take.

My mother has never put Council before her family, but let me tell you, being in the position she is in, people can be very demanding of her at numerous places. Whether it be at a restaurant while we're having dinner, at a grocery store, clothes shopping, and even church, yes, church. People all the time stop my mom and want to talk politics, see where she stands on the issues, or what she's going to do about that or this. No matter what, she always takes the time to answer the questions and discusses people's concerns.

When you or a loved one is in politics, you need to have tough skin. Tough skin we both have, and I have her to thank. Thank you mom for being the person you are and always being there to help me and so many others. I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished. Of course, no doubt, you have my vote Nov. 3 for county Legislature!

My name is Jennifer Keys and I am a candidate for Town Council in Le Roy. I am running for office because I strongly believe that community involvement and public service are intrinsic responsibilities of citizens.  My husband and I chose Le Roy to raise our family for it’s unique qualities -- strong school district, beautiful picturesque village and rural values. We plan on making this community our home for many, many years to come.

I hold a Master’s degree in World History and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Political Science.   I left my full time job as a Care Coordinator at St. Joseph’s Villa to raise my family.  I also worked at Berkshire Farms as a respite care provider and as an adjunct instructor at Monroe Community College.

My community service experience includes my membership on the Le Roy PTSO, YWCA mentor program, former PAC-TAC (Police and Citizens Against Crime) volunteer scheduler,  former Rape Crisis Counselor and a Faith Haven “Friend” to teenage and young adult women in crisis pregnancies.  I also founded a neighborhood watch organization in the Swillburg neighborhood in Rochester, where we lived for 12 years.

While communities across NY have had unique challenges because of the recession, I also see opportunities for Le Roy and Western NY.  My issues include: economic development, where I see the empty storefronts and hope that we can attract locally owned businesses, “Green” energy integration, recreation (and particularly mitigating the Le Roy municipal pool to a conclusion that satisfies the community’s needs), and of course most of all, listening to the concerns of Le Roy citizens.  I feel that I can also bring budget and fiscal sound policies to the table.

The key to good government is an open dialog with the citizens.  If elected, I will make that a priority.

Invitations were extended to all Council at Large candidates and those running for County Legislature.  No speeches but just the opportunity to listen to the concerns of seniors and to offer suggestions or promises of help.

In a decision that allowed Batavia City Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian to receive unemployment benefits after her termination from Wal-Mart, an administrative law judge in Buffalo found that Christian's supervisor previously let employees eat damaged food items.

Mark Sokolowski said he found the testimony of Christian about the matter more credible than the testimony of the Wal-Mart representative, who is not named in Sokolowski's ruling.

Rose Mary Christian, who is a candidate for District 7 County Legislature, dropped a copy of the ruling off at The Batavian's office this afternoon. Christian's termination from Wal-Mart became a public issue when former Democrat Tim Paine provide an e-mail to local media where Christian admits to fellow council members that Wal-Mart let her go.  Paine is admittedly disgruntled over what he sees as Christian blocking his plan to run for City Council this year.

The ruling states:

"Although the claimant acknowledged that she was aware that she was supposed to scan a damaged item and throw it out, since the claimant's supervisor allowed deli associates to eat damaged food items as samples, I am not persuaded that the claimant was aware that she placed her job in jeopardy when she ate a piece of cake on January 26, 2008," Sokolowski wrote. "It is also significant that the claimant was not the first associate to eat a piece of cake, reinforcing to the claimant that it would be okay to eat the cake. At worst the claimant used poor judgment when she ate a piece of cake on January 26, 2008, however her poor judgment in this instance does not rise to the level of misconduct within the meaning of the Unemployment Insurance Law."

"Accordingly," he adds, "I conclude that he claimant was separated from her employment under non-disqualifying circumstances."

Sokolowski overturned a prior Department of Labor finding that Christian was not qualified for unemployment benefits because of her termination.

If elected, he will not serve.

Byron Town Supervisor Tom Felton announced at a recent Town Board meeting that even though he's a candidate for another two-year term as supervisor, he's decided he's done with town politics.

"Over the last few weeks, there have been a series of events that have discouraged me greatly with this position," Felton said in a statement he wanted read into the record of the meeting minutes.  "In order to combat the negativity of a handful of individuals in the Town, I will need to spend considerably more time defending the half truths and misinformation that this group has the time to spread in the community."

Fellow board member John Ivison said that he didn't want to speak for Felton -- who was not available for comment this morning -- but among the issues that have come up recently is some people in town are saying there's a move afoot to consolidate with Byron and Elba.

Ivison said two board members from each of the towns have met three times in 2008 to share information about how the towns operate. Topics have included how to deal with snow plows, infrastructure, planning and budgeting.

The meetings, he said, were purely information sharing and not designed to start a discussion about consolidation.

"It's been blown out of proportion by a few people," Ivison said.

The big issue, as Ivison sees it, is that this kind of small-town politics is what keeps talented and capable people from serving on town boards.

Felton, a bank vice president, was picked to fill a vacancy on the town board three years ago. Then, when the Supervisor position became vacant mid-term, he was appointed to that position.

In his statement, Felton said he wasn't an eager candidate for another two-year term from the beginning.

"Earlier this year, I met with the Republican committee and hesitantly agreed to fill another two-year term, if and only if they could not find anyone else qualified for the position," Felton said. "After our meeting, I was endorsed by this group. Since that time another individual has expressed his interest in the position, and as you know, both he and I will be on the ballot in November. "

If Felton wins the race, he said, the board will have to appoint a replacement. He will not serve as supervisor in 2010, he said. Rather than deal with the politics of the position, Felton said he would rather spend more time with his family and on his career.

Full statement after the jump:

I would like to enter these comments for the record.

My priorities are and will remain to be family first, profession second, and community third. Three years ago, I was elected to fill a vacancy on the Town Board, after a year and 9 months I was appointed to fill the vacant position of Town Supervisor. These terms both end 12/31/09. Earlier this year, I met with the Republican committee and hesitantly agreed to fill another two-year term, if and only if they could not find anyone else qualified for the position. After our meeting, I was endorsed by this group. Since that time another individual has expressed his interest in the position, and as you know, both he and I will be on the ballot in November. 

Over the last few weeks, there have been a series of events that have discouraged me greatly with this position, and in order to combat the negativity of a handful of individuals in the Town, I will need to spend considerably more time defending the half truths and misinformation that this group has the time to spread in the community.

In addition to my full-time employment, I have spent 10-20 hours/wk in my capacity as Supervisor (mostly evenings and weekends), and with the assistance of this Board, we were able to make some positive change for the Town. There is a tremendous amount of work that still needs to happen in order to improve this Town. With that said, I wish to inform the public that I will complete my term through 12/31/09 but I will not be your Supervisor in 2010. I plan to spend more time with the two things in my life that bring me great joy and satisfaction — my family and my profession. If the community votes for me, it will be up to the Board to appoint a person to this leadership position, as it is too late to remove my name from the ballot.

I wish you all well and thank you for allowing me to serve you.