NYS Supreme Court Justice Paula Fereletto has handed yet another victory to Erie County Independence Party Chairperson Sandy Rosenswie. Justice Fereletto has ruled that only Chairperson Rosenswie has the right to choose a new Lackawanna IP Chairman. A group headed by Dennis Koziol had tried to vote in Anthony Mingarelli. But, the judge said that wasn’t legal because only the duly elected chairperson can make such appointments, according to the party’s bylaws.
Basically what had happened was that Dennis Koziol tried to use his influence in the Lackawanna IP Committee to vote in a Town Chairman. The IP rules specifically state that only the County Chairwoman can make that call. Once the County Chairwoman decides on a town Chairman then the Town Chairman must call a meeting within the town and by a majority vote of the elected town committee members, they elect the officers of the town. if a majority can’t be obtained then the town isn’t constituted and the control falls back to the County Executive Board.
According to the IP rules, the County Chairwoman isn’t required to appoint a town chairman and may simply appoint a search committee for selection of town candidates. This is usually used when their is a fight for control within the party and Orsini used this method every year he was in power. I expect honest, local town committee members to be appointed to each committee for candidate selections.
Never-the-less, The Orsini, Koziol, Mingarelli opposition to the current IP leadership has lost again in court. I expect they will lose any and all ability to endorse candidates in Erie County. It’s just a matter of time and another court battle.
