Last night, amid all the Ice Arena turmoil, the Hamburg Republican Committee met and decided on their candidates running for Hamburg Town Offices this year. Insider information has told me that there is increasing discontent within the Republican Town Committee about how these endorsements have been chosen. Many RP Committee members are still very loyal to former RP Town Chairman Mark Cuda and these people are apparently very upset with the new guy.
I’m being told “confidentially” that the current selections were almost shoved down the throats of the committee and many are unhappy with the process of the selection. This has nothing to do with the candidates, only that the committee is becoming very split among loyalties.
I for one can say that Mark Cuda built a huge multi-party consensus while he was Chairman and I can also confirm the dismantling of that multi-party consensus by the new guy. I have said recently that I give Supervisor Walters an 80% approval rating and I do want to support him for re-election this year. However, this is getting a bit sticky with the endorsement of Amy Ziegler as a candidate for Town Council.
If any of you bother to read back a couple years on this blog, you will see that Amy Ziegler, Chief Clerk for NY Supreme Court Justice Fred Marshall, was a principal in the decision to stymie our IP attempts to oust Tony Orsini as IP Chairman. We actually could prove beyond any doubt that Orsini was never elected as Chairman and the reorganization meeting was a sham. Amy Ziegler refused to set a date on Marshall’s calender for our lawyer Jim Ostrowski to argue this case.
In the end we received a letter from Ziegler telling us Judge Marshall was refusing to hear the case altogether, and we would have to go to the appeals process just to get our day in court. For this reason, I will never get on board with Ziegler and I will most likely be her most adamant opponent and objector.
Her endorsement last night could very well spill over onto their remaining candidates just out of principal. I will have to discuss the matter with our IP County Chairwoman on the best way to proceed with these other endorsements.
Dave Bellissimo, owner of We Folks Day Care, was the second of three endorsements for Town Council. I don’t know him but welcome to all the political BS that is now coming your way.
Brian Wittmeyer of Blasdell was the third. I have no idea as of yet what he does for a living.
The RP Committee has refused to endorse Judge Gorman for re-election because his son is runing for Town Council with the Demoncrats. So there is a vacancy in that slot if anyone is willing to give it a shot.
Sorry to say, the RP has dug thenselves into a hole. Amazing how far they have fallen in just six short months since they removed Mark Cuda as Chairman.
Mark Cuda was a successful chairman. Next moment he is gone. What gives?
Ford…..who is the chairman? and why do you call the “new guy”? why don’t u state his name?
It’s a made-up name
CHUCKY MOR Grid lock
My understanding is that the committee had questions about the process, but when the vote took place, the members were very unified in their three selections. I haven’t heard much about the three selected, but the word is that they were very impressive with their interviews and with their speeches to the committee. Word is that only a few members are upset and mostly because they or a family member was not selected.
Morlock. His name is Chuck Morlock.
Are you sure? Sounds like a made up name!
Is this the same Morlock who is attempting to purge Jack Kemp’s
former Chief of Staff Russ Gugino?
Russ Gugino, a life-long Republican who raised $ 1.3 million
Dollars($1,300,000) for John McCain.
Russ Gugino who is a spokesman for the Kemp family during
the services for Jack.
If it is, Morlock,Gugino has forgotten more about Republicanism
than you could ever learn!
YOU MEAN THE LOSER THAT BRING THE CRONIES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE COYOTE CAFE PUTS TWO TABLES TOGETHER AND ORDERS WATER WHILE THEY CRAFT THERE MAGIC AND BETWEEN EIGHT GROWN BABIES THEY LEAVE AN AVERAGE TIP OF .90 CENTS A PIECE ? NOW YOU KNOW WHY THERE IS A $20 MINIMUM CHARGE AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT AND I HAVE TO EAT MY BURRITO STANDING UP! BUT I WOULDN’T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM A FENCE PAINTER …WATCH OUT MAMMOSERS!!!
JG, I have to disagree with you. i have heard from multiple sources that the committee is so split that the former chairman wouldn’t even go to the meeting. My guess is he wanted the new chairman to try and work things out for himself. From what I understand the split between loyalties is very big and the Hamburg RP committee is barely holding things together.
I knew this would happen last December after Cuda was removed. The fear of everyone is being realized. The Dems now have a legitimate shot at taking control of the town council back. a year ago I would have laughed at anyone making that statement.
Dennis, the answer to your question is simple. The RP as a county whole has always believed that they need no help, and that they, and only they, receive the benefits of winning elections. Cuda went against this philosophy and put the local IP, CP and the RP together in a tight coalition. When the coalition took control of the council, Cuda handed out seats on various town advisory boards, to their faithful coalition members.
Enough of the RP Committee was so upset that they didn’t get all the advisory board seats, that they ousted Cuda. It didn’t help Cuda when he endorsed Tom Best for a position on the council that many other Republicans wanted, and then Cuda turned around and endorsed Democrat Cathy Rybczynski for clerk. Many in the RP thought the posts belonged to the RP and could care less that Best and Rybzynski were the best candidates for the job.
So at the end of Cuda’s term as Chairman, he was told not to run again or face a humiliating defeat. So in comes Morlock and out goes the coalition. If the RP wants to do this by themselves then fine. They hang themselves with the decisions of Morlock as far as I care. I only would like to see Walters survive this election because I think he deserves it.
Yes Walters has made some small mistakes, but in the end we have had tax decreases for two straight years. No thanks to Morlock! Those tax decreases are compliments of Walters and Cuda, who drafted them.
Ford, I am just reporting what I heard. I heard that the three candidates won by an overwhelming majority. The top candidate was nearly unanimous and the third, Ziegler, beat the fourth by a substantial margin. I also heard that the committee meeting started with some dissention, but ended with all but a very few coming together behind the candidates.
What would you expect they are , after all, Republicans!
As will Rogers said:
I belong to no organized party, I am a Democrat!
I’m sure that’s the spin on it. No party ever wants the dissent made public, I only report the info I get. This stuff is coming from people who are considered to be at the top.
First Mark Cuda wasn’t removed! He moved up within the RP
I believe you and hope you’re right, but there is no disputing the numbers of the votes the candidates received. My source says Wittmeyer 50something(?), Bellissimo 40something(?), Ziegler 30something(?), with the next candidate getting 20 and the final getting 5. The dems are having a primary, so I hope you’re right that there is some disarray in the GOP. If not, I think they retain control. If they get Walters re-elected, they only need one board victory.
The whole Republican strategy revolves around the
invincibility of Steve Walters.
Gaughan on top, Gorman, Collins and Kowalski
smokes them!
Anonymous, I have told a lot of people here and I’ll say it once more. make a screen name so we know it’s you when you post. This posting as “anonymous” creates problems when trying to have a conversation.
Second, yes he moved up in the RP, but his leaving the local chairmanship wasn’t his idea from what I have been told. I watched helplessly as the new leader pissed off everyone and anyone who said no to him. Cuda knew how to work a crowd and make people feel like they were doing the right thing, even when it may have been more beneficial to the RP then to their own party.
Cuda sits on the Executive Board of the Erie County RP and the Executive Board of the local RP, but I’m told he was pushed out of the Chairman’s seat very boldly. Never-the-less it’s in Morlock’s hands now and the coalition is gone.
JG, you’re right, that’s the big deal. That’s why I think Morlock is so adamant against cross endorsements and deal making. He wants just one seat to retain control and he thinks he can do it alone. The problem is, he needs help to win it. Even Walters needs help right now. Walters was elected only after the stars aligned and the heavens opened. Had Cuda not put the coalition together then Walters falls short. Even Smardz needed a lot of help to win. Without IP help of any kind, unlike the last two elections, and the CP making other moves for themselves, it could be very difficult for the RP to win that last seat.
Think about it for a minute. Walters had the benefit of a huge tax revolt started by Primary Challenge, that I was a founding member of. He had a 12 year incombent with a lot of “freinds and Family” to attack, and he had the IP, CP and RP all working together. Not to mention that the Primary Challenge candidate, Jim Liegl, took up campaign office with him and helped with literature drops and othe campaign activities four years ago. Now Walters is the target, with only two small tax decreases to defend him and many issues, like the fire departments, to attack him on. That’s a big change in four years.
I told Morlock earlier this year that If I’m against him its all the way. All I have to do to defeat his council candidates is to run very conservative minded candidates on the IP line and take from the RP base votes. Then either the IP candidate may win or we take enough votes to put the council back in the hands of the Demoncrats.
Some times you must burn down your political house to save the fundamental foundation, I’m willing to do that at this point. If the Demoncrats regain control of the council, then I foresee Morlock out and possibly Cuda back in and our coalition back together. I don’t want to do that unless absolutely necessary, but I don’t see Morlock making peace at this point. Just by endorsing Amy Zeigler is a huge slap in our face as I said earlier.
Do what you think is right Ford! Too much maneuvering by the GOP
based on the Belief that Walters is unbeatable.
Like atheists, what if they’re wrong?
Make the peace Ford! Only you can do it! Take the IP
endorsement and represent us!
Interesting. I dont know much yet about the candidates, but it would be interesting to see these two guys, Wittmeyer and Bellissimo, taken down by their own party’s third candidate, Ziegler. It seems she is a polarizing candidate and could hurt the other two, whether they have any real involvement with her or not. Im looking forward to more info. about all of them.
Researching the canididates shows nothing in Google about Brian, nothing on David Bellissimo, a little about Amy Ziegler (Salary: $116,314).
On the Democrat side googling dennis guaghan goes on page after page, I have to drive by the Dennis Guaghan memorial highway sign on Rt 20 and I have 5 refrigerator magnets on my refrigerator door. Patricia Michalek shows labor strife at St Mary’s school for the deaf. Vincent Gugglizza stated over a month ago that the candidate is Patricia Michalk. Nothing on the web about the Democratic council candidates.
Ed, that should tell you something!
No one has more name recognition than DG.
John Gorman and Joe Collins are not far behind.
Only Kowalski I ever heard of was”Killer” Kowalski’
the wrestler from Brocton, Massachusetts, Rocky
Marciano’s hometown.
Marvin Hagler was from Brocton too!
Saying there was labor strife at St. Mary’s is like saying a woman is a little pregnant or that Abe Lincoln is a little dead.
The teachers at ST.Mary’s voted “no confidence ” by 87% on dear Patty.
Her firing of the immensely popular Nettie Brewer was the last straw.
Is Sorrentino so desperate that he repeats his 1995 mistake by
bypassing another DG?
Vinny G ’s work ethic and voter appeal are both below standard.
John Gorman, if he works, will cruise.
Joe collins would be a great pick.
I still think you should run for Council on the IP line (single endorsed).
Make them grovel Ford!
Rumor has it that Patricia Michalek is a candidate for
a spot at Hopevale. Mrs. Billy Stachowski runs Hopevale!
Hamburg Supervisor may be her fallback position.
I just checked husband Michalek’s salary from being judge. (136,700) plus he receives $5,000 for a clothing fee (a judicial robe – can you believe it – $5k). I think a Democratic primary is excellent for the RP.
So did the GOP in 1936 when they telephoned polled
and thought Alf Landon was a cinch to beat FDR.
Patricia Michalek contributed $ 150.00 to the
Erie County REPUBLICAN Finance Committee
on December 18, 2007 according to ECBOE records.
She can’t be all bad!
Steve Walters held a successful fundraiser at Romanellos last night that appeared to be well attended. He introduced the three candidates for town council, Bellissimo, Whitmeyer, and Ziegler. From what I saw and heard, Bellisimo seems to be flying under the radar, while the questions still persist about Ziegler. I don’t know this Brian Whitmeyer from Adam, but I seemed to be the only one. There was a buzz about him and it appeared that he knew everyone in the room My wife said he is a Blasdell and Frontier guy and he seemed nice. Not that that means anything. She also heard he’s been friends with the younger Gorman for a long time which is funny since they’re running against each other.
What is any self-respecting “Union Rep” doing at a
Republican function? Worse, saying anything nice about
members of a Party which is opposed to CARD CHECK!
Sir, this is as disgraceful as the Working Families Party
endorsing Patricia Michalek!
Patricia Michalek . This would be a cruel joke if it weren’t so true.
Hank, Ziegler comes close to Michalek’s husband’s salary so you have no argument.
Ziegler is just another opportunistic political hack and a guaranteed loser this election. That’s all she ever was or ever will be.
Why don’t you run Ford? We need a real reformer like you in government!
Does Ziegler currently hold another position in town government?
Will disgruntled Republican candidates stage a primary against Chuckie’s four horsemen?
Is the town going to explode?
Tune in next week, same time same place for the next episode of Hamburg: Exposed! to find out.
Walters reelected. Gorman, Gaughan & Belissimo win town council. RP keeps majority. My prediction for the Fall election.
Walters wins easily. Council races will depend on Conservative endorsement. If Belissimo gets Conservative endorsement he will be top vote getter. Gorman and Gaughan have too many skeletons to win a town race.
Gaughan can have alot of skeletons. When he walks into a room things change. Very few have this affect in life on other people. That’s why he succeeds in a tough business.
That prediction from “prediction” might very well be true. It will at least be interesting to see how everything shakes out.
Haha. Interesting prediction, especially since Gaughan isn’t running for town council
The odds are better. If Patricia Michaelk is the candidate for supervisor. Why wouldn’t he run for town counsel were he has a one in three chance.
He would then be the swing vote with two regular RP and 2 regular DP. This is better than Supervisor he is controlling vote – ask tom Best.
How about a Dem sweep! Gaughan will hammer Michalek in a primary if
Jimmy makes the same mistake he did during the !995 Gorski- Swarts battle.
Curious that both Gaughan and Gorski have the same initials.
Gaughan plan for a fiscally sound Hamburg is a work of genius.
Dem committee rumored to have been wowed by his presentation
at endorsement interview.
Labor support for Michalek will be non-existent!
Leon, that is the first time I ever heard Dennis and genius used in the same sentence. Are you sure you don’t have him confused with his cousin Kevin or Paul?
Not a chance Mary, anyone who knows Dennis Gaughan would never confuse him with his two cousins.
Dennis knows his stuff. He knows more about effective government
than the whole lot combined.
Gaughan is much too talented for an entry level position.
This guy has vision, passion, a wealth of experience and he
has spent a lifetime caring. He was born for this spot.
We need info on Whitmeyer looks like he may be a diamond in the rough.
Ol Whit may be just a piece of coal who got squeezed hard enough to sparkle!
We must bring the Cuda back to the throne.
How about a council of Jeff Walker, Gary Klumpp and Ford Beckwith?
No; No; YES
Thank You Leon, I would love nothing more than to run for council with no primary on the IP line. However, I have some pressing financial issues that need resolving before this can happen. I expect those issues to be completely resolved by the end of June. If that is the case then I MAY run for Council. Otherwise, it’s out of the question.
I expect the IP to endorse Gary Klump for Council. He has a lot of support from the towns kids sports organizations and is a good fit for someone who is objective.
I also expect at least one other IP to run. I can’t put out the name just yet, because I don’t want this person harrassed befor ethe decision is made.
Run Klump Run!
Financial Problems? See Dennis Gaughan. I’m not kidding.
Ford here’s hoping you do! Your leadership is badly needed.
If things get real bad, make the peace with Dennis Gaughan.
Fixing financial problems is what he does best!
By the way, Google St.Mary’s School for the Deaf. Very
interesting expose on procurement practices there by the
State Education Dept.
You would never guess whose watch this was on!
THAT’S RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PATRICIA MICHALEK
My buddy is a Hamburg cop and he says the cops are behind Whitmyer. I guess he went to Frontier with a few of them. He aslo said Whitmyer is tight with Jack Quinn whic cant hurt.
How do you spell WHITTMYRE?
This Witt guy has had his name spelled at least 3 different
ways. How does he spell it?
Its spelled Wittmeyer and if you Google his name you will find that he is a local physical therapist and that he ran in the Shamrock Run.
So he manipulates people and runs! Great preparation for
a Hamburg Republican!