Just doing some thinking out loud. I want to say up front that I could be very wrong on the scenario I present here. All this is based on my observations and conversations over the last few months. Never-the-less, it’s all very interesting.
If all holds true and Dennis Gaughan doesn’t get the Demon-cratic endorsement for Hamburg Supervisor, can he then win a Primary election for the line on the November ballot? That is a good question and the answer isn’t a simple one.
Here is my analysis of the situation as it stands right now. Should Dennis get the endorsement tonight then this is an exercise in futility.
The chance of him winning comes down to party politics at its worst. As I see it, there are two factions of Demon-crats in Hamburg right now. There are the Sorrentino Demon-crats and the Lenny Lenihan Demon-crats. Dennis seems to be on the outs with both sides, but why?
Well obviously, he must be on the bad side of Sorrentino or he would be the obvious candidate for the spot and Sorrentino would stand by his long time cronie. But that isn’t happening. Sorrentino is reportedly going with Patty Michalek instead. Patty and her husband are long time, very influential County Demon-crats.
This may be a peace offering from Sorrentino to Lenihan after Sorrentino sided against Lenihan for the Demon-cratic County Chairmanship, when Sorrentino supported Frank Max for the Chairmanship. By endorsing Patty, Sorrentino could be trying to show Lenihan that he can get back in line with the County Demon-crats. But then again, Sorrentino may feel Dennis is a losing proposition. Only Sorrentino knows the answer to that one.
Now …. Lenihan is reportedly, very aggravated with the Gaughan family, not necessarily Dennis alone. But Why? Well…. A year ago Mary Rose, Dennis’s wife, was supported by Lenihan and the County Dems to oust Tony Orsini from his IP State Committee Seat. Mary subsequently won without a fight and Tony Orsini was out. This was a stab at Orsini and re-payment for supporting Frank Max’s attempt at the Demon-cratic County Chairmanship over Lenihan.
No sooner than Mary took her seat on the IP State Committee, then the IP State Chairman, Frank McKay, goes against typical state organization principal, and hands Orsini a spot on the State IP Executive Board. Orsini got the spot even though he was never elected to the State Committee. Then Frank McKay tells all the Erie County members, to the IP State Committee, to get back in line behind Orsini. This was an effort to save Orsini’s County Chairmanship.
After all the help Mary had getting her spot on the IP State Committee and even after aligning herself with the reform minded local IP members preparing to oust Orsini from the County Chair, Mary left all that behind and got back in line with Orsini as McKay ordered. So now Lenihan is obviously pissed that his efforts to help remove the Orsini influence from politics in Erie County have been sidelined for a while. Even though Mary Rose isn’t entirely to blame for Orsini’s nine lives, she is being held accountable for abandoning the effort. So obviously Lenihan isn’t happy with Mary Rose and subsequently her husband Dennis is suffering the consequences for it.
So what does Dennis have going for him? Why would he even consider running if both sides are mad at him? Because he is in perfect position to take advantage of the on-going feud between Lenihan and Sorrentino. If the Lenihan Demon-crats are positioning to primary all Sorrentino’s endorsements, then it would be the perfect time to rally the troops and go after the Supervisors spot on the coat-tails of the other primaries.
Dennis still has quite a few freinds on the local Demon-cratic Town Committee. He also has a lot of freinds locally from his law practice. So….. should he decide to primary the endorsed candidate, I think he could win in a squeaker. Yes it would be a close primary, but YES, Dennis could win. Only in a time when two party factions are fighting each other could this ever happen and this is the perfect time to take advantage of that scenario.
Dennis isn’t a bad guy and I have given him a lot of shit over the years, but the reality is he is very popular within the community. I hammered him over the money situation in Blasdell, but Hell, I hammer everyone who does stupid shit and gets caught. Don’t forget, I gave my friend, Supervisor Steve Walters, a shit load of grief over the Ice Arena fiasco. So don’t take my comments about Dennis as if I don’t like him. As long as he can keep Mary Rose on the straight and narrow during this primary race, then I think he has a very good chance to win the primary election.
Regardless of how this race turns out, it will be a blast to watch it unfold!
Ford, I heard that Jewett never even showed up at the meeting and that Vinny G and Gaughn walked out of the meeting because they weren’t the handpicked candidates. Any truth to this?
And what is the obsession with Len Kowalski, the guy barely lifted a finger when he ran last year and now they choose him over Vinny? Other than being Randy Hoak’s favorite, what has he done for the Democrats to demand such a position?
Gaughan will cruise!
Let’s hope the WNY Puppeteer engineered the IP and Cons.
for Patty.
It’s time for hardball Hamburg style!
WNY Puppteer?
WNY Puppeteer A/K/A Vincent J Sorrentino
I can verify that. Dennis Gaughan walked out after Sorrentino and Hoak would not let individual votes be cast for candidates. The only option offered by the Hoak-Sorrentino faction was their slate. I give Dennis credit for speaking up. he said out loud, “if you want a devisive election, only put up a slate.” I guess thats what the Dems want.
Don’t they have to ask if there are any other slates for endorsement? I think Roberts Rules requires it. Only then can a vote be called. This could be grounds for a lawsuit and Dennis is very good at that kind of thing.
If Robert’s Rules requires it, they didn’t do it. Poor Vinny Guigliuzza; he poured his heart out about how betrayed he felt for not getting the endorsement over Len Kowalski; he had people speak up for him at the meeting and ask that he be voted on for an endorsement, and he was stonewalled by Hoak, Sorrentino, & Co.
Look for primaries from Dennis Gaughan, Ted Casey, and Vinny G. I think Joe Collins and Lenny Kowalski are weak.
And who knows if Blasdell’s Mayor, i.e. Dirty Ernie, shows up too!
Now if only someone would primary Legislator Kozub!
What the hell does an endorsement mean anyway?
Nothing.
Do Jim Sorrentino and Randall Hoak understand that they will be committing a crime if they use the town committee’s resources to fund Patricia Michalek’s race? Political parties are not allowed to get involved in races.
Who cares about that hoak-y committee? They don’t have workers to go door to door for Michalek. Who is going to come out to vote for Pat Michalek? Nobody knows who she is, unlike Dennis Gaughan who is a well known name. Dennis has helped a lot of people over the years. People will remember him for that.
In the end, the campaign is going to be won at the doors. The Hambur Democratic Committee always has had enough votes for their “endorsement” but winning primaries is not their forte.
It comes down to the number of workers out there this summer. We shall see.
An endorsement is the party telling their membership that they believe a specific person is the best candidate for the job. You and I know it isn’t necessarily the truth but most party members leave the politics to the pros and follow the Chairman’s lead.
It says here that the only candidate with guilliones large enough to
primary Is Dennis Gaughan.
The slate method of candidate selection is an underhanded
way to stifle the will of the majority with regard to a
particular candidate. Entrenched union bosses have used it
for nearly a century.
For a party founded by Thomas Jefferson and nurtured
through its infancy by Andrew jackson this is an outrage!
To quote Andrew Jackson after the 1824 election was
brokered by Henry Clay, a fellow dem, to allow John
Quincy Adams, to be President this is a” corrupt bargain”.
The spirit embued by Jefferson and Jackson on the party
will not tolerate this kind of chicanery. Patty Michalek
is a lemon so outrageously awful that even Randy Hoak
is noticing.
You might remember Randy the Dandy’s father, Pat Hoak,
who managed to get throttled by Steve Walters while
holding FOUR LINES Dem, IP,Cons., and WFP.
By the way, Randy that purse you were wearing at a recent
political function was reported to be very stylish.
I have heard the term “bag man” used in connection with
politics, but I have never heard of a political leader actually
carrying one.
If Patty offers a ride in her HONDA-made ACURA this
primary season hang on it’s going to be a real “rough ride”.
Guess here is that there will be but one primary
Gaughan vs. Michalek
and one clear winner………….. Gaughan!!!!
Hamburg is Ford Country!
To Dennis Gaughan:
Andrew Jackson said:
One man with courage makes a majority!
Good luck Dennis!
Ernie did not want to go and waste his time. He already knew what was going to happen. He is still going to make them run a primary. I think he may have a good chance since he is staying away from the Sorrentino lead Demacrats.
Why doesn’t Steve Walters go to work for Dennis Gaughan in his law firm? He’ll be a great negligence lawyer and he can learn the business part from Dennis.
Gee, what part should he learn, “Sandra”? The part where he steals from Blasdell in his role as village prosecutor? HA!!
Was Randy wearing a purse?
A REAL purse?
Really?????
Wow, I have heard more about that Hoak family’s dressing “oddities” than I care to know.
You know the Hoak’s sterling reputation for authenticity!
No way it could have been anything else!
After all, Randy is trying to make a silk purse out of
Patty Michalek. Good Luck Rando me boy!
Watch Jim Sorrentino fall to his knees when Dennis Gaughan takes the Independence line, and Mr. Sorrentino is faced with a split ticket against Walters. All of the support for Patricia Michalek will disappear and Mr. Sorrentino and Dandy Randy Randy will be on their knees begging Dennis Gaughan to take them back. I cannot wait to see them grovel. Randy is going to be demoted.
As Upton Sinclair once noted:
It is difficult for a man to understand when
his living depends on not understanding.
Just got off the phone with Dennis. I called to tell him how unfair last night was. I was on the fence last night but no longer.
HAMBURG IS GOING GAUGHAN!
If Gaughan pulls this off does he become a legend.
Dennis Is a legend! Run Dennis Run!
First of all VJ SORRENTINO bows to no man,he does ,
however, curtsy to Patty Michalek.
With regard to Dandy Randy it would be, in light of the
purse disclosures, impolitic of me to make comment
about him dropping to his knees.
Vinny and Randy’s choice may just go poof!
Dennis Gaughan is a forgiving man, who makes a darn good
living getting creditors to forgive.
To all of you whining Dem committee members: If things are that bad, QUIT !
Most of these posts have to come from people who are committee members without the guts to stand up at a meeting and be heard. They run home to their computers and type rumors and gossip – “I heard,…someone said,…, and the best one – Patty Michaelek drives a HONDA! OMG – she should be shot ! Well, I heard that Steve Walters wears underwear that is made in CHINA ! Do you believe it ?
As Senator Moynihan said to Tim Russert:
What they know you can learn.
What you know they will never learn.
Did it ever occur to you that the argument you are
making is one which demonstrates your total lack
of understanding.
If you don’t get the Honda message by now, keep
following your esteemed endorsee over the cliff.
By the way, IT IS REPORTED that Randy’s purse
is a Chinese knock-off.
When Coach John McKay was asked about his 1976 Tampa Bay
Bucs execution he said:
” I am in favor of it!”
As a life-long Democrat, the crap you guys have tolerated
during the Sorrentino regime just reached critical mass.
In a town with a 3000 vote overlay you should never lose!
Is it possible , as Henry Kissinger used to say:
“On the other hand, I could be wrong.”
Think about it, it might open a ray of understanding
in what, heretofore, appears to be a cavern of darkness.
Dear Silence DOGOOD:
Do you have any idea how many Ford employees and
retirees reside and VOTE in Hamburg?
You can rest assured that to a man and woman they
CARE.
Dennis Gaughan drives Ford products exclusively and
has for as long as i’ve known him (26 years).
Pardon my bluntness but we support those who support us!
Dennis Gaughan For Hamburg Supervisor!!
When I first heard about Patricia Michalek being considered
for Hamburg Town supervisor my first reaction was:
” You are kidding ”
My second:
“You are not kidding”
Having been personally involved in the St Mary’s School
brouhaha I can not believe this turn of events.
Mrs. Michalek’s imperious do-it -my way style of
leadership darn near brought St. Mary’s to its knees.
I know a large number of parents were on their knees praying
for her early exit. Our prays were answered.
The Hamburg Dems could not have “vetted” her properly.
A minimal investigation would have revealed chinks in her
armor so large and numerous as to disqualify her from ANY
serious consideration.
Congrats to the Hamburg GOP. The Dems are doing a fine job of making things easier for Walters, Bellissimo, Wittmeyer, and Ziegler.
IS THERE ANYTHING MORE FECKLESS THAN THE wbwz SLATE?
Hmmm shecky, explain? Dems have massive dissention in the ranks while the GOP slate seems to be getting stronger. I hear nothing but good things about Wittmeyer and Ziegler is a very strong wild card. The dems will beat each other up while the GOP sits back and soaks it up. GOP maintains control and gains a seat, mark my words.
paradigm (pronounced “pair a dime”) You just don’t
get it do you?
There is only going to be one primary.
GAUGHAN v michalek.
As Will Rogers said:
I belong to no organized party, I am a Democrat.
When the smoke clears, the Democrats will sweep!
Adlai Stevenson on republicans:
I have a proposition for my Republican friends.
If they will stop telling lies about us, we will stop
telling the truth about them
Ziegler is a strong wild card? She’s a strong double dipper.
The entire crew is as feckless as their party.
They couldn’t soak if they got caught in a monsoon.
Wbwz is almost as big a joke as Patty Michalek!
Ok shecky. Let me ask this since you seem to know it all….what do you know about them? Bellissimo and Wittmeyer are both business owners. Bellissimo has been party of the GOP for a long time and Wittmeyer is a new guy on the scene with no political ties, like the hand picked Dems. Explain to me how they are not the two best candidates. And just because you don’t know them at you coffee clatch doesn’t count. Time to man up and have a real sustantive opinion.
I just checked and have determined that I have the requisite
number of gonads to comment.
So Bellissimo is a baby-sitter and Wittmeyer is actively engaged
in another pursuit. Ziegler has one mammary that she is
intent on retaining, while searching for a second.
I can’t imagine better preparation for public service.
Let me give it a try.Both Joe Collins and John Gorman spent
at least seven years in educating themselves beyond high
school and are both well-known and respected lawyers.
If the Collins family just votes Joe will win by 10%.
The Gorman family has dedicated itself to public service
and John continues this rich tradition. Lenny Kowalski has
an engineering degree and has prior electoral experience.
Hamburg will be deciding its future in this watershed year,
and the Democratic Council candidates stand head and
shoulders above the competition!
I thought this blog was about Dennis Gaughan and
how he is going to become Hamburg Supervisor.
First of all, according to my friend Groucho, you
must get the most votes.
After that remember that your political enemies won’t
hurt you, but your political allies can kill you.
Next,always remember that individually most
Republicans are decent people, it’s when they
get together they get nasty.
Finally, and don’t forget this:
When the Republicans get in, times get tough!
In deciding your future Hamburg voters weigh these
factors carefully. Dennis Gaughan is the clear choice
for Hamburg Supervisor!
Ok Shecky, I still haven’t seen how you have proven that Wittmeyer,Bellissimo, and Ziegler aren’t great candidates other than your disdain for the GOP in general. Wittmeyer has the higher education requirements YOU have and is both in the health care field and a business owner. Bellissimo has owned a successful business in town for over 20 years. Ziegler is more established in the legal community than Gorman. Oh yeah, and Ziegler and Wittmeyer are both town high school graduates, how about Gorman and Kowalski? And if you really knew Hamburg, you’d know there are twice as many Wittmeyers than there are Collins. So again, What’s so bad about these three other than the fact that you hate Republicans?
The Collins family is head and shoulders superior.
The only Wittmeyer I ever heard of was “Half and
Half” Wittmeyer who got his nickname by
relieving himself in his beer bottle, forgetting
that he had, and proceeding to quaff the contents.
With regard to Republicans my contempt is visceral.
Their philosophy, techniques, governance and
collective stupidity are atavistic.
I have nothing but contempt for people who style
themselves Republicans who are , in reality, closed
minded bigots, hypocrites and scoundrels.
Your death rattle has started and you will go the
way of your 19th century clones, the Whigs.
See ya ’round da campus digm!
H.L. Mencken said it best:
In a world of sin and sorrow there is always something
to be thankful for; as for me, I am thankful that I am not
a Republican.
Also, if Ziegler is a double dipper, isn’t Gorman one too?
Gorman is a Democrat, he will earn his money!
shecky….i dont even need to say more…….you have proven your ignorance. your black and white thinking is what is wrong with this country and town today. hopefully, more people with open minds will head to the polls. someone who votes strictly along party lines without getting to know the candidates is the definition of ignorance. i, however, will research the candidates, and most likely choose some from both parties.
Shecky pay attention and quit scratching yourself like that.
Professor paradigm has thrown down.
He says you are an igno! Not once , but twice!
He, however, who has already told us how he is supporting
the Republican slate, is going to “research the candidates”
and then vote the Republican slate.
What could be simpler for you to understand Shecky?
These Republican supporters are some sharp cookies, not
like you and me.
This paradigm is one clever operative the way he made you look like
the same kind of simpleton he is!
OK, comments on this article are done. You guys are getting out of hand.
Hamburg will be in SERIOUS TROUBLE if Dennis Gaughan is as incompetent a supervisor as he is an attorney. GOD help us -the only thing larger than his ego is his “beer gut”.