Nepotism in Local Politics

[HamburgVoter]

I am starting this thread to give us all a chance to reveal the real internal workings on the local political scene.

Who is related to who & how they got their job, if it is in governmental service of any kind, it important for the people to know.

[HamburgVoter]

In today's paper, there is an aticle about the Quinn/Tresmond race. Until now, I couldn't for the life of me, figure out why Quinn was given such a patsy to run against, especialy this year.

It turns out that Max is related to Sorrentino.

Relevant? Maybe. But it sure is interesting.

Is Max being groomed for a run at a local office?

[FJB]

Without any direct proof, I believe ECL is Mary Rose Gaughan(IP executive board member), wife to Dennis Gaughan, who is the Assistant Hamburg Town Prosecutor. The only other logical person ECL could be is Marie Clark, secretary to Bob Reynolds and close friend of Mary. The Assistant Chief of Police in Hamburg is Carmen Kesner, husband to Joan Kesner, Town Board Member.

[WNYresident]

I decided to see who Mary Rose Gaughan is.

How funny. Go search the name in google. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=Mary+Rose+Gaughan&btnG=Search)

Speakup popped up 1 and 2 on the list.

[JustMakeSensePlease]

Without any direct proof, I believe ECL is Mary Rose Gaughan(IP executive board member), wife to Dennis Gaughan, who is the Assistant Hamburg Town Prosecutor. The only other logical person ECL could be is Marie Clark, secretary to Bob Reynolds and close friend of Mary. The Assistant Chief of Police in Hamburg is Carmen Kesner, husband to Joan Kesner, Town Board Member.


I would love to know who's related to who in town departments and payroll. As far as who's who in here..who cares..I think that shouldn't matter. Political appointments dealing with nepotism is the real issue for this town...Just remember..Nepotism is NO different then affirmative action, you don't get the best person, you get who's picked.

[FJB]

Cathy Rybczynski is the Hamburg Town Clerk, her son Brad sits on the zoning and planning board and is a front runner for a town board position, and/or Legislative seat race. He is currently the president of the builders and trades union. Rumor has it that Bob Reynolds isn't going to run again for District 12 Legislative seat, and Brad may be the Democratic choice.

[bwilson]

Cathy Rybczynski is the Hamburg Town Clerk,. You should have stopped your post here everything after this is false. her son Brad sits on the zoning and planning board and is a front runner for a town board position, and/or Legislative seat race. He is currently the president of the builders and trades union. Rumor has it that Bob Reynolds isn't going to run again for District 12 Legislative seat, and Brad may be the Democratic choice.

[FJB]

Why is everything else false. I was in front of the zoning board within the last year and he was sitting on it. He called me last legislative election cycle and asked for my support in Hamburg for the legislative seat. Logic states he will try and run again. So what has changed that I'm wrong about? He may live in district 1 instead of 12 but that means nothing.

[bwilson]

He is on the zoning board...the planning board is a separate entity...he lives in district 1 and you have to live in the district if you want to run in it. as far ad Bob reynolds resigning i guess you are right even if it wasn't a rumor it is now.

[FJB]

your right about the planning board, sorry.

[bwilson]

He called me last legislative election cycle and asked for my support in Hamburg for the legislative seat. Logic states he will try and run again.


Does this logic apply to the other candidates in the 1st Legislative district?

[buffy]

I decided to see who Mary Rose Gaughan is.

How funny. Go search the name in google. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=Mary+Rose+Gaughan&btnG=Search)

Speakup popped up 1 and 2 on the list.
...this gives you a hard-on doesn't it?
:D

[FJB]

Does this logic apply to the other candidates in the 1st Legislative district?
If you mean me, I'm not running for anything at this point. But Brad has had political ambitions for a while. You know that.

[bwilson]

I didn't know that...he's pretty new to the scene if you ask me

[bwilson]

I am starting this thread to give us all a chance to reveal the real internal workings on the local political scene.

Who is related to who & how they got their job, if it is in governmental service of any kind, it important for the people to know.


So other than breaking the Sorrentino/Tresmond story what other connections have you made?

[What Middle?]

What is your profession? By a quick look it seems as if you are a wannabe detective. You seem to waste your time wanting to unmask members of this forum. Maybe you should do something more productive with your time, like learning how to spell correctly or working on your grammar?

[Ben There]

Ford is off deer hunting. He has been quiet this past week. Amazing he can hunt up and down rough terrain and if he is lucky enough to shoot a deer he will have to skin it and drag it to his car. He is on compensation you know. He has a bad back. But not to worry he is being watched. When he gets back we will once againg here his foolish garble.:) :) :) :) :)

[ILUVNY]

I decided to see who Mary Rose Gaughan is.

How funny. Go search the name in google. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=Mary+Rose+Gaughan&btnG=Search)

Speakup popped up 1 and 2 on the list.

I don't find this funny at all. A more appropriate word is slander. This is a well educated woman with credentials to boot. It's a sad commentary when a sore loser (whoever this may be) has to reduce themselves to the level of attempting to ruin one's reputation. That's pretty small.

[TheRightView]

I don't find this funny at all. A more appropriate word is slander. This is a well educated woman with credentials to boot. It's a sad commentary when a sore loser (whoever this may be) has to reduce themselves to the level of attempting to ruin one's reputation. That's pretty small.
Unfortunately we live in a world filled with small petty people.

[Take Action]

What are we going to do about this? How do we get rid of them all.
Let me know. I am frustrated, disillusioned, angry, etc. etc.
The Town Board has to go -- the sooner the better.

[HamburgVoter]

I agree! The Town Board has to change. They have shown themselves to be badly out of touch with the will of the population of the Town and unbelievably arrogant. We should not only expect better from our elected representatives, we should also get it!

The ONLY way to effect change in the Town is to VOTE!

[bwilson]

I agree! The Town Board has to change. They have shown themselves to be badly out of touch with the will of the population of the Town and unbelievably arrogant. We should not only expect better from our elected representatives, we should also get it!

The ONLY way to effect change in the Town is to VOTE!

What are your expectations? (Please stay away from statements like...I expect not to have terrible people on the town board anymore ...I want to know what positives you would look for in a new town board candidate.)

[HamburgJoe]

I think that we all as Town residents should expect that any person elected to represent our interests should do just that. The current board is misguided. It is hard to be in touch with your constituents when you have a household income greater than $200-$250,000. I believe the median household income in our Town is approx $38,000. Why do we constantly see a certain board member on tv fighting causes and taking credit for issues outside the Town? Higher aspirations!? We need people who think of Hamburg first. We need people on the Town Board willing to make tough choices that benefit the residents and not themselves. To many conflicts with current members. This year will bring change. None of the councilmembers are running for re-election, so in the next three years you will see a very different board. These next few years are critical to getting people who will guide the Town in the right direction instead of throwing money into the lake. Did you happen to see the damage to the visitor center from the storm? I grew up on the lake and could have told anyone that that place was a huge waste of money. The only ones that didn't underrstand that was the Town Board. Another $50,000 down the drain.

[bwilson]

So HJ it sounds like your expectations are to have a town board that isn't the current town board.

What do you mean none of the councilmembers are running this year?

[HamburgJoe]

Why should they stay? 12 years is long enough. With Hoaks defeat the Democratic machine is falling apart in Hamburg. Sorrentino retired and is being taken care of in the short term, but he is slowly fading out of the picture. The Dems flaws are beginning to show. Anyone stays in office that long and eventually they lose appeael of the public. Lets see what the furure holds. No, the four current council members reportedly are not running when their respective terms are up.

[bwilson]

Hochul is running. There are rumors to the contrary however they are just that rumors.

I would still like to know what POSITIVES you would look for in a new board candidate

[HamburgJoe]

News to me on Hochul. We'll see how that saga unfolds. I just loved to watch her take the spotlight as town coucilmember during the T-way tolls stories when she was there in the capacity as deputy county clerk next to Swarts. Lets see how Spitzers election or Hillary's aspirations affect her future.
As for positives, i think a coucilmember needs to work for the town as a whole. Work to improve the town. What has the current board done for the north section of town outside the mall (Woodlawn?). How about crime in the town? Property taxes go up because of their mismanaged budgets.
Could they be more welcoming and progressive in luring in business. Things are starting to improve with new businesses coming in, but after 12 years of the current board being in. New people bring new ideas. Good or bad. You would hope that new board members would bring in good progressive ideas. Young people who want to improve Hamburg for their families (like Walters).

[bwilson]

What has the current board done for the north section of town outside the mall (Woodlawn?). .

They have allocated more community development block grant funds to the village of blasdell than they have ever received previously. They have worked with Ford Motor Company to keep their plant in Woodlawn (EvenSupervisor Walters will tell you that as he did in an interview shortly after he took office).

So other than providing them with more funds for infrastructure and retaining one of the largest employers in the area they haven't done much for the north section of Hamburg.

[bwilson]

Why should they stay? 12 years is long enough. With Hoaks defeat the Democratic machine is falling apart in Hamburg. Sorrentino retired and is being taken care of in the short term, but he is slowly fading out of the picture. The Dems flaws are beginning to show. Anyone stays in office that long and eventually they lose appeael of the public. Lets see what the furure holds. No, the four current council members reportedly are not running when their respective terms are up.


I have heard some great things about the Hamburg Democratic Party. This next year will bring new leaders to the forefront, new energy to he campaigns. They have a renewed interest among the elder statesmen and fresh perspective coming from the younger and newer committemen. Sorrentino is doing anything but fading away. I believe the recent budget games have reinvigorated the leader of th elocal democrats. They already have a 10-1 advantage over the repubs when it comes to a treasury, a 3-2 registration advantage and a very large, active, and growing committee.

[HamburgJoe]

Makes you wonder how Hoak could have lost.

[bwilson]

No it doesn't...remember that same election saw Jim Connolly trounce Pete Reszka as well as two council members win handily

[HamburgJoe]

Connolly won against a challenger who could not compete financially. He also had the advantage of being the incumbent, as well as some shady campaign advertising. Rocco ran a no show campaign. I could have beat him.
Money does play a huge part in any election. So do facts and educating the public. Dems will have to spend more of their money unless they change their direction of leading this town. The public is not happy with the way Town government is being run. The other parties represent change just by mere fact they are not Dems. Dems need to prove they can reverse the arrogance of this current board and their abysmal record of keeping their house in order.

[Take Action]

I hope you received a reply re: Nepotism. The list is very long. I suggest you find research this so you will know that the answer is not politically motivated. Once you do this, I am sure that you will be determined to elect a New Town Board. We deserve integrity, accountability, transparency. One example is the Asst. Chief of Police is the HUSBAND OF JOAN KESNER. For me, this is a NO, NO He was appointed. Do your research if you want your Town back.

[My2cents]

One example is the Asst. Chief of Police is the HUSBAND OF JOAN KESNER. For me, this is a NO, NO He was appointed.
Yes, but she abstains from any vote concerning the PD. So she has no say in his career.

[Take Action]

You may be correct concerning his career, but not on other police matters. I know first hand about this. Don't forget, they are husband and wife. It is unacceptable for me. I am a registered Democrat and feel very betrayed by the actions of the Town Board; the public and PRIVATE actions. It is very disheartening. I am agonizing over changing my party affiliation.

[My2cents]

Interesting. I don't think she is a democrat. More of an autocrat

[PaulJonson]

I have heard some great things about the Hamburg Democratic Party. This next year will bring new leaders to the forefront, new energy to he campaigns. They have a renewed interest among the elder statesmen and fresh perspective coming from the younger and newer committemen. Sorrentino is doing anything but fading away.

Who do the Hamburg Dems have waiting to energize their campaigns anyway?

[My2cents]

Originally Posted by bwilson
I have heard some great things about the Hamburg Democratic Party. This next year will bring new leaders to the forefront, new energy to he campaigns. They have a renewed interest among the elder statesmen and fresh perspective coming from the younger and newer committemen. Sorrentino is doing anything but fading away.

Having Sorrentino beg Smith to run for council does not bring new energy to the democratic party. It serves one purpose only, and that is to maintain dem control in Hamburg at all costs. It is not a concern for proper government but a concern for the party. Why is it that Sorrentino, the town attorney, fails to do his job properly and then bashes Walters in the Sun and signs off as dem chairman. This clearly shows the arrogance of the Hamburg dems. $64,000 for a part time job. He retires. Walters asks for a part time slot for town attorney at $32,000, and the board says no and offers a contract to Sorrentino at.....$64,000. I've found the answer to the $64,000 question - Sorrentino! Wake up people.

[FJB]

I still think the Dems will put Koenig up for a spot on the board. As chairman of the Planning board he has done their bidding for a while now.

[My2cents]

Dick Smith is running. Gugliuzza is rumored to be replacing Hochul (or Quatroche). Whomever they put up they will be beatable. The residents are fed up with the B.S.. This government does not serve the best interests of the people. They want change for changes sake. How much worse can it get.

[PaulJonson]

Dick Smith is running. Gugliuzza is rumored to be replacing Hochul (or Quatroche). Whomever they put up they will be beatable. The residents are fed up with the B.S.. This government does not serve the best interests of the people. They want change for changes sake. How much worse can it get.

Not really the energizer bunnies I would have chosen. Dick Smith is a nice guy but the point of him running would only be for the sake a salvaging the remains of Sorentino's party. As for Vinny, well he just thinks that he has "put in his time and he deserves to be on the board."

Both great reasons to vote for them.

They keep going and going and going and going. . .

[Take Action]

Interesting. I don't think she is a democrat. More of an autocrat
I agree. Whatever you wish to call her and the other "public servents" running this Town, should be ousted. I hope enough of us will get out and vote. The time has come!!! Let's be ready.