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Thread: Dion Watkins Residency and The IDIOTS COMPLAINING!!!!

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  1. #1
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Thumbs down Dion Watkins Residency and The IDIOTS COMPLAINING!!!!

    Watkins says he’s living in 1st Ward
    Admits to owning house in HamburgBy Jay Tokasz

    NEWS STAFF REPORTER

    Published:
    September 15, 2011:
    Lackawanna mayoral primary unofficially separated by one vote
    Updated: September 15, 2011, 7:57 AM


    Lackawanna mayoral hopeful Dion J. Watkins acknowledged Wednesday that he owns a home in the Town of Hamburg, but he maintained that since April he has resided full time in a church-owned house in the city’s 1st Ward.

    Watkins’ stunning showing in the Democratic primary Tuesday —when he finished the night a single vote behind Geoffrey M. Szymanski, with 148 absentee ballots outstanding — brought the simmering residency issue to the forefront.

    The city’s charter requires only that city employees become residents of Lackawanna within six months of the date of initial service and maintain residency for the duration of city employment.

    But current Mayor Norman L. Polanski Jr., who endorsed Szymanski as his successor, called it a “a definite shortcoming of the code” and suggested Wednesday it was not ethical for Watkins to run for office without having been a full-time resident of the city for at least the past two years.

    Watkins shrugged off the criticism, saying it was an attempt to distract voters from real problems facing the city.

    “It’s not an issue for me. Obviously, if you run for mayor, you’ve got to live in Lackawanna,” Watkins said.

    In 2005, Watkins purchased a house with Latisha N. Dixon on Meadow Run in Hamburg, according to real estate transaction records tracked by The Buffalo News. Listing a Washington Street address, he has been registered to vote continuously in Lackawanna at least since 2002, according to Erie County Board of Elections records.

    Watkins also works as a teacher in the Lackawanna School District and is pastor of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church on Wasson Avenue.

    “I’m always at Wasson, I’m always in Lackawanna,” he said. “Everything I do is in Lackawanna.”

    When he announced his run for mayor, Watkins said he decided to make the church house his domicile.

    “It was never a secret that I own property in Hamburg,” he said. “I can do that. It’s my right to.”

    Szymanski leads Watkins by 1,468 to 1,467 votes in the four-man race for the Democratic line on the November ballot. Chuck Jaworski finished third with 776 votes and Patrick A. McCusker fourth with 179 votes, according to unofficial results from the Board of Elections.

    Absentee and military ballots

    won’t be tallied until seven to 10 days after the primary, respectively, according to state election law. Currently, the Board of Elections has 148 absentee ballots, but others may arrive in the mail within the next several days and still be valid.

    “I’m just excited,” said Watkins, who was expected to be a long-shot candidate against City Council veterans Szymanski and Jaworski. “We were able to run with the machines. And it wasn’t just me. People are ready for change. The people spoke yesterday.”

    If Watkins loses the primary, though, his chances to seize the mayor’s seat will fade dramatically because he does not have another party line to fall back on in the general election.

    Meanwhile, Szymanski will still be able to use the Conservative Party line—and he plans to do so if the Democratic primary votes don’t fall his way.

    “I still believe I’m going to be the next mayor of Lackawanna,” said Szymanski. “I love this city too much to just forfeit to someone with no political experience who doesn’t live in the city.”
    [McCusker, who won the Republican primary, also will be on the November ballot. He said he will wait to see the final results of the primary before determining how active his general election campaign will be.

    McCusker expressed less concern about where Watkins lives and owns property.

    “It’s not troublesome if he’s going to do a positive job,” McCusker said. “He has ties to the City of Lackawanna. He has experience with you in the city.”

    Longtime resident and former city employee Walter M. Seres has pledged to run on the Time for Change line.



    Read that large line and it sounds like we have another Arrogant ASS in the house. All this coming from the residency experts of the city LOL. Would the Buffalo NEWS ask Norm and Geoff why the Commish of Public Works and The City attorney don't live in Lackawanna. What about your former Empire Zone Director BILLY EAGAN for god sakes he was the Director of the Empire Zone in Lackawanna and THE SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON AT THE SAME TIME!!!! You guys are a JOKE!!!!!BTW look at your ward Geoff and tell me what YOUR political expierence has done to it!!! Maybe you should do something worthwhile before you open your mouth.
    Last edited by mnb811; September 15th, 2011 at 10:00 PM.

  2. #2
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
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    Post Twelve years and HE still does NOT know the LAW before he starts to mouth off..2x now

    " But current Mayor Norman L. Polanski Jr., who endorsed Szymanski as his successor, called it a “a definite shortcoming of the code” and suggested Wednesday it was not ethical for Watkins to run for office without having been a full-time resident of the city for at least the past two years. "

    FACT:

    The City of Lackawanna CHARTER states:
    CHAPTER 4 The Mayor (§ 4.1 — § 4.6)


    § 4.1 Mayor; election, term and compensation.
    [Amended 8-20-1984 by L.L. No. 3-1984; 4-18-1988 by L.L. No. 3-1988; at general election 11-8-1984]

    The Mayor shall be elected by voters of the City at large to serve for a term of four years beginning January 1 next following his or her election, and shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms. He or she shall be a resident and registered voter of the City. The Mayor shall be elected at the general election in the year 1963 and every four years thereafter. The Mayor shall receive such compensation as fixed by ordinance adopted by the City at any time, provided, however, that the compensation of the Mayor shall not be diminished during his or her term of office.

    § 4.2 Mayor; vacancy; temporary disability or absence.

    In the event of the temporary absence or disability of the Mayor, the Council President shall have the powers and duties of the Mayor. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the Council President for the residue of the term who shall serve as and be the Mayor.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

    Serious stuff here.......Where oh Where does it state , " for at least the past two years ", ""Mayor Norman L. Polanski, Jr."" ?

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    the voters didn't care when they elected hillary clinton to the senate? the voters didn't care when they elected kathy hochul to the house of representatives? they each moved in after they won the election. do voters want someone that lives in the city and are part of the problems by neglecting their duties for 6 years, or someone that gets it done and will make lackawanna better? geoff thinks that just because he has POLITICAL experience that he deserves the democratic nod over watkins? geoff has not held a real job yet. he was appointed to the water authority, everyone knows that is where politicians go for their paycheck. people are tired of politicians and the mess they have gotten the country into.
    where does the joke af a mayor polanski get his idea that someone should be a resident for at least the last two years? every time this fool speaks he makes lackawanna look bad. and he wants to be assemblyman! heaven forbid! get these rats out of lackawanna, dion has done more for lackawanna than those two clowns put together. geoff will keep tom love in for 4 more years, he is an arrogant, egotisical, self serving person. he doesn't live in lackawanna either. over half the teachers in lackawanna live outside the city. how many firefighters and dpw live outside the city. if 150 city workers moved back into lackawanna and owned homes here. lets see 150 times say $2000 in property taxes. $300,000 additional to the city and schools. should the football coach have to live in lackawanna? if so then lakso never takes the kids to the state championships, he lives inhamburg too. i have a better idea. why don't we see what hamburg offers its citizens and bring that to lackawanna. maybe we can keep some of those that make over $30,000 per year and maybe bring some back to lackawanna. it won't happen with geoff as mayor. his only concern will be moving his professional, political career along. when he can't get something done he will place blame anywhere except on his shoulders.

  4. #4
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andreahaxton View Post
    " But current Mayor Norman L. Polanski Jr., who endorsed Szymanski as his successor, called it a “a definite shortcoming of the code” and suggested Wednesday it was not ethical for Watkins to run for office without having been a full-time resident of the city for at least the past two years. "

    FACT:

    The City of Lackawanna CHARTER states:
    CHAPTER 4 The Mayor (§ 4.1 — § 4.6)


    § 4.1 Mayor; election, term and compensation.
    [Amended 8-20-1984 by L.L. No. 3-1984; 4-18-1988 by L.L. No. 3-1988; at general election 11-8-1984]

    The Mayor shall be elected by voters of the City at large to serve for a term of four years beginning January 1 next following his or her election, and shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms. He or she shall be a resident and registered voter of the City. The Mayor shall be elected at the general election in the year 1963 and every four years thereafter. The Mayor shall receive such compensation as fixed by ordinance adopted by the City at any time, provided, however, that the compensation of the Mayor shall not be diminished during his or her term of office.

    § 4.2 Mayor; vacancy; temporary disability or absence.

    In the event of the temporary absence or disability of the Mayor, the Council President shall have the powers and duties of the Mayor. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the Council President for the residue of the term who shall serve as and be the Mayor.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

    Serious stuff here.......Where oh Where does it state , " for at least the past two years ", ""Mayor Norman L. Polanski, Jr."" ?

    It doesn't!! Just create it out of thin air and make up sh*t as we go along ! That is the Norm Polanski Way!!!! Let's elect him to the Assembly next !!Will somebody stop this crap once and for all!!!

  5. #5
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Article IV. Officers and Employees
    § 5-38. Residence requirements.
    A. Unless otherwise provided by law, it shall be the duty of each officer and employee of the City during the period of his or her employment by the City, to maintain his or her residence and dwelling within the corporate limits of the City.

    B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any employee during a leave of absence duly granted. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute misconduct and shall be cause for removal in the manner provided by law.


    Q: I wonder how Eagan, Love, Petricca and several others get/got around this rule? A: The City will just make s**t up as they go along just to suit their own needs.

    Q: So why is there a City Charter in the first place? A: To have a set of laws and rules to follow to maintain order,integrity and ethics. But in Lackawanna apparently none of this matters!

    In the case of Watkins residency the 2 year "Polanski Rule" is all to benifit STATUS QUO. By the way did you register you rental property yet Geoff? Or does that not pertain to you either?
    Last edited by mnb811; September 16th, 2011 at 09:40 PM.

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    Can't you people read, it was just Norm's suggestion that any candidate live in the city for two years prior. Ii don't know about two years but at least at the time of election the candidate should live here!

  7. #7
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
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    Can't you people read, it was just Norm's suggestion that any candidate live in the city for two years prior. Ii don't know about two years but at least at the time of election the candidate should live here!
    And in my opinion they should own a home in the community they want to represent. Why? Because their actions will directly effect the taxes paid on other people's homes in that community.

  8. #8
    Member mnb811's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blahblahblah View Post
    Can't you people read, it was just Norm's suggestion that any candidate live in the city for two years prior. Ii don't know about two years but at least at the time of election the candidate should live here!
    I know it was Normie's suggestion but let him follow the rules himself. Facts are he doesn't!

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