ONLY My Opinions Based On My Understanding:
Half way through its two-year term, the "New" Republican Party under Greg's Sojka's leadership and a patronage-free Executive Committee has much to celebrate."...both the Democrats and Republicans are really one party drinking from the same troth. They work together, they scheme together, they share the patronage..."---Greg Sojka, July 5, 2018
Its "all-inclusive" message and its policy of endorsing candidates solely on the basis of qualifications and competence, without strict regard to party label, seems to have perhaps resonated with Lancaster residents in 2019. In substantially supporting the "New" Republican direction, the Lancaster voters elected a Republican Town Council, played a significant role in the election of a Republican Erie County Legislator, and gave an impressive victory to Lynne Dixon, who was strong, but unsuccessful in her county-wide battle for Eire County Executive.
More importantly, the Lancaster voter rebuked Democrat majority control of the Town Council, and seems to have significantly rejected the establish "Swamp" elements of both parties.
Indeed, in my opinion, the "New" Republicans have much to be proud of. In light of what appears to have been a vicious bi-partisan "Swamp" axis to destroy the Sojka "Lancaster First" direction, it is semi-miraculous that the "New" Republicans are still standing, let alone standing strong, successful and tall. Consider the obstacles:
(1) When Diane Terranova made it known to the "New" Republican Committee that her refusal to comply with the frivolous patronage demands of Democrat Party power holders resulted in her diminished standing within the Lancaster Democrat Party under McCracken and Giza control, the "New" Republicans, acting in what they considered to be the best interests of Lancaster taxpayers and residents, were quick to endorse her for meritorious reasons. It is important to note that the endorsement came prior to the endorsement deliberations of the Democrat Party.
As I understand and assess the situation, when the Democrats publicly rebuked Terranova and endorsed Cynthia Maciejewski for Town Clerk, it appeared that the stage was set for a divisive Democrat Primary between Terranova and Maciejewski. As things stood in late March, 2019 prospects for the success of the "New" Republicans grew. Together with an envisioned uncontested Republican primary, the widely perceived patronage interests of the McCracken-backed Maciejewski would be exposed, and that perception would validate the direction of the "New" Republicans. In my opinion, it was at that point that the bi-partisan "Swamp" united to confront a rather seismic change in local politics, and the battleground of choice was the Town Clerk's race.
With Maciejewski attacking Terranova, the linch-pin of the "New" Republican direction" from the left, the establishment, or Rogue Republican elements under the management of Ralph Mohr, attacked Terranova from the right through the personage of Ann Desiderio.
Desiderio was a rather obscure figure, who had never expressed a prior interest in, or responded to public solicitations for, the office of Town Clerk. It was in April, 2019, that the un-vetted and un-scrutinized Desiderio in direct challenge to the endorsed candidate, embraced a rather curious, if not shallow campaign platform of strict partisan platitudes, along with an advocacy for a seemingly twisted and inappropriate future role for the Town Clerk.
Therefore, by late April, the Rogue wing of the Republican Party made high-profile inroads aimed at reducing the perceived validation of the "New" Republican direction, and also, in my opinion, weaponized the machinery of Republican politics and election law against the endorsed Republican candidate, all in an effort to destroy the New Republican Party.
(2) In spite of Sojka's direct plea to a gathering of the Erie County Republican Chairman's Round Table to "stop the sabotage," the Rogue wing of the Lancaster Republican Party appeared to doubled-down on its efforts to destroy the New Republicans.
Desiderio and her campaign manager Mohr managed somehow to convince the NYS Independence Party to lend its name to mailers in support the Desiderio campaign, and for a candidate which it did not otherwise endorse for the office. Furthermore, as I understood the situation, Desiderio apparently made no attempt whatsoever to petition for the Independence line in the exact same race. As such, the resultant Independence support, in my opinion, was and remains, a totally inexplicable and bizarre occurrence.
(3) The Rogue elements of the Lancaster Republican Party were also the focus of suspicion regarding the rejection of the Independence Party petitions of Diane Terranova and Bob Leary, who names appeared on the exact same Independence Party Petitions which held the names all of their comrade running mates. To many, the rejection of the two names were indicative of Rogue payback.
(4) The Rogue elements took to social media and blasted Terranova, the New Republicans, and their supporters for what might be termed "treasonous activities" in support of Terranova, while offering no explanation as to why Desiderio did not express prior interest in the position, nor did they express any concern whatsoever regarding her un-scrutinized background.
After Desiderio emerged as the victor in the low-turnout Republican Primary, the Rogue Republicans continued to employ that same social media tactic(s) during the general election.
(5) Diane Terranova defeated Maciejewski in the Democrat Primary; a stunning rebuke to the McCracken-Giza political power holders, but suspicions of Rogue Republican collusion with the McCracken-Giza forces regarding the general election campaign were occasioned by a seeming lack of Democrat Party financial support for Terranova.
More suggestive of a possibility of such collusion, was the apparent suppression of Terranova's voice by the Lancaster Democrat Party leadership at a committee meeting, along with a rather negatively slanted and apparently inaccurate description of Terranova's past support for the Democrat Party.
Far more troubling to some Lancaster voters was the absolute silence from Ron Ruffino when Ms Terranova was seemingly mistreated at the same committee meeting.
Indeed, it seemed, and still seems to me, that there was something of a McCracken-Giza-Mohr axis in existance, and that their joint efforts were applied in support of the destruction of the "New" Republicans under Sojka's leadership in retribution for the initial endorsement of Terranova.
(6) Again with respect to the Independence Primary, significant suspicions of "stalker candidates" in use by the Democrats emerged. I intend to focus on this issue frequently in anticipation of future elections.
All of foregoing perceived sabotage notwithstanding, the "New" Republicans' candidate for Town Clerk won comfortably.
Also, the "New" Republican candidate for Supervisor virtually tied the Democrat candidate for Supervisor.
The "New" Republicans can claim significant credit for the strong showing of the Republican candidate for the 8th Legislative District in Lancaster.
The "New" Republicans can claim some credit for the strong Lancaster showing of Lynne Dixon.
MOST SIGNIFICANTLY: The Lancaster voters, apparently inspired by direction of the "New" Republicans under Sojka's leadership, ended Democrat majority control of the Town Council.
A solid performance by the New Republicans under any circumstances; in the 2019 atmosphere of sabotage and intrigue, an outstanding showing.
Congrats to the Lancaster voters, Lancaster's "New" Republican Party, and to Chairman Sojka.
As for the Democrats, as Ron Ruffino takes office on Wednesday, he does so with best wishes of the town that he now leads. However, he does so with the knowledge that his silent lack of support for Terranova may have facilitated the Democrat Party's loss of the Council majority.
In the current environment favoring gridlock, it may be hard to test Ruffino's seeming commitment to be independent of party bosses. All appointments requiring Council approval will be subject to bi-partisan approval.
If one is forced to rely on Ruffino's conduct with regard to Terranova during the primary and general election campaign, one may conclude that the Ruffino pledge to be independent of "party bosses" was at the very least disingenuous.
But, with his induction into the Supervisor's office, Ruffino now has an opportunity to keep faith with his pledge to be that leader independent of the party bosses. Absent a free hand and Council majority control, the taxpayer and all residents will necessarily be forced to look to his exclusively administrative appointments to glean any suggestion of his governing temperament.
As I see it, look to his picks for secretary, Deputy Supervisor, and Budget Director to suggest which Ruffino now leads Lancaster, and which direction Lancaster will take in the future if Ruffino eventually leads a Democrat-controlled Town Council.
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