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Thread: New Independence Party Scandal, Illuzzi response

  1. #1
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    New Independence Party Scandal, Illuzzi response

    The Independence Party had faded from public awareness after its controversial chair Tony Orsini beat down efforts by dissidents to oust him.

    Now Orsini has again hit the front page of the Bflo News, this time because his wife was paid $5000 as a "consultant" working as brand new Coastal Consulting South out of Orsini's vacation house trailer in Florida.

    And Orsini's one-time business partner & chief defender Joe Illuzzi has already come to Orsini's defense.


    http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregio...ry/394241.html

    Independence Party bid by Davis stirs questions
    Wives of two officialspaid as consultants


    By Robert J. McCarthy NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER, Updated: 07/18/08 6:41 AM


    Jack Davis has paid $5,000 each to the wives of the two men who will determine the Independence Party nomination for the 26th Congressional District.

    The two women are his “consultants,” says Davis, a wealthy Democratic businessman who seeks the often crucial Independence line in his bid to succeed Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds in Congress.

    But Erie County Independence Chairman Anthony L. Orsini and the Davis campaign say the payments and Davis’ pursuit of the endorsement are not connected, nor will the $10,000 influence the party’s decision.

    “You can’t buy the endorsement of the Independence Party,” Orsini said. “I am not approachable, and my wife is not approachable. She has a lot of friends out there and is an asset because of her contacts.”

    Davis spokesman Luke Vaughn denied any impropriety.

    “We’ve retained people who know Independence Party politics because

    we’re trying to win those votes in November,” he said.

    Davis paid $5,000 to Costal Consulting South of Venice, Fla., for “campaign consulting,” according to Federal Elections Commission records. The company is based in the mobile home owned by Orsini and is headed by his wife, Judith A. Orsini, public data base records indicate.

    Davis also paid $5,000 to Blanca Semidey, of 2 Loring Ave., Rochester, also for being a “campaign consultant,” the FEC records indicate.

    Blanca S. Colon is registered as a member of the Independence Party at that address, as is Rafael Colon, Monroe County Independence chairman, according to the Monroe County Board of Elections.

    Rafael Colon did not return a call to comment. But Anthony Orsini said his wife’s company, incorporated in Florida earlier this year, has earned the money by providing names of friendly Democrats to the Davis campaign.

    “She gives him names of contacts; that’s what he wanted her to do,” Orsini said. “It’s got nothing to do with the endorsement.”

    Costal Consulting South gives names to Davis of “people who are players — Democrats who have worked with the Independence Party in the past and who could be helpful,” Orsini said.

    He said he believed his wife had at least one other contract to provide similar services for the state Independence Party. He called any suggestion of a link between the payments and the Independence nomination “really reaching.”

    “It might look funny if [Davis] gets the endorsement , ” Orsini said. “But if he doesn’t get the endorsement , what would you

    say?”

    Davis has eagerly sought the Independence endorsement in his last two campaigns to win the Reynolds seat, and that endorsement still has not been determined.

    The Independence Party has nominated Kenmore attorney Anthony A. Fumerelle, Orsini’s godson, as the candidate.

    But the chairman has previously acknowledged that Fumerelle could end up “holding the line” until September, when he could receive an Independence nomination for State Supreme Court and be replaced with a major party candidate.

    Orsini said the uncertainty surrounding the three-way Democratic primary for the Reynolds seat forced the party into taking advantage of election law technicalities until after the September contest.

    “It’s too much of a mess out there,” Orsini said in June, referring to the three-way Democratic race. “We don’t know who is going to win the Democratic primary.”

    Davis poured major time and expense into capturing the Independence line in 2006 over Lockport attorney Robert M. Pusateri, hoping to use the strength of the minor party line to beat Reynolds in the November general election. He lost in a close contest to the Republican incumbent.

    “It’s an issue that raises eyebrows and depending on what the justification is, it may invite more serious examination,” said Blair Horner, a lobbyist for the New York Public Interest Research Group.

    Horner, who was not familiar with the details of Davis’ arrangements, said if Davis hired the women for “legitimate political services” and they are typically consultants, “it’s probably not a big deal.”

    However, he said, exchanging money for a party’s endorsement is clearly crossing the line. He pointed to last year’s conviction of former Assemblyman and Brooklyn Democratic leader Clarence Norman Jr.

    Norman is currently serving time in prison for threatening to pull support from a civil court candidate unless she paid a consultant friend of his several thousand dollars.

    Judith Orsini has attracted scrutiny in the past in connection with business activities tied to local candidates.

    Michael W. Mullins, a major contributor to former West Seneca Supervisor Paul T. Clark’s 2007 campaign for county executive, hired her in March of that year to work for his nursing care company.

    Three weeks later, Anthony Orsini bestowed the party’s endorsement on Clark. Both Mullins and Anthony Orsini then denied any connection between the endorsement for Clark and Judith Orsini’s job, which was described as recruiting in-home nursing personnel and lasted only a few weeks.

    Judith Orsini also formerly worked part time in the local office of former Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, DCheektowaga, during a period when the Independence Party was closely allied with local Democrats. She is also the former deputy clerk of the Town of Concord.

    The Erie County Independence chairman has a history of using his personal political committee to pay for thousands of dollars in meals, gasoline, cell phone expenses, and auto repairs since taking the party helm in 2002 and declaring bankruptcy in 2003.

    The chairman has justified the expenses as necessary to administer the county’s third-largest political party, especially since he gets no salary. FEC records also indicate Davis gave Orsini’s political committee $599 earlier this year.

    Previous campaign finance records show Orsini flashing the party credit card at Turning Stone Casino in Verona and Belhurst Castle resort near Geneva. And he has billed to the party tickets for Broadway shows in Shea’s Performing Arts Center and heavyweight fights in HSBC Arena.

    And in 2004, he and then-vice chairman Thomas W. Pecoraro sold ads for a publication with the official-sounding name of Erie County Independence Party Newsletter. It actually was a private venture launched by a company called T&T Publications owned by Orsini and Pecoraro. In 2006, Orsini was appointed by the Democratic County Legislature to the board of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., where he is eligible for up to $4,000 per year for attending meetings, plus expenses such as mileage or meals. He also receives full health insurance.

    News Staff Reporter Maki Becker contributed to this report. rmccarthy@buffnews.com
    The Illuzzi defense:

    http://******************/

    BUFFALO NEWS McCARTHY A STAND UP COMEDIAN

    Bob McCarthy big front page expose': IP Chairs Orsini & Colon wives received $5,000 from the Jack Davis 26th District congressional campaign for in kind services.

    Three things: Davis has a history of making these kind of payments to anyone that can help get him elected.

    McCarthy failed to mention for decades these in kind payments, e.g., consulting, legal work graphics, etc., are border line ways to get the Chairman of all pol parties, esp. the Erie County Conservative Party to advance the candidacies of any given hopeful. The numbers in some cases extraordinary. Rarely if ever have I read a word from McCarthy & the Buffalo News.

    Erie County GOP Jim Domagalski is the only County chair over the last few decades who is clean with respect to these in kind payments.

    Lastly, Jack Davis (polling indicates Powers has little or no chance in Dem primary against Davis) will not get the IP line. Anthony Fumerelle will retain the line. If he should get a Supreme Court endorsement his Committee of Vacancies will fill the slot.

    My money is on the best candidate in the race to get the line. Republican Chris Lee!

    So the entire premise of McCarthy's front page rant is MOOT once again; at least McCarthy is consistent! ###

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    It is one thing for Erie County Independence Chairman Anthony L. Orsini to make backroom deals and give independent endorsements to his friends and family, but isn't the pay for endorsement thing illegal? This man cannot be trusted. I have to wonder if this party should even exist. This is a party that would have a candidate that is a registered Independent running for office and Erie County Independence Chairman Anthony L. Orsini would endorse a Democrat against his own Independent candidate. Unbelievable! What an outrage! I wonder if there was some monies involved in this "deal" also. I am certain that if I were registered as an Independent that I would be doing everything in my power to change the way nominations are handled there. Shouldn't a committee handle this. It is not a very good procedure to allow one person to make these decisions for the entire committee. Something has got to be done.
    **free is a trademark of the current U.S. government.

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    Tis the season to be jolly

    You can always tell when it's election season, Mc Carthy trots out his IP bashing agenda, lead of course by Chuck Eaton and his gang. Where do you think McCarthy gets his information? As long as Orsini won't tow the Brian Higgins line, he is going to get bashed. The "aginers" in the IP are Gaughn and Koziel. That's it. They want the party control so that they can pursue their agenda. To have Chuck Eaton get them jobs. They can't get them on their own merit so they have to have something to offer the Dems. As to McCarthy, His idea of investigative journalism is to take notes over the phone from some "informant". As to his accusation against Orsini - is what he is printing illegal? Is he accusing Orsini of a crime? Is any other party guilty of the same crime (involving much more money)?
    dono

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    Talking Oakley To Be Disqualified

    For someone who knows everything ,he still has not learned to properly file petitions. Maybe over the next two years you can figure it out. Maybe you can post your petitions also how about those letters you recieved from the Board of Elections. We will all miss you as a committeeman.

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    The state of politics in EC is nothing new.
    IMO the charge against "consultants" who are paid is not relevant.
    If your my opponent and your consultants do not help you win, goody for me. Someone is going to consult and they should be paid.

    What I keep finding to be the biggest joke played on people is the constant change from one party to the next by these politicians. They change parties as often as we change our.......!

    What does that leaves us, the electorate, with?.............. Bastards.

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    Orsini is a whore

    Tony Orsini and his wife are just looking for free money. They are both whores and backstabbers. And I must say, mary Rose Gaughan is nothing but a nut case. Eaton already got her a job with the NYS health Department. This election will be Tony's last hurrah.

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    UPDATE: Gramigna responds to latest Orsini caper

    How any self-respecting voter can join the IP is beyond me. Of course, I am biased because the past IP chair is one of the most corrupt individuals I met in my 'career' as 'city hall watchdog' . . . . &had a major role in driving me out of Bflo.

    Interestingly, nobody at the IP ever even mentions ex-IP County Chair Charles Flynn, who ran for mayor without the IP endorsement. Does he have any role in the party?

    Flynn's colorful (criminal?) career as 2X Masiello-appointee on the BMHA Bd finally ends in October, with ZERO chance that Byron Brown will re-appoint him.

    Is Orsini better than Flynn as IP Chair? What, if anything, does the Independence Party "stand for"?

    http://www.newwnypolitics.com/index....d=695&Itemid=1

    As Questions About Orsini Grow...An ECIP Newsletter Diary
    Written by Glenn Gramigna, Editor Saturday, 19 July 2008

    NEWSLETTER EDITOR REMEMBERS BEING TOLD, "ADS DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN ENDORSEMENTS"

    There is no doubt that the front page story in the July 15 issue of the Buffalo News headlined, "Independence Party bid by Davis stirs questions" looks bad for the Orsinis. Is there an implied promise of political support from the Chairman of the Erie County Independence Party in return for hiring Judy Orsini, Tony Orsini, or Mrs. Orsini's consulting firm?...Probably. Ask yourself this question: How many such jobs and accounts was Judy Orsini getting BEFORE her husband was Chairman of the ECIP?

    Clearly, this whole operation needs to be looked into by someone with subpoena power as has been done in other communities when similar practices surfaced. As someone who knows the Orsini family, this reporter can only hope and pray that no criminal wrongdoing is found.

    The references in Bob McCarthy's story to the late, lamented Erie County Independence Party Newsletter, reminded me of my own part in the Orsini saga. Back in 2003 and 2004 this reporter was the nominal "editor" and advertising director of this storied publication. However, I don't remember this dubious enterprise being quite as sinister as McCarthy makes it out to be. In fact, to put this subject center stage at the start, I distinctly recall what I was told when an aide to one political figure asked if taking out an ad meant a guaranteed endorsement.

    "Tell them there is no guarantee that they are going to get the endorsement because they take out



    an ad," then ECIP Vice-Chairman Tom Pecoraro stated. And, that's what I did whenever this issue came up, which was often.

    As far as the fact that the Newsletter's real owners was Pecoraro's company, "T & T Publications," I don't believe I understood this fact until I had started my selling and the time came to tell buyers to whom to make out the checks.

    I got paid commissions for what I sold, which was a fair number of ads, however, both Orsini and Pecoraro always told me the venture lost money.

    "I didn't make a nickel out of that newsletter," Pecoraro would always say. "You're the only one who made any money off it."

    And, that may well be true.

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    Hilarious

    Quote Originally Posted by Dvoakley
    You can always tell when it's election season, Mc Carthy trots out his IP bashing agenda, lead of course by Chuck Eaton and his gang. Where do you think McCarthy gets his information? As long as Orsini won't tow the Brian Higgins line, he is going to get bashed. The "aginers" in the IP are Gaughn and Koziel. That's it. They want the party control so that they can pursue their agenda. To have Chuck Eaton get them jobs. They can't get them on their own merit so they have to have something to offer the Dems. As to McCarthy, His idea of investigative journalism is to take notes over the phone from some "informant". As to his accusation against Orsini - is what he is printing illegal? Is he accusing Orsini of a crime? Is any other party guilty of the same crime (involving much more money)?
    This is good. Coming from the guy who is so dumb that he just got bounced from the ballot as a committeeman because he needed 2 signatures and got 2 -- only problem is he witnessed his own signature. That's not kosher, Don.

    Oh, wait. I'm sure that was all part of the same conspiracy.

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    UPDATE: Monroe Co "bribe"; Will Orsini resign too?

    Here is the latest on the "consulting firms" run by Monroe County & Erie County IP Chair's wives.

    Will Orsini be forced to resign too? Or is this just business-as-usual in Erie County IP?

    BTW: Past IP Chair Charles Flynn has just sold his 102 Pomona residence (assessed value $38K) on a struggling street for $55K. Where is Flynn, who also ran the IP as a virtual criminal enterprise & is never mentioned, now?

    http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/402239.html

    Independence Party leader resigns in Monroe County after bribe claims
    Davis campaign paid $5,000 to wife

    By Robert J. McCarthy NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER, Updated: 07/29/08 8:30 AM


    The chairman of the Monroe County Independence Party has resigned after his wife accepted $5,000 in what party officials call “bribe money” from the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Jack Davis.

    Rafael Colon, a Rochester resident who works in a Batavia factory, quit his local and state positions after Monroe County Independence Party officials confronted him over the payment, according to Walter Schiemann, interim chairman.

    “It’s all about what we call the bribe money from Jack Davis,” Schiemann said. “I’m not going to let this party fall into hands like that.”

    The Buffalo News reported July 18 that Colon’s wife had received $5,000 from Davis under her maiden name for “campaign consulting.” The wife of Anthony L. Orsini, chairman of the Erie County Independence Party, also received $5,000 from Davis for “campaign consulting” through a firm she established in the couple’s Florida mobile home earlier this year.

    Colon and Orsini are the party’s two most influential chairmen in the 26th Congressional District, now represented by the retiring Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence. The party has nominated Anthony A. Fumerelle, a Kenmore attorney and Orsini’s godson, as its candidate for the post.

    But Orsini previously acknowledged that Fumerelle could end up “holding the line” until September, when he could receive an Independence nomination for State Supreme Court and be replaced with a major party candidate.

    Orsini said the uncertainty surrounding the three-way Democratic primary for the Reynolds seat forced the party into taking advantage of election law technicalities until after the September contest.

    “It’s too much of a mess out there,“ Orsini said last month, referring to the three-way Democratic race. “We don’t know who is going to win the Democratic primary.”

    Schiemann, however, said Monday that he has no intention of collaborating with Orsini to replace Fumerelle. That could allow Fumerelle to draw votes away from the Democratic or Republican candidates and diminish the importance the third line on the ballot was expected to hold in this year’s congressional election.

    “It can’t possibly work,” Schiemann said. “For Supreme Court, we’ll put who we want in there.

    “Orsini does not control this party,” he added. “[Substituting the candidate] may have been a consideration that Colon and he had, but not for me.”

    Schiemann said Monday that Colon evaded party officials for eight days as they attempted to discuss the situation. When he finally returned his call, Schiemann said, he told Colon he had done wrong and needed to resign.

    “We can’t get them out of the party,” he said of the Colons, “but we can keep them from having any power.”

    He also said the fact that the payments were made to Colon’s wife under her maiden name of Blanca Semidey underscored the party’s concerns over their questionable nature.

    “It’s definitely a bribe — absolutely,” Schiemann said, adding that the resignation may satisfy party officials and preclude further discussions with the Monroe County district attorney.

    Orsini said earlier this month that the services provided by Coastal Consulting South of Venice, Fla. — headed by his wife, Judith — represented a legitimate enterprise.

    “She gives [Davis] names of contacts; that’s what he wanted her to do,” Orsini said. “It’s got nothing to do with the endorsement.”

    While Schiemann described the payments as a bribe, Davis spokesman Luke Vaughn said they were legitimate.

    “The goal of the payments was to help build relationships with Independence Party members, and that effort continues,” he said.

    rmccarthy@buffnews.com

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    Always going around in circles trying to treat symptoms instead of curing causes. What should be questioned is the source that instilled the adverse morals and principles in these people and others alike. And a close watch on the intent of their children when they are grown shouldnt be ignored.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Homer
    This is good. Coming from the guy who is so dumb that he just got bounced from the ballot as a committeeman because he needed 2 signatures and got 2 -- only problem is he witnessed his own signature. That's not kosher, Don.

    Oh, wait. I'm sure that was all part of the same conspiracy.
    Absolutely brilliant!

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    UPDATE: Will Orsini resign?

    Interestingly, Orsini-best-friend Joe Illuzzi has been silent on this sorry chapter of the IP. Instead Illuzzi is focusing on taking down Hoyt, on a sex-with-interns scandal . . as Illuzzi is swallowing his longtime disapproval of gays & abortion to support openly-lesbian Barbra Kavanaugh's run against Hoyt.

    Will Orsini resign? And, if so, will the new leaders be an improvement? Watch for more.

    http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/405649.html

    Party foes tell Orsini to resign
    By Robert J. McCarthy NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER, Updated: 08/03/08 6:49 AM


    Just days after the chairman of the Monroe County Independence Party resigned over charges that his wife accepted what critics called “bribe” money from the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Jack Davis, top members of the party in Erie County are demanding the same from Anthony L. Orsini, their chairman.

    Dennis Koziol and Mary Rose Gaughan, members of the Executive Committee of the Erie County Independence Party, made the demand last week because the Davis campaign had paid Orsini’s wife, Judith, $5,000 for “campaign consulting.”

    Rafael Colon resigned earlier last

    week as chairman of the Monroe County party because of similar payments made to his wife under her maiden name — Blanca Semidey — at a time when some party officials say the congressional nomination remains unsettled.

    “It’s very improper. It stinks,” said Koziol, the retired chief custodian for the Lackawanna School District. “It smells of bribery.”

    “He gave the perception that the endorsement was for sale,” added Gaughan, a registered nurse. “That’s a poor way of moving government forward here.”

    But unlike Colon, Orsini said he is not going anywhere. He described Koziol and Gaughan as an integral part of an attempt by Erie County Democrats to take over the Independence Party. He also charged that through the influence of Democrats, Koziol received Erie County Water Authority jobs for children of his girlfriend while Gaughan recently got a state Health Department job.

    He blamed the effort on Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, and Leonard R. Lenihan, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party.

    “I’m asking them to resign over the jobs they’ve gotten from Brian Higgins and Len Lenihan,” Orsini said. “It’s a travesty what these people have done to a minor party.”

    The squabble highlights a new and strange period for the state’s “major minor” party after a recent Court of Appeals ruling vested new powers in its state officials. While Orsini acknowledges the claims by Koziol and Gaughan that he might not be re-elected chairman when the party reorganizes next month, he will remain head of a competing group that he says will be recognized by state leaders.

    “If they form a constituted committee, I will form my own, and we’ll have dueling chairmen,” he said. “My committee will have teeth. They’ll be out there gumming it.”

    Koziol and Gaughan accuse Orsini of living off the party through his Friends of Tony Orsini account, which accepts donations and routinely pays for many of the chairman’s meals, automobile expenses and, in the past, trips to plays and boxing matches. Orsini’s latest report filed with the state Board of Elections shows his wife was paid $4,885 for “professional services.”

    “I knew that Tony didn’t have a job and needed money, and that he raised all this money under Friends of Orsini,” Koziol said. “But all the money has gone to Tony Orsini, and that’s why I oppose him.”

    Orsini always has maintained that he does not receive a salary to run the party and that his expenses are legitimate. He also defended his wife’s consulting services for Davis after she established a company called Coastal Consulting South earlier this year at the couple’s mobile home in Venice, Fla.

    “She opened a lot of doors in Amherst, Clarence and Lancaster,” he said. “I think you’ll see Jack do very well in the Democratic primary.”

    But Orsini also said the party still backs Anthony L. Fumerelle, his godson and a Kenmore attorney who now holds the Independence Party’s line in the race to succeed Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence. Earlier this summer, Orsini had broached the possibility of replacing Fumerelle with a major party candidate after the Sept. 9 Democratic primary, but he now says he does not consider that likely. He also said he plans to raise money for Fumerelle.

    He said Fumerelle will not leave the congressional race for a Supreme Court nomination because not enough Independence delegates to the judicial nominating convention filed designating petitions to constitute a quorum.

    “We can’t make an endorsement for Supreme Court,” he said.

    Fumerelle also said that he is in the race to stay, though he would not flatly commit to remaining on the line. Election law allows for him to be replaced only in the case of death, moving out of state, or receiving a Supreme Court nomination.

    “I don’t know why Tony even suggested that,” Fumerelle said of a potential substitution. “Right now, I’m on the line, and I’m running.”

    Koziol and Gaughan, meanwhile, predicted state leaders eventually will recognize the group they hope will replace Orsini.

    But Orsini pointed to recent expressions of support from Frank MacKay, the party’s state chairman, and Thomas S. Connolly, its vice chairman, that he says will allow him to control local Independence decisions even if Koziol and Gaughan succeed in ousting him from the local chairmanship.

    “Regardless of whether or not I’ll be elected to the state committee, my wife and I will sit on the Executive Board,” he said. “They will not.”

    rmccarthy@buffnews.com

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    It's funny how I've been preaching this kind of abuse for the last 4 years with little attention being given to it. But now that Orsini is on the outs with the Dems his crap is front page news. LOL!!! Koziol and Gaughan put Orsini in the position he is in and now they are calling for him out. Hello...they are the people who committed frauds on all of you IP members two years ago when they were not elected toany executive committee! Any one remeber all that?

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    Independence: party of scammers?

    The embarassments never end, but IP members apparently expect litttle.

    http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregio...ry/409738.html

    Still registered to vote in Erie County, leader of Independence Party faces loss of tax break

    By Robert J. McCarthy NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER , Updated: 08/08/08 8:07 AM


    As chairman of the Erie County Independence Party, Anthony L. Orsini Jr. wields significant influence in local politics and government.

    He is also a legal resident of Florida.

    Records filed with the Sarasota County property appraiser’s office indicate Orsini and his wife, Judith, qualified for a $400 tax break through a homestead exemption by declaring their Venice mobile home as their legal residence.

    But after The Buffalo News raised questions about the arrangement, Orsini has apparently offered two solutions to a situation Florida considers illegal. He told officials there Thursday he will give up his New York voter registration, while telling The News he will give up his Florida tax exemption.

    “For $400, I’ll give up the exemption,” he said. “I’ll get that back in a fundraiser.”

    But earlier in the day, when contacted by an investigator from the Sarasota County property appraiser’s office, Orsini said nothing about giving up the exemption, according to Louis Guinart, managing director.

    “That’s not what he told us,” Guinart said. “He told us he would remove his name from the voting records in Erie County and file an amended tax return.”

    To satisfy Florida officials, Orsini will have to take some kind of action.

    The state, Guinart explained, is especially strict on enforcing the legal residence requirement in return for the homestead exemption. He said applicants are asked to show proof of citizenship, a Florida driver’s license or proof of where state taxes are filed.

    He also said registering to vote in Florida is not required; neither Orsini nor his wife is registered there. But Florida does not extend the exemption for anyone eligible to vote in another state.

    “If you are performing anything that requires residence in another state, you have not given up that residency,” Guinart said, adding that those found to be in violation face “severe penalties.”

    He also said applicants for the homestead exemption are required to produce a Florida driver’s license or identification card, and turn in any out-of-state license.

    “We would not approve anyone who holds an out-of-state driver’s license,” Guinart said,

    New York State Department of Motor Vehicles records indicate Anthony Orsini holds a valid driver’s license in this state.

    Bob Brehm, spokesman for the New York State Board of Elections, explained nobody can be registered to vote in two places. But he said a New Yorker can own another home as long as he maintains appropriate ties to his place of voter registration.

    Guinart said his office had contacted Orsini on Thursday after The News raised questions about Florida’s homestead exemption requirements. He said fraud charges are possible for submitting false tax exemption applications, though they traditionally are not pursued.

    He said Orsini told his investigator Thursday that he had been confused on his application by the terms “domicile” and “homestead,” and that accounted for the mistake.

    Orsini, meanwhile, said he does not own the residence on Genesee Road in Concord, where he is registered to vote, and that he has no STAR exemption in New York that would disqualify his homestead arrangement in Florida.

    “I’m a legal resident of Florida in order to get a homestead exemption,” he said.

    Guinart said his department would give Orsini the benefit of the doubt and allow his exemption if he forfeited his New York voter registration.

    Orsini said he would give up the exemption, saying, I’m not going to give up politics.”

    rmccarthy@buffnews.com

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    Illuzzi responds on Orsini, dated Sunday?

    Illuzzi & Orsini have long been very close, but now Illuzzi is acknowledging in his own contorted way the Orsini must go.

    Maybe the entire IP should go as well?

    Illuzzi usually dates his posts for the next day, raisng question about what other facts he is stretching. This one is dated TWO DAYS ahead!

    www.illuzziletter.com

    August 10, 2008


    PoliticsNY.Net: IP CHAIRMAN ORSINI DECLARE VICTORY


    We are calling on Erie County IP Chairman Tony Orsini to stand down after his term ends in September.

    Under Orsini the Erie County IP has enrollment has gone from circa 7,000 to over 23,000. Orsini has made the Party a force in local & state politics. We congratulate him for his efforts.

    Orsini & his great wife Judy have both had their petitions denied by the BOE.

    Orsini does not have any support for reelection.

    What he does have is a commitment by the State Chairman Frank MacKay et al, that would allow him & Judy Orsini to remain on the State Committee ex officio. MacKay stipulating Orsini & a committee of three will make endorsement recommendations to the State Committee; which as a consequence of a recent NYS Court of Appeals ruling the State Committee will make both cross county & internal county endorsements.

    Alas, this is not only a corruption of the spirit of the IP protocols; but an absolute corruption of the process that the founders envisioned.

    There is "NO" candidate that we know of that is qualified to fill Orsini's chair. Certainly not Hamburg's Mary Rose Gaughan or Lackawanna's Dennis Koziol both corrupt in their own right.

    However there is a process. We are calling on State Chairman Frank MacKay, with all respect, to convene a reorg session in September, a Judicial nominating convention for 8th JD State Supreme Court shortly there after.

    The "process" is the sacred trust of those in power like MacKay, et al.

    The good news is if things go south the changes in IP the rules will allow MacKay & the State Executive Committee to exercise their privilege under the amended sub section.

    Again we want to congratulate Tony & Judy for their tenure & wish them well & God's speed in the future. ###

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