After four years of being an outspoken Bethlehem councilman, Independence Party member Sam Messina says he’s ready to do the same as the town’s supervisor.
Facing off against the well-funded and organized Democratic Party that has rejected him, Messina said he is running to end partisan rule and politics as usual and to allow for a more open and transparent Town Hall that represents all of Bethlehem not just Delmar Democrats.
This here means more to me than just a pin of the Town of Bethlehem,` Messina said pointing to his lapel. `This represents everything I love and care about, and I vowed to serve this town to the best of my abilities. My best is not to just walk away from what I see going on.`
Messina had interviewed for his council seat with the Democratic and Independence parties before announcing his intentions for the supervisor position. Democrats opted not to endorse him this year after cross endorsing him in 2005 and the Independence Party has yet to propose a formal slate for the fall elections.
He said he doesn’t like what he sees happening within town government. However, he said, it’s what he doesn’t see that bothers him even more and was the impetus behind his decision to run for town supervisor.
Political decisions are taking precedence over `What’s best for Bethlehem,` according to Messina, who said he has tried to effect a change through his role as a councilman by speaking out against the political appointment process.
`I have gone out of my way to extend the olive branch many times and sought compromise and speak about issues I think are important, but there needs to be a fundamental change, and if I continue on the board as a member I can’t change anything,’ he said. `Everyone just points and says, ‘It’s only a few appointments.’ But it’s much more than that it’s an issue of control and poor governance.`
Citing an April 15 Spotlight article in his official announcement of his run for the supervisor position, Messina took issue with reasons given by Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Matt Clyne about why the party did not endorse Messina for a re-election bid to his council seat.
`When Chairman Clyne states publicly that ‘I personally got tired of Sam Messina’s grandstanding. He wasn’t able to harmonize his views with other board members,’ it’s time for Bethlehem residents to tell Chairman Clyne and Vice Chairman [Jack] Cunningham that they want balance and representation from their elected officials, not back-room partisan politics,` the release states.
Messina also said in his release that he plans to revert back to the ways of former supervisor Theresa Egan.
`I was proud to serve with Teri Egan because I believe in and share her values and principles of open, inclusive, non-partisan and competent government leadership,` he states. `I intend to bring back those principles and values that made Bethlehem a special place and lead our town government, as a team, to achieve outstanding service and management accomplishments.`
Cunningham announced at the beginning of March that he would seek another two-year term as supervisor. This campaign will constitute Cunningham’s first re-election bid after handily winning in 2007. Before that he had been appointed to replace Egan, who took a job with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
Prior to that, Cunningham served as an Albany County legislator.
Messina was quick to note Cunningham’s ties to the town’s Democratic Party, and called him a product of political patronage.
`He and Matt Clyne are cut from exactly the same political cloth,` Messina told The Spotlight in his first formal interview as supervisor candidate. `Jack and I have a basic philosophical difference. He loves politics and has told me so. I’m all for good politics, but I am for good governance first.`
Messina writes in his release that politics should not come before competent leadership.
`Since the appointment and election of Supervisor Cunningham, Bethlehem town government has been under the arrogant, intolerant and partisan political thumbs of Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Matthew Clyne and Vice Chairman Jack Cunningham. Back-room politics has trumped good government,` he said.
Looking the represent `all of the people of Bethlehem,` Messina said he is seeking the endorsements of all political parties in town, including his own Independence Party.
Bethlehem’s new Independence Party chairman is Mark Jordan, who is chief of staff to Assemblyman Tim Gordon, the state’s only Independence Party assemblyman. Jordan is currently seeking a town board seat but has not held an official campaign kickoff event.
Democrats originally endorsed Jordan over Messina for councilman, but now Messina will have to re-interview with all parties as a supervisor contender.
With the Democrats already lending their endorsement to Cunningham, Messina said he is doubtful that Clyne would sign off on a petition for Messina to force a primary for the endorsement.
Messina said he disagrees with Cunningham’s assessment that `people only care about their leaves being picked up` and that residents want more from town government.
`What the people expect from the town is safety, plowed roads, keeping the streets clean and other quality of life issues,` said Messina. `What they want is good government, openness and respect.`
Knowing that he could easily be outspent during the campaign, Messina said he will begin walking `home to home` and speaking with residents about his campaign immediately.
He has built a platform for his campaign around seven fundamental principles: Become a sustainable community; create a more open and accessible government; institute government best practices; introduce a new leadership philosophy; focus on existing business; evaluate new opportunities; and demonstrate true non-partisan government and politics.
As a 35-year resident of Bethlehem, Messina and his wife, Jan, live in Delmar and have three children. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business and economics.
Messina lists a number of committees and community activities he has been involved with on his campaign literature, including Bethlehem Senior Projects; Bethlehem IDA; Bethlehem Youth Court; Samaritan Suicide Prevention; DWI Impact Panels; organ and tissue donation; Albany Medical Center Chaplaincy; and Slingerlands Methodist Church.
He said he is creating an official campaign Web site called www.messinaforsupervisor.com.
Messina said he believes his stance on appointments and other platforms will resonate with voters come November.
`I have no problem with some political appointments, but let’s be reasonable. If you have eight spots, don’t do all eight like that,` said Messina. `I’m on the right side of these issues, and people will see that during the campaign.`
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