The Albany County Independence Party has unanimously endorsed Democrat Jack Cunningham based on his record over its own member for Bethlehem town supervisor.
The party also crossed endorsed Democratic Councilman Kyle Kotary for re-election, Democrat Nanci Moquin for an open town clerk seat, Bethlehem Independence Party Chairman Mark Jordan for his first town board bid, and Republican Gregg Sagendorf in his bid for another term as highway superintendent.
All of the picks were unanimous.
Left out of the equation is Councilman Sam Messina, who is a member of the party, in his bid to unseat Cunningham as supervisor.
Councilwoman Joann Dawson is also an Independence Party member on the board; meaning if Jordan and Messina won their respective seats, the party could have majority on the board including the chairman, which would be a first in the town’s history.
Albany County Independence Party Chairman Paul Caputo, who is also the state’s vice chair, said he is impressed with this year’s slate of candidates in Bethlehem and that although he believes Messina to be a good public servant, he said he felt Cunningham was the stronger candidate.
We have endorsed Jack in the past and he’s done a wonderful job and has been a proponent of open government, Caputo said. `He’s been a very good supervisor.`
Caputo described Messina as `a very fine gentleman` and wished him well.
Messina said he was `disappointed but not surprised` by the announcement and stated he would `definitely` seek a primary for his own party.
Cunningham said he was happy with the announcement and is looking forward to both the primary and general campaigns.
`I’m pleased to get this nomination and looking forward to a spirited campaign this summer,` said Cunningham. `I work very hard on this job and I hope residents see that and continue to support me for another term.`
Messina said he is unsure why his party did not lend its support but that he will now be appealing directly to the people.
`I am in the Independence Party and I have acted during my full Town Board involvement in the best interest of the Independence Party,` Messina said when The Spotlight informed him of his nomination loss. `Bethlehem voters will make up their own minds about who they want.`
Messina said Cunningham can expect to primary for the ballot line.
`I think I represent the people in Bethlehem who have registered in the Independence Party to be able to think and act independently,` said Messina. `The bottom line is I am the only person in the Independence Party running for supervisor and I am the only one in this race acting with independent values.`
Cunningham said he is no stranger to primaries, particularly an Independence Party primary, after winning his first in 2001 for Bethlehem Town Board.
`I’ve won more Independence primaries than anyone else in Albany County,` Cunningham said.
The endorsement comes as a big win for him after Messina announced his candidacy with accusations of political insider governance. Cunningham says the solid vote of confidence validates his tenure while Messina says the endorsement only validates his point about political cronyism.
`Jack Cunningham has been entirely about control and expedience,` Messina said of his opponents record on open government. `The Independence Party has a chance to be great by being independent.`
The announcement also comes on the heels of Messina and Jordan’s endorsement by the state’s Working Families Party, adding an extra ballot for each of the Independence Party members
As it stands now, Cunningham has the Democrat and Independence lines for supervisor and Messina has the Conservative and Working Families Party lines, but is expected to also receive the town’s Republican Party nomination.
The Independence line would lend Cunningham two lines, with a major party and a minor party line, or it could give Messina four lines, with a possible major party and three minor party lines.
For updates on this story return to www.spotlightnews.com, or read the full story in the Wednesday, June 10, print edition of The Spotlight.“