DiLeva to leave Town Board; Buffardi makes bid for supervisor
Rotterdam Supervisor Frank Del Gallo is not getting any help from town Democrats in his bid for reelection as Harry Buffardi steps up to vie for his seat.
The Rotterdam Democratic Committee officially endorsed its Town Board candidates for the upcoming election. Endorsements include Wayne Calder, who was elected to Republican Gerard Parisi’s vacant Town Board position last year, and newcomers to the Rotterdam political scene Mike Viscusi for councilman and Buffardi for supervisor. Nicola DiLeva, a conservative cross-endorsed by the Democrats, said she won’t be seeking reelection.
Town Board members Matthew Martin and Robert Godlewski, both Democrats, are serving terms that don’t expire until 2013.
With three seats up for grabs in Rotterdam, the Democrats are vying for control.
The attributes and accomplishments of the candidates receiving endorsements is well known, said Anthony Jasenski, chairman of the Rotterdam Democratic Committee and county legislator, in a statement. `Each of them possess the unique qualities and characteristics that will allow them continued success in fulfilling our public service mission and providing the residents of Rotterdam with the excellent levels of attention and responsiveness that they deserve.`
Outside Town Board bids, the Democrats endorsed Vincent Romano for town highway superintendent and Kevin Mercoglan for town justice.
On the county level, town Democrats are supporting Jasenski and Angelo Santabarbara for reelection to the County Legislature. Town Democrats are also supporting Mark Powers in his bid for a second term as county family court judge. The Schenectady County Democratic Committee must still make these endorsements formally.
DiLeva, who is leaving the Town Board once her term expires at the end of the year, said one term is enough.
Over the past several months, she has clashed with Del Gallo on a number of issues, often leading to heated debates at board meetings. What she hoped to accomplish, she said, couldn’t be achieved. While cross-endorsed by the Democrats in her previous bid, she said she is, at heart, a Conservative.
`I am there to help the people and the residents, and they are there to do what is best for the party, and I am not a part of the party,` said DiLeva about not seeking a Democratic endorsement. `I really thought that we could do something to help the residents and help the employees out and their ideas and my ideas are not on the same side of the spectrum.`
Buffardi said he is hoping to change the way town government is run and plans to unite the board. Using his experience of 36 years in the criminal justice system and many years in supervision or administration positions, Buffardi said he is familiar with aspects of government management.
`The major change I hope to bring is a strong form of leadership to coalesce people to strive in appropriate directions instead of having continuous dissent and not dealing with the issues,` said Buffardi. `I think I have a skill set that will be useful for the town to develop its full potential.`
Committee members supported Buffardi over Del Gallo by 27-to-11, but Del Gallo said the outcome wasn’t too much of a surprise to him. Previously, Buffardi said committee members had lobbied for him to run, and rather persistently too.
`It is because I don’t want to play the same games they play,` said Del Gallo about not receiving a Democrat endorsement. `It is a long ways from Election Day so we will see what happens between now and then, and everything will come out that has to come out and the truth will be spoken.`
Unsure whether other party endorsements will come through, Del Gallo has said he’ll form his own party line to run for reelection if needed.
Dissent among board members, said Jasenski, is part of the reasoning Del Gallo lost the party’s endorsement. Being able to focus on the tough issues is important, and Jasenski said Del Gallo didn’t appear to be the best choice.
`There are issues at Town Hall that don’t seem to be going away with regards to actions of the supervisor,` said Jasenski. `This isn’t a personality contest, this is what they [the committee] would believe would be best for town government moving forward for some of the issues that are on the table after 15 months.`
Del Gallo disagreed with Jasenski’s assessment and said the Town Board has tackled many important issues and projects during his tenure.
`Sometimes the board disagrees, which is normal, I think. It didn’t hold back anything getting done in Rotterdam,` said Del Gallo. `If anybody could name a project that was halted with the disagreeing of the board, I would like to know what it is.`
Del Gallo was unable to build a consensus on `the small things,` said Jasenski, including the proposed tax cap with tax increases over 2 percent. This is why the committee drifted from the supervisor. Buffardi brings a `no-nonsense` approach to government, Jasenski said, and he’s confident he’s the one who can unite the board.
`What they were looking for was more of a proven administrator,` said Jasenski.
Del Gallo said he is still confident he can get reelected and thinks town government is functioning effectively.
`I think once everybody knows what I have done and what’s out there and what they may get, I think so,` said Del Gallo about reelection. `I think everything in the town is running smooth.`
Calder said Buffardi is someone he could work with and thought if the slate of Democratic endorsements were eventually elected they could `do some really good things.` Calder feels he can be an asset to the community and said he’s learned a lot after getting elected last year.
`I have known Harry Buffardi for many years, and I have worked with him. He is an honest guy, and he is very intelligent, and I know he could do a really good job if elected supervisor,` said Calder.
Viscusi did run for County Legislature two years ago endorsed by Republicans, but this time he will be on the Democratic ticket.
Jasenski said Viscusi impressed some committee screening members during his interview by showing a dedication and devotion to the town.
`It seems like they have put together a slate of individuals that will work well together,` said Jasenski.“
