Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the May 29th Letter to the Editor “Joyce asking for ‘reinforcements’”
From that article, it is clear to me that Andrew is not following in his father’s footsteps.
I knew Harold Joyce. His race for Albany mayor against Jerry Jennings was the first campaign I worked on. I was a big fan of Harold, may he rest in peace, because of his unwavering principles and strong ethical values.
Harold once held the same prestigious governmental mantel his son currently holds – Chairman of the Albany County Legislature.
Harold, bless his soul, was a man of honor who would not interfere in a democratic primary. Staying neutral would have been the ethical approach his son should have embraced in the three contested county legislative races in Bethlehem.
Andrew Joyce is blending an excessive amount of politics and government in the august body he has been elected to lead.
There is a time for governing and a time for politicking.
Andrew Joyce crossed the line.
For Chairman Joyce to begin his letter stating that he is merely a soldier in the county legislature is disingenuous. Who is leading the august body if not the Chairman? He should act as a leader. Where is the big democratic tent that encourages independent thinking and not puppets on a string?
To embrace the notion that party-backed candidates will be better allies than insurgent candidates is a farce.
Town democratic chairman, Ms. Cunningham, a legislative colleague of Mr. Joyce, encouraged him to engage in this duplicitous and dishonorable act of endorsing during a primary.
In his letter, Chairman Joyce only referenced Selkirk and South Bethlehem as the communities in the 36th Legislative District. Apparently, Mr. Joyce does not even realize or was misinformed that portions of Glenmont and Delmar are in the 36th Legislative District and is where the population base lives.
My opponent appears to be a nice man and I can understand why town democrats endorsed his candidacy. He is a Biology teacher at a neighboring school district and a union leader. How many other jobs can this family man sustain before spreading himself too thin?
I am proud not to have the endorsement of any political party because when I am elected to the county legislature from the 36th Legislative District the people of the district will have the confidence that I will be working for them and not party bosses. I will vote and do whatever it takes to represent the best interests of the people who put me in office from the Coeymans town line to the Albany city line.
My campaign mantra has always been to increase budgetary transparency, inspire government efficiency, encourage greater accountability and create a better communication system with county residents. Now who could argue that those principles are not what Chairman Joyce would want to see?
Marc Gronich
Democratic Primary Candidate,
Albany County Legislature – District 36
