As someone who had the honor of being elected by the citizens of Bethlehem as a councilman and then supervisor, I remain very interested and engaged in the governance of our town. Like many of you, I have read a great deal over the past few months about this year’s town-wide elections – including the shenanigans that resulted in the voters of the Democratic Party being deprived of the opportunity to select their nominees for councilman and highway superintendent in a primary election. Based on what I have read and my own experience with the candidates, I am enthusiastically endorsing Dan Coffey for town board and Giles Wagoner for highway superintendent.
When I served as councilman and supervisor, I did my very best to always place the interests of our town and its people above partisan politics. As a result, I was able at various times in my public life to receive endorsements from the Democratic, Republican, Independence, Working Families, and Conservative parties, as well as from voters unaffiliated with any political party. That strong support across political lines strengthened by belief that voters are interested in what candidates stand for and not party labels.
Regardless of your party affiliation, you have a similar opportunity this election to do what is in the best interests of Bethlehem by getting out to vote and casting your vote for Dan Coffey and Giles Wagoner.
When you vote in November, you will find Coffey’s and Wagoner’s names on Row E, the Working Families Party. This party has time and again demonstrated its commitment to good government and the courage to endorse the best candidates, regardless of party affiliation, political power, influence or expediency – and the Working Families Party has done so again in endorsing Coffey and Wagoner.
Let’s be clear, both of these gentlemen are Democrats and were overwhelmingly supported by the Bethlehem Democratic Committee, and they would almost certainly have won the Democratic primary had it not been prevented by a lawsuit based on a clerical error. Both Coffey and Wagoner are well qualified and have repeatedly shown their commitment to serve our community and all or our residents and businesses.
I know many of the candidates running for office this year. I have carefully considered the qualifications of all, and I respectfully and without reservation ask you to vote on the Working Families ballot line for Dan Coffey for town board and Giles Wagoner for highway superintendent.
Sincerely,
Sam Messina
Editor’s Note: Sam Messina served one term as Bethlehem Town Supervisor, beating Democratic incumbent Jack Cunningham in 2009, despite not receiving an endorsement from his own Independence Party. Messina earned a victory by running on both the Republican and Conservative lines.