None of us should be shocked, I guess, at the level to which
some politicians will sink. Nonetheless, I was surprised at the statement
Republican chair Bill Reilich sent out last week when his Democratic
counterpart, Dave Garretson, announced that he was resigning.
Garretson had said he’s leaving because of “personal concerns
regarding health and family.” Here’s Reilich’s response, which Republican Party
headquarters helpfully e-mailed to the media:
“The primary role of any Chairman is to unify the party,
generate financial support and most of all – win elections. Given Mr.
Garretson’s failure to make substantial progress in any of these aspects, it’s
no surprise that his brief tenure as Chairman has come to an end.
“While the Democratic Committee continues to spin its wheels,
the Monroe County Republican Committee and its 2015 slate of candidates led by
County Executive candidate Cheryl Dinolfo, are firing on all cylinders.
“Our strong leadership and commitment to lower taxes and job
growth are ideas all voters can get behind regardless of party affiliation. I’m
confident our Republican team has the right message and our momentum will carry
us to decisive victories on Election Day.”
I can think of only two reasons Reilich would do such a thing:
he doesn’t believe Garretson is ill or he doesn’t care.
Anybody who has been watching local politics lately knows
what a sad state the Democratic Party is in. Heading into a huge local
election, the party has almost no money. Its popular district attorney jumped
ship and is running as a Republican. The Democrats haven’t found a high-profile
candidate to run against her.
And the party is deeply divided, including along racial lines
– fallout from the 2013 Democratic primary, when Lovely Warren beat then-Mayor
Tom Richards. Rather than uniting behind Warren at that point, a predominantly
white group of Richards backers tried unsuccessfully
to mount a Richards challenge against her in the general election.
That rift hasn’t healed. And Warren, whose support is by no
means limited to the black community, has built a good relationship with County
Executive Maggie Brooks, so there’s probably not much incentive for her to help
the party try to defeat the Republicans’ candidate to succeed Brooks, Cheryl
Dinolfo.
(It’s no small matter that Warren’s fundraising dwarfs that
of the Democratic Party and the Democratic candidate for county executive,
Sandy Frankel.)
Against that background, then, we have Bill Reilich’s
gloating reaction to a fellow politician’s troubles. Reilich and his party
control the county. He had nothing to lose by taking Garretson at his word,
expressing sympathy, and wishing him and his family well. On the contrary, doing
so would have been good for him, for his party, and for the community.
Instead, Reilich has given us gutter politics. That few
people will be surprised is an indication of how low the state of politics has
sunk in the eyes of the average voter.
In elections around the country – most especially in the
current lead-up to the 2016 presidential campaign – public offices are for
sale. And the highest court in the land has endorsed that practice. In Albany,
the former leaders of the Assembly and the Senate are facing federal corruption
charges. The trial began last week for the deputy majority leader of the
Senate, who also faces federal corruption charges. And the head of a major
political party in Rochester throws spitballs when the head of the other party
says illness is causing him to step down.
Is there any reason for people to vote? Any
reason for them to participate in political campaigns? Any reason to
think we can attract honorable people to run for public office?
This city and this county are facing serious challenges. We
need a healthy political system, with honorable people representing diverse
constituencies and views. That the Democratic Party is in serious trouble
shouldn’t please any of us.
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2015.
As you said; “Politics as usual”. So why not leave it at that?
Would it have been better for Reilich to come out and say that Garretson should step down from his leadership roll based on the floundering Democraric party before Garretson made his announcement?
C’mon, you always seem to look for any minute chink in the Republican armor to take a shot at. You sound so one sided and hypocritical in your pieces.
I’m not impressed by either party. It about the “party”. His job was to “unify the party” and then to “raise funds” and finally, “to win elections”. At what point do the constituent come into play, what about “joe schmoe”? It’s party, party, party. You’re suppose to be for the people, people, people. I’d rather drop my money in the collection plate in any local church. They do a pretty good job staying in touch with those who are in need. How most politicians shave themselves in the morning without cutting their throat is mind boggling. To say nothing of looking in the mirror in the first place.
You’re right. Reilich was a jerk if he said that.
You’re also right. The democratic party is in shambles. But not just locally, and the republicans are right behind. That is why it is so refreshing to see non political people entering the stage who aren’t afraid of offending someone and saying what needs to be said
You were expecting that maybe Reilich should send Garretson a sympathy card?
This is politics, not a tea dance. If the shoe were on the other cloven hoof, Garretson would be whooping it up over Reilich’s demise as Republican chairman.
Sad most commentator seem to endorse this bad and un statesman-like behavior
I’m a Republican. The reader before me mentioned that people are looking hard for a minute chink in the Republican armor. In Greece and Monroe County Leadership (I’m talking about Republicans) finding a chink can be done so easily the local Middle School News Reporter could find them on their first day on the job. The real problem isn’t finding the chink the problem is finding someone to report on the chinks a plenty. As a candidate for County Legislature I was not even aloud to present to the Republican committee in Greece (they won’t let me in because I am running against their hand picked candidate). Their fear is that I’ll fight any mismanagement Dem. or Rep. and no one wants that. I can tell you that after talking to over 400 people in the 6th district most are perplexed at the goings on at Town Hall. It’s most of the news people that protect the Republicans..NEWS PEOPLE. Find just one that will spend time with me over the issues. Minute………NO …..HUGE ROCHESTER HUGE….!