This is a corrected version of this blog; Monday, June 9,2014
Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, says she expects Bob Duffy to reapply for her job. Parker retires at the end of the year and Duffy, currently New York’s lieutenant governor, isn’t running on Governor Cuomo’s re-election ticket this fall.Â
“I would be very surprised if he doesn’t throw his hat in the ring,” Parker said during an interview today. “He’s going to be finished with his responsibilities at the end of the year. Do I think he would be a good candidate for the job? Absolutely. But I’m not part of the selection process.”Â
Duffy interviewed for the RBA job last year, but withdrew from consideration when the news went public. It has been widely speculated that he’d reapply, given Parker’s impending departure. Parker even delayed her retirement a year, though she’s never said she did it to give Duffy a chance to finish out his term as lieutenant governor.Â
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2014.
Lets see if I understand this. Bob Duffy bought Sandy Parker’s lake home. Bob Duffy applied for her job but, got in trouble with the Governor so he is no longer going to run because of it. Sandy Parker (and husband Dutch Summers) then decided that she should stay there until Bobby was available (at 400k per year).
Coincidentally, Bob’s back began to hurt him and being chief ribbon cutter for the state was no longer fun. So, Sandy/Dutch can now “install” him in her seat. The fact that her job is as a lobbyist and he cannot lobby for 2 years is a mere technicality that can be overlooked…just like the small ethical lapse of an elected state official buying the home of a lobbyist.
Oh, one last point, one of the advantages of Duffy getting the job is he probably can work for less because he can collect his police pension and state pension at the same time he is working for a business growth group in a state that is dying because of public pension payouts. Sounds like the perfect choice to me.
Did anyone NOT see this happening, despite everything Parker and Duffy have been saying to the contrary for months?
The ladies were protesting too much, too frequently. Anything even approaching their integrity and credibility has long since gone up in smoke.
So, tell me again: why is this story even newsworthy?
It certainly isn’t surprising.
Am I alone in wishing Lt. Governor “Aw-Shucks” Duffy would just go enjoy his new lake house and multiple pensions and leave us alone??? I’m sure he’s a fine man and all, but his tendency to talk a lot while saying virtually nothing (like many-a-politician) makes me want to pull my hair out.
Didn’t Bob Duffy work his way to the top of the Police Force in Rochester,NY over a log career and serve the public in a very professional manner. Wasn’t it Bob Duffy and Wade Norwood the only two people in all of Rochester that came to my side when I need help with a problem in my neighborhood ? Wasn’t it Bob Duffy that worked his butt off to become Mayor ? Wasn’t it Bob Duffy that was asked by Cuomo to be his running mate ? Duffy has openly said that he regretted leaving the position of Mayor in Rochester, NY. Don’t we all have choices in where we want to work and when we want to work as well as for whom ?
Some people have medical issues with their back. I think Duffy will do well; has served well in the past; and , would be a great asset to the Rochester Region should he return to this area in the future and take over Parker’s position. Duffy, Warren, Brooks, Bronson, Jeff Adair, Wade Norwood, and David Gantt would be a plus for our city. I hope they all will work together in the future.
Craig R. Moffitt