Monday, December 23, 2013

The Troy Council committee chair chess game

WILTSHIRE
As reported in the Times Union, the Troy Council has agreed on which members will serve as chair to which committees.

Generally, it’s not huge news, but the political intrigue behind the picks this year can’t be ignored. Ken Crowe, of the TU, did a pretty good job addressing it in a straight up news story but since I have the luxury of expressing opinion as well as reporting news, I will expound on Crowe’s astute observations.
For starters, two Republican councilmen were given committees to chair – Jim Gordon, R-District 1, who was elected in November, will chair the Law Committee and Dean Bodnar, R-District 3, who will enter his third term, will chair the Planning Committee.

KOPKA
Despite reports to the contrary, Gordon will not chair the high-profile Public Safety Committee. Rather, that will go to Bob Doherty, D-District 4, and with it comes the unenviable job of dealing with the Troy Police Department drama. And, despite Council President-elect Rodney Wiltshire’s pledge to not give Councilman Gary Galuski, D-District 6, a committee to chair, he now has two – the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Committees. Council President Lynn Kopka, who will be a straight up At Large representative come Jan. 1, will chair the Public Utilities Committee and not the Planning Committee as she wanted.
A few things stand out.
One giving two minority members their own committees to chair just does not happen and is indicative of the fractured majority caucus. Sure, it’s easy to hide true motives behind the guise of starting the New Year with a “bipartisan spirit” but I’ve been around long enough to know there is more to it.
And that is, quite simply, Wiltshire wants a couple things – a new city clerk and Councilman Ken Zalewski as pro temp - and is unsure he can get five Democratic votes so he needs the two Republicans.
Wiltshire wants to elevate Cheryl Christianson to clerk but the current city clerk, Karla Guererri, is Kopka’s girl. To replace her, Wiltshire needs five votes and since Christianson is Galuski’s sister in law he has to abstain so Wiltshire needs the two Republicans to ensure he has the votes. If it’s a four-four tie, which was a real possibility, Guererri would remain clerk until the tie is broken.
The same goes for pro temp. Galuski (picture left), in an email, said he was going for the job and could have gotten enough votes to put a monkey wrench in Wiltshire’s plans to give it to Zalewski but instead now has two committees to chair.
Another point worth mentioning is, as Crowe points out, Wiltshire and Galuski seemed to have buried the hatchet after a nasty email exchange last week where Galuski said he would vie for pro temp and Wiltshire said he would not be Galuski’s – or anyone else’s – “house nigger.” Nasty stuff, without a doubt, but this is Troy.  
Finally, by not giving Kopka the Planning Committee, Wiltshire sends a clear and distinct message to Kopka and by extension Rensselaer County Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Wade that he is the president, he has some juice and is not afraid to use it.

All in all, it’s pretty savvy chess moves on Wiltshire’s part, unless of course hard core Democrats start getting upset with him playing footsie with the GOP again like he did by accepting the Independence Party line earlier this year to ensure him the presidency. One such Dem is Wade (pictured right) and another is Kopka, and you can bet both are already starting the “treason” whisper campaign among the party faithful. Honestly, I can't say as I blame them.
To wrap up, according to the Times Union and not The Record, Councilwoman-elect Erin Sullivan-Teta, I-At Large, will chair the Human Resources Committee; Wiltshire by default will chair the Finance Committee, Zalewski will chair the Technology Committee and Councilwoman-elect Anastasia Robertson, D-District 2, opted not to accept a chairmanship at all, which is kind of odd but I can’t blame her for avoiding the fray.
The respective committees and the chairs will be formalized on Jan. 9 during the Council’s organizational meeting.

67 comments:

  1. Bodnar and Gordon are laughing at Wiltshire behind his back. he'll get his appointments but if Rodney thinks these two are going to bow to him he is in for a long two years.

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  2. Its about time we have someone who will think outside the box.bodnar is a smart person and should chair a committee. gordon is at least not a felon like the guy he is replacing. Good for rodney. maybe the administration will take notice.

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    1. Bodnar's next original thought will be his first. Your assessment of Gordon is he "isn't a felon"? Between these two and Wiltshire this is the best Troy can do? It's a sorry day for the democratic party.

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    2. From felon to philanderer. Poor Lansingburgh.

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  3. Anastasia Mr Roberts. NO CHAIR FOR YOU. Wow now she knows how Mrs Little felt when Kopka took over. Good to see that this democratic group still has no love for this House Council women. Nothing for you from his white half. Can't weight for Willy to hear about this. He will be in Lou's office for sure should be there by 9am tomorrow.

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  4. Bunch of jerk off's.

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    1. This is the one comment everyone can agree on. Will Troy ever have anyone with intelligence and class on the council.

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  5. Rich Christ is laughing his ass off. This move by Rich is masterful.

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    1. Rich Christ will be long forgotten as a used up has been for these reasons and much more.
      Ho no longer works for the Record as Head Propaganda & Shitee Spreader
      He will be marginalized and dissolved like a clogged drain with the use of Drano
      His Bunch of drug rehab rejects during Harry's Debacle have mostly been disbanded and marginalized for the most part and all the Republican Appointees who got Big Payouts wont give any thing back to there political party's ( There all to self centered.)
      The Bruno machine is broken and has been marginalized also Albany wont let these People get back in Power so there going to just fade away.
      As for Lou and Ryan I was amazed that they followed the path there on as of recent events that are unfolding at this time.
      Myself being able to do Huge deals on a hand shake in the South I am appalled on how there people actually call them selves Leaders in these Zip Codes of 12180 & 12181 & 12182

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    2. Rich Christ will be long forgotten as a used up has been for these reasons and much more.
      Ho no longer works for the Record as Head Propaganda & Shitee Spreader
      He will be marginalized and dissolved like a clogged drain with the use of Drano
      His Bunch of drug rehab rejects during Harry's Debacle have mostly been disbanded and marginalized for the most part and all the Republican Appointees who got Big Payouts wont give any thing back to there political party's ( There all to self centered.)
      The Bruno machine is broken and has been marginalized also Albany wont let these People get back in Power so there going to just fade away.
      As for Lou and Ryan I was amazed that they followed the path there on as of recent events that are unfolding at this time.
      Myself being able to do Huge deals on a hand shake in the South I am appalled on how there people actually call them selves Leaders in these Zip Codes of 12180 & 12181 & 12182

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    3. Huge deals selling caffeine laced chocolate to the other patients at the asylum?
      Nurse Ratchet.

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  6. Happy Kwanza wiltshiter

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  7. Rodney won't have the Ind line in 2 years. He should enjoy his"Presidency" while he can. By the way, if he thinks he is going to be the Mayor he truly is 'delusional".

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  8. Wow Robertson chose not to accept a Chairmanship???? Maybe I'll try that at my next job, I'll get hired for $15,000 and then tell my boss I'm not going to do nothing but sit and stare. Pathetic.

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    1. It's what dorety does and he's a chair

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  9. Wow any Democrat on that council that will vote for a Republican has problems.

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    1. I know, they have poor hygiene and act funny ---give it a rest!

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  10. Wiltshitter got a new flying fish for Christmas. He's bringing it the office his first day for team building exercise.

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  11. Bill dunne who will you attack this week thg Russ is gone. Don't go calling Tonya again

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  12. Loushbag why did you do for your employees for Christmas. What a greedy sob. No respect for those who make this city run. One term Lou.

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  13. Public information officerDecember 23, 2013 at 7:58 PM

    Merry Christmas from the twins. They will be out at the wine bar tonight

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  14. Vito. We love you. Thanks for all you do. The tree looks great and good idea keeping it small so it wouldn't break thru the Neil kelleher stage. What would we do without it all summer

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  15. Merry Christmas Feliz navidad mr Sheeran. Love Juan

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  16. Death rattle ad coors light cans all you here in the administrative suite. And the twins slapping together. They coming out at the bar tonight. Will Zuul pass out again

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  17. at 7:02 PM
    I don't see any problem at all in recognizing a person that does their job the way it should be done. Dean has always "done his homework" instead of being just another "rubber stamp" like the previous 6 - 3 Republican majority was for harry. He researches everything he might have a question about before it's time to vote yay or nay on an issue. It's called doing the right thing instead of the party line.

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  18. What price did Wiltshire and Zalewski pay for getting the Independence Party line ? Now we see the partial payment. The only two Republicans getting committee chairs---UNHEARD OF ! Zalewski---the self serving Republican appointee in the Senate---follows his orders to do what they tell him...or else !
    He's also getting paid off with the Prez pro tem reward which he could never win with Democratic votes---just like two years ago---when Dems showed he is not respected and turned him down for same office.

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    1. What price did GG pay for being the only one that was indicted for voter fraud that wasn't asked to vacate his Council seat?

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  19. Bring back Frank Laposta as dem chairman. He'll straighten this group of quacks out.

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    1. Hitting the eggnog early, I see

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    2. at 6:45 AM
      He probably had it laced with LSD.

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  20. Overheard at the wine bar.......Cindy Doran is talking about running for County Executive. Good idea and she has four years to raise money and build an organization.

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  21. Robertson is going to be the new bodnar. Sit there and nod.

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  22. Council prez is a transgender cabbage patch?

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  23. I pledge an allergy .......no I pledge an acorn .......no that's not it I pledge all my furniture........damn it Lynne the pledge thing is to hard for me can't I just get my dental insurance and go home?

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  24. What Wiltshire is not savvy enough to understand is that the Independence line was his for one reason only..Tom Connolly's hatred for both kopka and more so Carmella. Teta received endorsement because of Tom's relationship with her brother Mike. Wiltshire thinks it is because he is special but in for rude awakening and will never be offered again. kid is in over his head.

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    1. Your all wet with your analysis. Teta didn't get Indie endorsement. she won it in a primary against Republican backed candidates which include Mantello and Wiltshire.
      Wiltshire and Zalewski sold out to Republican party for Indie endorsement. Payoffs for their backroom deals are becoming evident.

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  25. Breaking news out of city hall. Bill dunne picks up loushbag rosamilia slack and buys city employees pizza. Merry Christmas bill. Nah humbug Lou miser

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    1. Lou is one term mayor no respect for anyone. Bill dunne cares more about the man than this clown

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    2. bill thinks he's mayor

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    3. Bill would make an great mayor. Anyone but this one term fool except Pete. He's a bumbling idiot too

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    4. Maybe we should make Done the Mayor of the Dormitory Authority?

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  26. Ray citizen Vito and randy say to be its zba chair and brother who not pay taxes but bar still open who promote this rat citizen. Boycott the 41 zba chai and brother run it and push make Vito citizen of year. Rat citizen that's a fact jack Jack jr should be mayor. Very bright wards should open no cuz rat citizen Vito and vandenburgh twins up in burgh. Sonny doin tell me this they from old school joe Bruno politics. Bar owner is jack leg. Zba chair snarl at man

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    1. Thank god for Vito. Now get these clowns outta troy. Merry Christmas Rory poulan

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    2. That's a fact jack. The guy owns bar doesn't pay taxes. Pete let him build as preferred building in troy and brother nazi zba member and also no pay taxes and Pete let bar still open. Bar on. 112 street boycott like when thy tell jack jr no and take his business away and Vito go there too and they make him rat citizen Vito and snowman Murphy and he not pay taxes. But zba chair bartend and not pay business tax but tell me and family no to business. We talk at eddies about this me and randy. Jack leg zba and that's a fact jack

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    3. Common Core student?

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  27. They haven't owned that bar in years. Where do you get your info. My guess is you put on your aluminum foil cap and type the first thing that comes to your mind

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    1. Randy told me they so so must be true randy stand up citizen and always pay his support and left over money orange cream soda and rock albumns. Where r u Nicole.

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  28. I'd say let's start a city hall death pool but all employees are dead when it comes to Lou. What employees says Lou as he drives home in a city vehicle to his house mans plays with his over 200000 in taxpayer money each year. One term Lou.

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  29. Hunchback of city hall Lou wish the employees a merry Christmas at least. Did he look them in the eyes? At least bully dunne got pizza and rambunctious Russ held a party for te ladies.

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  30. Cindy Doran isn't happy her plans to run for County Executive were overheard but the good news Wade is on board.

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  31. Cindy Doran won't run for County Exec., she'll dance to it.

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  32. You are all incorrect. Cindy Doran will be the first female mayor in the city of Troy. I heard that the Pattison group will get behind her and bring respectability back to Troy.

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  33. Merry Christmas James!

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  34. You're right about them starting a “treason” whisper campaign but it's fatally flawed. Too many people are tired of their SOS DD attitude. That will be self evident real soon.

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  35. Cindy doran hasn't do e a thing on the leg. Like her pelvis smasher pelvic or whatever he is and his boy wonder Adam. She would never win unless George Rogers endorses her.

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  36. What's "SOS DD" attitude?

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  37. All I want for Christmas is the sick puppies albumn with don't bring a knife to a gunfight so I can jam while flying my fish in my cluttered house. Shirts are optional.

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  38. Someone is right about Doran if the Pattison group gets behind her. I remember the NYTimes doing a story on Troy when he was mayor. Troy desperately needs smart people or else its all over. Problem is that Wade dislikes all those people who were associated with him.

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    1. "desperately needs smart people" you're kidding right? Look who you dems have elected. Manning, Galuski, Teta-Sullivan, Bodnar, Wiltshire, DORAN, Robertson, Gordon and lets not forget the smartest Dorhety, Ryan and Rosamillia. Pattison was a scholar compared to this group of dim bulbs.

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    2. No one is smarter than Kevin Mcgrath and you dimwits chased him out. Didn't you know that fat head is full of brains?

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    3. Pattison was the Begining of the Dooms Day Spiral Down of morals another Dope head

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  39. Don't forget bill dunne and Monica.

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  40. Lousy bag is clueless and he took the burned Monica on board and signed with the devil to bring bill dormitory dunne on board.

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  41. What Bout Lou using city car to go to Syracuse game and Xmas shop in Colonie Loushbag

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  42. Now that the new year is upon us here are the preliminary odds for next years mayoral race in Troy. Lou R 6-1 Rodney W 8-1 Lynn K 15-1 Kenny Z 25-1
    Cindy D 12-1 Mark Mc 8-1 Harry T 50-1 Ed M 75-1 Dean B 80-1 Jim G 100-1 The field 7-1 Stay tuned as the odds will be updated periodically

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  43. What about Carmella?

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