Thursday, April 10, 2014

Fun Raisers


This month already saw back to back to back fundraisers with another slated for April 30 and according to the Times Union, there is another slated for next month.
The first was held Tuesday by Troy Council President Rodney Wiltshire at Bomber’s Burrito Bar at $150 a pop – but attendees could contribute up to $1,000 or as little as $25 or nothing at all. It’s pretty steep for a fundraiser for a Council president considering on Wednesday the Rensselaer County Republican Party was charging just $40 and they had gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino as the guest of honor.
I guess you could look at it two ways. Either Wiltshire was asking an exorbitant amount of money for a Council president with an eyeball towards higher office or the county GOP don’t think too much of Astorino’s chances of beating Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Doesn’t matter, really, fundraising is one of those things where you get what you can when you can.
The Wiltshire camp says they had 115 people sign in for the event that raised in excess of $8,000. Before the event even kicked off, though, I was getting text messages and emails about how Wiltshire was reaching out to people and offering them comp tickets just to fill the room. The Wiltshire camp, however, said it was also a victory party for the volunteers who helped him win the presidency last year. Also, people at the event claim they figured between 30 and 40 people actually paid the full ticket price.
Not in attendance, I’m told, were any mainstream Democrats like county Chair Tom Wade, City Chair Jack McCann or those close with the party hierarchy. Those Democrats who were, I’m told, are members of what Wade calls “The Delusional Bunch.”
I wasn’t there so I don’t know firsthand and we may not have any idea how much he raised until the formal financials are filed in June. The last filing showed Wiltshire with $6,780 in the bank but during his campaign last year he loaned himself $6,000, a loan he will eventually have to repay.
Wednesday, I’m told more than 200 people showed up and paid the $40 to hear Astorinio speak at Franklin Terrace. Again, it was for the entire committee rather than one person and they charged less than a third of what Wiltshire charged.
On April 30, the County Democrats will hold one of their two major fundraising events at Franklin Terrace and the asking donation is $85 a ticket or $150 per couple to see another statewide candidate – incumbent Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Obviously, the Dems think more of their guest of honor than the GOP does.
Next month, according to the Times Union, Mayor Lou Rosamilia will hold his own fundraiser to boost his paltry war chest that now stands at about $16. While I’m still not convinced Rosamilia will run again, it is clear Wiltshire has an eye towards higher office and many think it is mayor. He has said he won’t primary Rosamilia, and the only sure fire way to stave off any attempt by Wiltshire to force a Democratic primary against another candidate – since there is about no chance the Democrats will support him – is to make it look like Rosamilia runs again, even if it comes down to collecting petitions for him and have him decline the nomination.
Then again, I’ve been wrong before and the mayor may run again. It would certainly make things easier for his appointments in City Hall and the party as a whole.

48 comments:

  1. Wouldn't it be hilarious if Wiltshire made more money at his burrito fundraiser then the Republican Committee with their Gubernatorial guest at theirs. By my count 200 people at 40$ a pop is $8000 and the Wiltshire people say they raised more than that. This is too funny, what a joke the republicans are! I guess we will have to wait until the filings....

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    1. kathy Jimino is having a fund raiser in May at $150 a head. How can an elected person hold a fund raiser when they are not even running ?
      In her case, she didn't even have an opponent last year so she didn't even incur any debt. What nerve !

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    2. Considering the massively inflated salaries of the patronage hacks on her payroll, I'm sure they can afford it.

      Your tax dollars at work!

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  2. If there were 200 people at Rodney's fundraiser it was because he changed the name of the event last minute to "Free Fajitas for Freaks and Felons".

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    1. If he'd told guests in advance they wouldn't have to endure Wade, he'd have had 300.

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    2. No, 300 is the number Wade pulls in for his own fundraisers. Anyone with any political knowledge whatsoever knows Wade would never bother attending a Rodney event. That's why he ends up with the dregs and the perennial Wade rejects.

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    3. I haven't seen 300 people at a Rensco Dem fundraiser in 5 years. Total Bullshit.

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    4. What does it say about your party when their own County chairman won't show up to a City Council President's fundraiser. Rodney is a dem, at least he has the letter next to his name. Your chairman is petty and very transparent. So much for party building.

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    5. I don't know, maybe you can help. What does it say about your party when your own leaders won't support their own City Council candidate DURING the actual race? Carmella is a Republican, at least she has the letter next to her name. Your leaders are petty and very transparent. So much for party building.

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    6. ATTN: 10:39 AM What does it say about a councilman who does not invite the Democratic Party leadership ? Neither Wade nor city chairman McCann were invited to said event. Does that tell you anything about Wiltshire or his handlers ? Snubbing the party leadership and then posting misleading info about their absence is as transparent as the phony city council president.

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  3. Seeing what a egomaniacal ham-fisted trainwreck Rodney has become has energized Lou to run again. He loves Troy and cares enough about its future to make sure Rodney can't drive it into the ground.

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    1. you're kidding right, you don't really think Troy can go much lower do you!

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    2. Energized Lou? I think a solid bowel movement energizes Lou and every other octogenarian.

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    3. It's frightening to even think someone else could run this city into the ground faster than Lou and Pete. These two "good guys" are the worst administration this city has ever had. And this is coming from a lifelong democrat.

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    4. "And this is coming from a lifelong democrat."

      Always a sure tell that it's really a republican. You idiots are so transparent.

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    5. "Wait till the truth comes out" and this comes from a true democrat. You idiots are so transparent.

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    6. @"Always a sure tell that it's really a republican. You idiots are so transparent. " Really, have you taken a look at our streets or our neighborhoods? I live on 5th ave. in what used to be Lansingburgh where people took pride in their homes and code enforcement did their jobs. Now? No enforcement and the housing is a disgrace. Also, when you call me a name you lose the argument.

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    7. What are you, five years old? Go complain to your councilman. Why isn't he helping you?

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    8. @ 7:44 You assume its a councilman, you'd be wiser to say-- Why isn't your Councilwoman helping you? Haven't seen HER anywhere.

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  4. What doe Bill Dunne and Chappy have in common. 1) both democrats 2) both have many issues to explain 3) they both have the same criminal attorney Stewart Jones

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    1. Both are members of The White Men Sweater Club these two can rock a cartigan and and sweater vest like two seasoned cracker veterans.

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    2. Does chappy email?

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    3. The word out there is not good about Bill's latest e-mail trouble.

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  5. In addition to Wade and McCann, other "noticeably absent" Democratic dignitaries include Congressman Tonko, Senator Breslin, Assemblyman McDonald, all troy city council members except for the Republican minority leader who holds a political patronage job in the State Senate. None of the respectable Democrats were in attendance.

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    1. And note all the "respectable Democrats" were at the Hope 7 fundraiser and could have easily stopped at Rodney's burrito extravaganza. They just didn't want to.

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    2. Bob Doherty was these he's a Wade democrat.

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    3. Doherty needs Rodney's support for all of his stick it to the tpd legislation, of course he was at the fundraiser.

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    4. Wade was not invited, McCann was not invited....for a reason, they are d-bags. Kopka, Galuski, Sullivan and the repubs were not invited because they are sheep. Anstasia was invited, and Doherty showed...so did zalewski. The measure of an elected is not measured by the other elected or dignitaries that show up. he or she is measured on how they serve the people. You are all poking holes in the wrong thing. Voters, constituents and volunteers showed up....speaks volume about his success as a legislator. Respectable Democrats are the ones who voted him in as CC President.

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    5. Rodney, nobody cares how many hemp haired dirtbags, social rejects, political leeches and tatted up criminals you had at your fundraiser. Without a major party line you are dead in the water. Ask Kevin McGrath how that goes.

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  6. Doherty was there

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    1. Yes he was there and he ate like a homeless person

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    2. Be thankful he was eating-- Usually he just wants to hear the sound of his own voice going on and on and on and on and on about nothing.

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  7. More money wasted on bad candidates. Bunch of self serving pricks if you ask me --both sides of the aisle

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    1. Truest statement ever posted on this blog. You have a clueless mayor with a Dep. Mayor and planning director about to be indicted, a County Executive who has more secrets than the South Troy Dodgers have players.....and who suffers?

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  8. Ronny best of luck to you

    For once not. Apolitical for the power

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    1. I hear he has a new solar powered knee

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    2. His knee was repaired on the backs of the Troy taxpayers for his part time job. He owns his own business so why doesn't he and his a family have ObamaCare? I guess he wouldn't want his family submitted to the doctors under the "Plan" but hey, we'll support it if we don't have to use it. Ughhh...

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    3. I hear Rodney paid for his knee surgery in leftover burritos.

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  9. It's frightening to think of who runs and works at the tha. Conflict if interest and someone needs to look into it

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    1. Why don't you look into it tough guy? Strap a set of balls on go up into Martin Luther King walk into Dans office and tell him "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore". Report back and let us know how you did.

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  10. Fundraiser to pay for the knee

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    1. City taxpayers picked up the bill. Rod and family have Cadillac health care due to his part time job.

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    2. They picked up his tab for sand and salt this winter and newly paved road as well

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    3. What they didn't pick up was solar panels at uw Marx because of Wiltshitter

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  11. I will vote Ronny to be next Major

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  12. I will be voting for jay vandenburgh next time around he will bring sondra back. Bye bye billy d

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    1. Has anyone noticed that the biggest thugs and craziest characters in Troy are from Lansingburgh. Must be something in the water cascading down into the streets from the Stoneledge Waterslide.

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