Wade takes on Wiltshire

WADE (Times Union photo)

It looks like there is going to be a good old fashioned battle over the Democratic Party committee seats as petition forms recently handed out did not include the names of Council President Rodney Wiltshire, his wife Jolene, Councilman Ken Zalewski, D-District 5, or Robert Martiniano. 

While a committee battle may seem like inside baseball, the fact Rensselaer County Chairman Tom Wade opted to publicly challenge Wiltshire is a precursor to next year’s mayor’s race and, if you take it a step further, control of the Democratic Party.

WILTSHIRE

It’s no secret Wiltshire has higher political ambitions and one of them is mayor should incumbent Mayor Lou Rosamilia opt not to run for another term. I’m still of the belief Rosamilia will not run again so that opens the door for Wiltshire – a door Wade would just as soon slam shut.  

Wiltshire alienated the party proper by accepting the Independence Party line last year, which helped him knock Councilwoman Lynn Kopka – a Wade loyalist - out of the presidency. He is also upset the apple cart by killing a deal, backed by Rosamilia, to sell the former Scolite site to R.J. Valente and by spearheading the investigation into two demolition projects and other workings of the administration.

ZALEWSKI

In other words, Wiltshire is not Wade’s top pick to replace Rosamilia as the county’s most high profile Democrat. In fact, he’s not even on Wade’s list to remain a committeeman and as such I don’t see any way Wade can back him for another run at Council.

But all that may not matter to Wiltshire. Given the small number of petition signatures needed to get on a committee ballot to force a primary and the small number of voters needed to win the seat in the election the Wiltshires and Zalewski could still win their committee seats and that sets the stage for another coup. Plus, Wiltshire is making quite a name for himself as president and may not need Wade’s support for anything – at least he must not think so.

But, Wade is a shrewd politician and successfully fought off M. Lynne Mahoney, his co-chair at the time, to win the chairmanship more than a few years ago and then fought off a spirited coup two years ago by Robert “Rabbit” Riley – a coup backed by Wiltshire and Zalewski.

Safe to say, Wade knows how to count.  

ROSAMILIA

As an aside, Martiniano is a member of the “Delusional Bunch.” A group of Democrats Wade nicknamed by Wade who were also in Riley’s camp two years ago and while they are somewhat disorganized they are still Democrats.

But, for Wade to take on the sitting Council president and one of the most popular councilman the Democrats have is unprecedented. (Zalewski is term limited out but was elected four times and I can’t remember the last time he had a serious opponent.)

More on this, like who Wade is running in the primaries against the Wiltshires and Zalewski and how the committee process works, later today.

The next GOP chair; and chatter about Tom Wade

GORDON

Now that Jim Gordon has stepped down as the Republican city chairman, which occurred prior to him winning a seat on the Troy Council representing District 1, the question remains who will take his place in what is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs in the county.



Many people are pointing to Kevin McCashion, the staunch Libertarian who unabashedly, and vigorously, promotes the party’s anti-big government and pro-civil liberties at all cost platform on social media.

MCCASHION

The thing about McCashion is his take no prisoners’ attitude scares some in the GOP because he won’t take them prisoners either. He’d just as soon as rip his own party as the Democrats if they are too passive, dull or otherwise not running the campaign he thinks they should. Or at least that’s what some in the GOP are scared of.

While some may have reservations about McCashion, I don’t know who else the GOP has. Mark Wojcik? Maybe? He was vice chair and is currently serving as interim chair but I don’t think he wants the commitment being a successful chairman would require.

Regardless of who it is, the chairman has a catchy title but really answers to the powers that be at the county level including Rich Crist, liaison for the GOP county legislators, County Executive Kathy Jimino and County Clerk Frank Merola. At least that’s how it’s been for more than 15 years and is another reason McCashion might not get the nod – I don’t see him deferring to anyone without good reason.

On the flip side of things, after Rodney Wiltshire won the Council presidency, there is the annual chatter about the future of county Chairman Tom Wade (pictured left). Wiltshire, and the likely president pro temp, Ken Zalewski, are not Wade’s guys  and there is a divide already forming on the Council between those who are Wade’s guys and those who aren’t.

Wiltshire (pictured right) got a bunch of support from the “Delusional Bunch,” a group of disenfranchised Democrats who include former Councilmen Michael LoPorto and Clement “Chappy” Campana, and former operative Robert Martiniano as well as a group of Working Families Party people. (As an aside Wade coined them, not me.) That alone should be a warning to Wade, but they took a shot at the last organizational meeting and Wade beat their candidate, Robert “Rabbit” Riley, by a sizable margin. Wade is a shrewd politician, is into the job, is good at the job and I don’t think he goes anywhere until he wants to.

The Dems city chair is Jack McCann but he answers to the county chair. It will be interesting to see if McCann gets re-appointed to his city marshal spot by Wiltshire and company. It’s already a given, since they are Wade’s people, most of the current appointees to clerk, deputy clerk, auditor, bingo inspector and city marshals will not have a job come Jan. 1.

But, if they go after McCann, consider it all-out war.