HERE IS A DELICIOUS POLITICAL STORY FOR YOU, graham ...

"Judge to act in vote case - Court anticipated to name special prosecutor to probe Troy primary absentee ballot fraud allegations as WFP officials call for investigation"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS, Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Sunday, September 27, 2009

TROY -- A special prosecutor is expected to be appointed Monday to investigate widespread allegations of voter fraud linked to dozens of absentee ballots on the Working Families Party line in the city.

Two people familiar with the case, which was first publicly exposed in Saturday's Times Union, said Rensselaer County Judge Robert Jacon may make the appointment.

Last week, District Attorney Richard McNally, a Democrat, privately notified the court that his office would recuse itself from the investigation, the sources said.

The voting scandal centers on allegations that people associated with the city's Democratic party forged absentee ballots attributed to several dozen voters, including students and people living in the city's public housing complexes.

The ballots were listed under the names of people who had registered to vote on the Working Families Party line.

The WFP has been a battleground third-party line between the city's Republicans and Democrats for years.

In all, about 50 WFP absentee ballot applications were filed in Troy out of about 126 county-wide.

It's unclear whether the forged ballots would change the outcome of any of the city's primary elections that were held Sept. 15.

City Democratic Chairman Frank Laposta issued a statement early Saturday stating he was ''outraged and appalled'' by the allegations outlined in the Times Union.

''This massive case of voter fraud was in no way sanctioned by the Democratic city committee and apparently was carried out by a group of rogue Democratic officials,'' the statement reads.

Reached for comment, Laposta said he is concerned because the scandal comes weeks before the general election and could confuse and dissuade voters.

''I'm shocked to tell you the truth,'' Laposta said.

''I don't understand what they were thinking."

"Whoever engineered this thing I can't even fathom."

"... I didn't know anything about it until a couple days ago there was a rumor.''

The Times Union interviewed numerous voters last week who confirmed their signatures and other information listed on absentee ballot applications had been forged without their knowledge.

Many of those voters said they did not fill out or sign absentee ballots that are now locked in a safe by a court order at the Board of Elections.

Jermaine Joseph, 19, who lives in the city's College Hill apartments and attends Hudson Valley Community College, said Friday the signature on his ballot application is forged.

He also said a handwritten statement on the ballot indicating he would be ''visiting relatives in Rochester'' on primary day is false.

''My relatives are in Maryland, (Washington) D.C., and Virginia,'' Joseph said.

He said a man who identified himself as being ''from City Hall'' visited him in late August and offered to help him register to vote.

He never received another document and didn't vote in the primary, he said.

Delorise Robinson, who lives in the Arnold Fallon Apartments off River Street, said during an interview at her residence Saturday that the cursive signature on her absentee ballot is a forgery.

The ballot application indicates she would be unable to vote in person because of a ''work conference in Kingston.''

Robinson does not write in cursive.

The ballot signature also looks nothing like her real signature on a voter registration card.

As for the excuse listed about going to a work conference on Sept. 15: ''I've never even been to Kingston,'' said Robinson, who works in Troy.

Two other suspicious absentee ballots examined by the newspaper list addresses in Griswold Heights for residents who have not lived there for more than a year, records show.

One of the ballots is listed under the name of Milagros Serrano, 44, who left Griswold Heights in October 2007 and now lives in Hollywood, Fla., according to public records.

The signature attributed to Serrano on the absentee ballot in her name looks nothing like her signature on a voter registration card filed with the county.

Other excuses listed on the absentee applications include trips to casinos, Lake George and Cape Cod, medical procedures and, in one case, a made-up excuse that a voter needed to take care of her ailing mother.

Brian Suozzo, 28, who works for an Albany engineering firm, had an absentee ballot filled out in his name stating he would be ''at home recovering from medical procedure'' on primary day.

In an affidavit attributed to Suozzo, which was taken recently by a private investigator hired by Rensselaer County Republican county Legislator Robert Mirch, Suozzo said the information is a lie.

''I have not had a recent medical procedure,'' Suozzo's said.

''Someone wrote false information on the ballot application and then forged my signature.''

The application attributed to Suozzo was returnable to City Clerk William McInerney, a Democrat in an appointed post.

Karen Scharff, co-chair of the Capital District WFP, on Saturday called for an outside investigation.

"It's extremely troubling that local Democrats in Troy appear to have committed fraud in an attempt to win a primary fight with Troy Republicans for our ballot line,'' Scharff said.

''We call on the district attorney to investigate this matter immediately and prosecute any acts of voter fraud to the fullest extent of the law.''

Records at the county Board of Elections show the fraudulent ballots were handled by or prepared on behalf of various elected officials, and leaders and operatives for the Democratic and Working Families parties.

A Troy housing authority employee, Anthony Defiligio, was involved in handling some of the ballots.

The absentee ballots and applications for those ballots both are sworn documents.

The U.S. Justice Department can investigate voter fraud.

Federal statutes make it a felony offense for individuals to use corrupt tactics to obtain political and personal gain.

Charges can include conspiracy to injure voters' rights.

The voting scandal has erupted in a year when the City Council's nine seats are up for grabs with 19 candidates, including nine Republicans, nine Democrats and a WFP candidate.

Six county legislative seats in Troy also are on the line this year with 12 candidates.

The Democrats currently hold a 6 to 3 advantage on the council over Republicans.

The Republicans, meanwhile, control five of the city's six seats on the County Legislature, which is controlled by the GOP.

The WFP line in Troy has been in the crossfire dating back years.

Party insiders said the WFP traditionally aligns itself with Democrats but the GOP has sought to seize control of the coveted third-party line.

Many of the suspicious absentee ballots are listed as returnable to Defiligio.

Other ballots were returnable to Democratic or WFP party officials, and candidates and elected officials for citywide office, including: Troy Council President Clem Campana; Councilman Gary Galuski; Rensselaer County WFP Chairman James Welch; council candidates Michael LoPorto and Kevin McGrath; and Tom Aldrich, a LoPorto campaign volunteer.

''I can tell you that my conduct was strictly proper,'' Welch said in a statement issued Saturday.

Campana said Saturday that he handled only one absentee ballot, and properly, for a fellow employee at Hudson Valley Community College.

''I'm upset having my name tied with any impropriety; that's not me,'' said Campana, who is finishing his second two-year term in office.

A notarized deposition taken by one of Mirch's private investigators, and attributed to Griswold Heights resident Richard Gushlaw states LoPorto and a man who identified himself as ''Mr. Campanna'' visited him around Sept. 13 and asked him to sign an absentee ballot.

''Mr. LoPorto had an envelope and asked me to sign it,'' Gushlaw's deposition states.

''He said if I signed it I wouldn't have to vote in person and that by signing the envelope it would count as a vote for Mr. Campanna (sic)."

"I agreed not completely understanding what was going on.''

The affidavits were taken by two private investigators from Probst Investigations in Loudonville who crisscrossed the city the past two weeks interviewing voters and taking sworn statements.

Some of the affidavits were attached to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Rensselaer County Republicans under the name of Christian Lambertsen, a WFP city council candidate.

The lawsuit challenges the authenticity of the ballots.

Mirch, whose political tactics over the years have rankled Democrats and the WFP, initiated the investigation after an elections official alerted him about several suspicious ballots on Sept. 14.

Brendan J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com.

DEMOCRAT District Attorney Rich McNally is a story unto himself up here as a champion and protector of corruption ....

And he was endorsed by the Working Families Party ....

Which makes his recusal interesting ....

And so ...

Right, right, Karen ....

But maybe you ought to call a little louder ....

Because it looks like he is running away to hide somewhere in a deep hole until this is over ....

And so ...

HEY!

How about those DEMOCRATS, ain't it, graham?

Don't you just love it?

And so ...

Is there an ACORN chapter in Troy?

DEMOCRAT Rich McNally made his bones up here back in the early-1990's by prosecuting the victim of a vehicular hit-and-run by a local political "enforcer" ....

Ultimately, McNally was forced by the hit-and-run victim to have to stand in Rensselaer County Court before Judge M. Andrew Dwyer and admit that he, McNally, never had any evidence on which to prosecute the hit-and-run victim ....

However, by falsely and maliciously prosecuting the hit-and-run victim, McNally was able to protect the bubby-chucker who did the hit-and-run so the bubby-chucker never had to face any charges or stand trial ....

And that got McNally elected as District Attorney up here, where political corruption rules, and honest folks know fear ....

And so ...

Whatever the truth here it is a local story. It is minuscule and apparently is being investigated. It is also stupid and amaturish. Nobody holds a candle to the Republian Party for ELECTION FRAUD. Voter fraud at worst has to do with someone trying to vote twice or where or when they shouldn't. Very rare. And only whack-job racists believe Illegal Immigrants would risk getting caught and deported by trying to vote ilegally. Truth is even they (the wack-job racists) don't even believe it unless they are morons or on drugs. They've been told by professional liars that this is occuring. Told by those who represent the very people and the political party that has been convicted of disenfranchising MILLIONS of voters more than once.

But believe what you will.

That's a good question, rla ....

It sounds like these ones are it if there is ....

And this is the same $*** that has been going on up here since God knows when ....

Politics is called a bloodsport up here, for good reason ....

And it has the stink of an open sewer about it ....

Which deters honest folks from participating ....

GOD, don't you just love democracy?

And the DEMOCRATS ...

And so ...

What I believe is that if you want to be in politics here in NYS, the best way to practice for it is to swim every day in a septic tank with your mouth open ...

And the ONLY difference between a DEMOCRAT and a REPUBLICAN is five consonants and three vowels for the former versus six consonants and four vowels for the latter ...

And so ...

Straining at gnats and passing a mountain. Typical Republican-like projection.

There is no equivalency between the two parties in modern times. The Republicans make the worst Dems look like Boy Scouts.

and in NJ a cop beat up a black guy
I hope the cop dies in jail

and another DRUNK CRAZED COP ran over a little girl

You have now waxed way too philosophical and abstract for me here, TROU ....

This one went way high past my head ......

I strain at gnats up here in the springtime, tis true ....

They bite like hell and draw blood when they do, so you would be straining at them too if you were up here instead of down there in LA ...

And to get to Massachusetts from here, I do have to pass a mountain ....

Is that what you were referring to?

If not, could you provide a translation?

And so ...

I think the ratio is

for every corrupt deomcrat there are 1.65 MILLION corrupt republicans
for every corrupt democrat there are 127.33 CORRUPT COPS (COPS ARE ALWAYS REPUBLICAN)

But how about them DEMOCRATS in Troy, graham ....

They are grabbing on to a national spotlight here ....

Especially as Obama was just in Troy the other day to tell NYS Governor and blindman David Paterson not to run for office again ...

And these DEMOCRATS were there to greet him and shake his hand ...

And so ...

WHICH OCCURS MORE:

one gets an erection lasting more than 4 hours
a BB gun shoots out someones eye
you go blind looking at an eclipse
(you go blind doing the peewee)

or Chris Christie of New Jersey, REUBLICAN FATSO SWEATY SLOB does something dishonest and breaks all rules he arrested others for?


Repupblicans- they have committed war crimes, treason, mutiny, killed 2.23 MILLION people worldwide
and yet everyone is silent

WHAT A BUNCH OF FU77ING HYPOCRITES

And I think that perhaps all the corrupt Democrats that are not in Washington, D.C. are up here in NYS ....

And that is a passel of them, graham ....

And so ...

Maybe we can parcel out some of them to the other states to get some parity ....

We would like to send a bunch of them down there to NJ, graham ....

Could you put some of them up for awhile?

And so ...

But you voted for him
So that makes you corrupt??? i think not

What occurs the most is Democrats violating the law up here ....

And you know that beebee guns are notorious for shooting out people's eyes, graham ....

I bet that is why you could never have one growing up ....

And neither could I ....

And so ....

I voted for him because there was no other choice, graham ...

And I voted for him to take care that our laws were enforced ....

Not to meddle in our state politics as he is ....

Which empowers these Democrat SCAMMERS up here who cling to his coattails ....

And so ...

so where are all those kids with just one eye?
I never actually heard of any kid who had his eye taken by a bb gun (as a kid)
(of course corrupt KKKops do it all the time to innocent people, but that's another story)

and where are those people walking around with a 4 hour thingydingy?


and where are the prosecutions for the republicans who ruined the earth?

The beebee gun lobby has them locked away somewhere in Montana or Florida, graham ....

You know ...

Keep them out of the public eye ....

Bad for bidness if people see a bunch of one-eyed kids around who shot out their eyes with a beebee gun ....

And so ...

Where was the impeachment of George W. Bush?

I tripledare you to find
#one- any kid who did that
#2- anyone who went blind from an eclipse

#3 ANY REPUBLICAN IN JAIL FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE COUNTRY 2000-2008
that is the most elusive thing in the history of the world
A JAILED REPUBLICAN OFFICE HOLDER MEMBER OF THE BUSHFAMILYINC.

TELL ME, WHERE WAS IT?

Why didn't honest republicans do it from 2001-8?

Why didn't honest republicans want voting methods changed and look into fraud?

you would think there would be ONE honest republican

so where the fluck are they?

WHY DIDN'T NANCY PELOSI DO IT, graham?

That is what the American people wanted when they put Democrats in charge of the Congress in 2006 ....

And so ...

Interestingly, graham, I believe I voted for him on the Working Families line, because I won't vote for anyone on either the Democrat or Republican line ....

And so ...

This is why we have endemic political corruption up this way, rla ...

Because the political parties, Republican and Democrat alike, CAPTURE critical public offices such as district attorney and then fill them with party hacks who WILL NOT prosecute crime involving other politicians or PROTECTED PEOPLE who have purchased that PROTECTION FROM THE LAW from the two political parites who make their money selling us out every day of the week ....

And so ....

Interestingly and perhaps ironically, assuming that irony is not totally dead, this McNally who is refusing to involve his office in an investigation of this alleged voter fraud also figures prominently in my thread on Obama's Supreme Court justice and WISE LATINA Sonia Sotomayor ...

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...howtopic=109060

And so ...

What a small world it is up here ....

And so ...

I have maintained since during the Kerry election that the first and major priority of the democratic party should be to go after corruption in government and contracting entities. I think it was a major mistake for Obama not to make
that his highest priority...

However, it doesn't follow that enforcing the law is the only role the President has in a humanitarian constitutional
democratic republic with an open market economy...

This would be analogus to imposing a small town frontier model onto the most complex social system in the world.

More is required than a Sheriff, a Banker and a Preacher to advance the emergent evolution of the human race...

if the people wanted Obama to do it, they would have let him know
unfortunately not enough did

It is not up to Obama

there needs to be someone at justice going full force

however, things are slowly moving
and the republicans may end up shooting themselves in their ass and it will enable real investigations to happen

Watch Jeb
if he is reanimated, then we are doomed

If the public damns him forever, then real change can happen

There needs to be proactive Leadership at every level across every domain...

Geithner could finger 3 or 4 of the worst of the worst among the banksters if he is totally committed to our side to
send a message that things were going to be different...

Awesome post, Snuf ....

How on the money that is and descriptive of our times as well ....

Especially up here where I am ....

... your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you ....

That sounds like it was written explicitly for up here in Rensselaer County in New York state ...

Because that is the way it is up here ...

If you are a PROTECTED PERSON, then you are beyond the reach of the law ...

And so ...

Maybe not everywhere, rla, but since I am up here where that is so, it don't help me none if it isn't that way somewhere else ....

Since I am not there ....

I am here ....

And so ...

"Ballots, documents seized in Troy probe - Special prosecutor takes evidence as part of city election investigation"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS, Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Thursday, October 1, 2009

TROY -- A special prosecutor assigned to investigate allegations of voter fraud related to the Sept. 15 primary elections in Troy has seized about 50 absentee ballots and other documents from the Rensselaer County Board of Elections.

Two people familiar with the matter said Trey Smith removed the documents on Tuesday afternoon with assistance from two investigators at the district attorney's office.

Smith has not yet retained an outside law enforcement agency to assist in the probe.

He is a former assistant district attorney who was appointed this week as a special prosecutor in the case.

The records, including 51 absentee ballots, are locked in a safe at the district attorney's office, the sources said.

The ballots have not been opened.

Another person familiar with the case said the U.S. Attorney's office will not get involved with the investigation at this time.

Smith, as a special prosecutor, may seek assistance from any law enforcement agency, including State Police or the FBI.

The case centers on allegations by dozens of city residents, many of whom live in public housing complexes, that information, including some signatures, were forged on election ballot documents filed in connection with the primary.

Some of those residents said they never received the ballots that were filed in their name at the board of elections.

Normally, absentee ballots are only released to the voter or someone listed on their ballot application as authorized to pick it up for them.

It's unclear who picked up the ballots, and later filed them, at the county board of elections.

In at least one case a voter told investigators that someone posing as them cast a ballot in person at the board of elections on the day before the primary.

County election commissioners Larry Bugbee, a Republican, and Edward G. McDonough, a Democrat, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The voting scandal involves ballots and ballot applications attributed to several dozen voters registered on the Working Families Party line.

Many of those people said they were asked to sign ballot applications by people connected with the city's Democratic party.

Others said they never filled out a ballot application and that the signatures attributed to them are forgeries.

County records show the fraudulent ballots were handled by or prepared on behalf of various elected officials, and leaders and operatives for the Democratic and Working Families parties.

Brendan J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com.

"Troy council meeting heats up - GOP proposes suspensions, Dems stop public speaker"

October 02, 2009 12:13 AM

Republicans on Troy's city council said they knew their proposed resolution to suspend three city workers was going nowhere even before they introduced it Thursday night.

Still, before Thursday's council meeting, they invited reporters to hear them speak about what they said was their fear that low-income residents who live in apartments operated by the Troy Housing Authority might be intimidated if two city marshals remain in their positions.

The resolution called for the suspension of Anthony DeFiglio and Rick Mason.

The resolution proposes the suspensions "in light of recent allegations made public and published" in newspapers concerning what some believe are fraudulent absentee ballot affidavits received in relation to last month's primary election.

According to those who proposed the resolution, "the above mentioned City marshals have zealously exerted their authority on certain vulnerable residents of the city of Troy."

A special prosecutor is investigating claims made by Working Families Party candidate Christian Lambertsen, who filed court papers that included notarized statement from people who says men came to their homes asking them to sign blank forms that would help them vote in the September 15th primary.

Court documents include county forms that show DeFiglio and Mason could have handled some of the ballot applications that investigators are expected to look at.

The resolution came up during the public comment portion of Thursday's council meeting and prompted at least two council members - including President Clement Campana - to prohibit discussion of the matter.

When Troy City GOP Chairman Tom Casey stood and began to talk about the reasons he supports the resolution, councilman Bill Dunne quickly stopped him.

"Everybody knows what the allegations are," Dunne told Casey.

"There's a special prosecutor."

"Let it go," Dunne continued, pointing a finger at Casey.

"If you want to point a finger at somebody and accuse them of something, have the courage to do that."

"You do not, so go sit down."

"It's premature to discuss anything with an ongoing investigation," said council President Clement Campana.

"I don't think anyone wants to jump to any conclusions and I'm not going to entertain that kind of discussion right now."

"If the resolution passes, feel free to discuss it."

"What happened to transparency?" asked GOP council member Mark McGrath.

"This is not transparency, it's a political with hunt...it's premature to discuss this and it's not going to be allowed right now," Campana answered.

"Housing aide quits in ballot scandal - Anthony DeFiglio resigns; judge finds 39 absentee ballots tainted in primary"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS, Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Saturday, October 3, 2009

TROY -- A Troy Housing Authority employee whose name surfaced in an unfolding absentee voter scandal abruptly resigned from his job on Friday.

Anthony DeFiglio, who oversaw vacant housing for the housing authority's various complexes, submitted an e-mail correspondence to a housing authority official stating he was resigning effective immediately, said Jay Vandenburgh, vice chairman of the housing authority's board of commissioners.

DeFiglio could not be reached for comment.

His resignation took place the same day that state Supreme Court Justice Michael C. Lynch issued an order striking down 39 absentee ballots of voters whose information had been forged on their ballots or the applications used to obtain them.

Some of the people said DeFiglio and other Democratic officials visited them during the past several weeks and asked them to sign applications for absentee ballots.

But a review of the documents, and testimony during a hearing Thursday before Lynch, showed that much of the information, including signatures and the reasons why certain voters couldn't vote in person, had been forged.

Some of the voters said they never received or filled out ballots even though they were later filed under their names at the Rensselaer County Board of Elections.

At least two ballots were filed under the names of people who have not lived in Troy for more than a year, including a woman who now lives in South Florida.

In an 8-page ruling, Lynch wrote:

''Finally, the court recognizes that the testimony and affidavits reveal significant election law violations ... that have compromised the rights of numerous voters and the integrity of the election process in the Working Family's Party September 15, 2009 primary.''

Lynch said a copy of the hearing transcript will be forwarded to a special prosecutor assigned to investigate the ballot scandal.

DeFiglio's resignation came six days after his housing authority office and computer were locked down by a housing authority official after the allegations were publicly revealed in the Times Union.

Trey Smith, a former assistant district attorney appointed as a special prosecutor in the case, seized the absentee ballot documents on Tuesday afternoon with assistance from two investigators with the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office.

Smith is expected to seek help in the investigation from the State Police or FBI.

Two of the ballots were validated by Lynch's ruling.

The judge said those voters indicated at Thursday's hearing that they had signed both their absentee applications and the sealed envelopes that contained their ballots.

The case centers on allegations by dozens of city residents, many of whom live in public housing complexes, that information, including some signatures, were forged on election ballot documents filed in connection with the Working Families Party primary, which has been a battleground party line for the city's Republican and Democratic parties dating back years.

Normally, absentee ballots are only released to the voter or someone listed on their ballot application as authorized to pick it up for them.

It's unclear who picked up the ballots, and later filed them, at the county board of elections.

In at least one case a voter told investigators that someone posing as them cast a ballot in person at the board of elections on the day before the primary.

Others said no one ever came back with their ballot.

Brendan J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com.

"Republicans seek absentee ballot reforms in Rensselaer County"

By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

Last updated: 2:20 p.m., Monday, October 12, 2009

TROY -- The Rensselaer County Legislature's Republican majority leadership wants better monitoring of the way the absentee ballots are issued.

The demand for reforms and safeguards made today at a press conference in the legislature's chambers comes as a result of alleged absentee ballot fraud during the September Working Families Party primary by city Democrats.

The Republicans, who allege that some of the voting fraud involved public housing employees, will ask the county Board of Elections to compare signatures on absentee ballots issued to a person other than the voter, to record information verifying the identity of the person picking up the ballot for a voter and to request identification from any person not known to board employees.

"We want to make sure there are no more problems,'' said Legislature Chairman Neil Kelleher of Troy.

The Republicans also anticipate passing a resolution on Tuesday night, when county lawmakers meet, asking the state Legislature to review signature requirements for absentee ballots, regulate public housing employees' participation in elections and require members of the Republican and Democratic parties to be present when ballots are processed at public housing sites.

A state Supreme Court justice invalidated 39 absentee ballots in question for the Working Families Party primary in Troy after a court hearing last month.

County Legislature Majority Leader Robert Mirch of Troy, working with private investigators, obtained affidavits from voters who said they did not cast the absentee ballots and that the ballots were fraudulent.

Trey Smith, a former assistant district attorney, has been named as a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations.

City Democrats and Republicans have fought over the Working Families Party line in various elections.

Mirch, an enrolled Conservative Party member aligned with the GOP in the legislature, has long led Republican efforts in the city to secure the Working Families Party line by registering voters in the party.

The Republicans have usually been able to keep the line from the Democratic candidates.

In the November election, eight of the nine Democratic City Council candidates will appear on the Working Families Party line.

In the county Legislature races in the city, six Working Families Party candidates will appear on that party's ballot line.

"Politics on display in ballots clash - Special meeting ends as Democrats block GOP plan to suspend workers"

By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Friday, October 23, 2009

TROY -- The waning days of the city's political campaigns moved into the City Council chambers Thursday night as Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian attempted unsuccessfully to get three Democratic appointees suspended.

The City Council's Democratic majority said Tutunjian's call of a special City Council was illegal for not setting the time at 7 p.m. as required by the City Charter.

Tutunjian said he called the meeting because he was disgusted by comparisons of Troy to Chicago politics and to reassure voters that they should vote.

It was the latest twist in the city's absentee ballot scandal over voting in the Working Families Party primary.

A special prosecutor is investigating claims made by Republicans, who conducted their own investigation, that Democratic appointees falsified absentee ballot applications and ballots.

The Republicans have held press conferences and run radio ads to remind the public of the scandal and a judge's ruling that tossed out 39 absentee ballots.

"The issue is this is a dog an pony show for a political reason,'' Democratic Councilman Bill Dunne said.

Dunne was the only one of the six Democrats to appear in the council chambers.

Dunne joined the three Republican councilmen but this was not enough for a quorum to hold the meeting..

At that time, Dunne cited the charter section for regular and special meeting times, then walked out.

Republican Councilman Henry Bauer spoke angrily against Democrats' attempts to disenfranchise voters and shouted at times.

Later, Jeff Pirro, Tutunjian's spokesman, and Dunne argued loudly in front of television cameras after Pirro interrupted while reporters interviewed Dunne.

Tutunjian wanted the City Council to suspend City Clerk William McInerney and City Marshals Rick Mason and Anthony DeFiglio for their alleged involvement in the ballot case.

The three are appointees of the Democrat-controlled council.

McInerney was present for the meeting.

The Democratic candidates have the Working Families Party line in eight of the nine council races.

The Democrats do not have the line in the race for six county Legislature seats from the city.

I heard one of those ads on the radio up here this morning ....

They are doing it up in style, alright ....

And so ...

THE TROY RECORD

"County scandal aired on national TV"

Published: Monday, October 26, 2009

By Dave Canfield, The Record

TROY — Rhetoric surrounding absentee ballot fraud in the Working Families Party primary election has not only spilled out into the local political circus of the upcoming general election.

On Sunday, it took to live national television.

The program “American News Headquarters” on FOXNews featured live appearances by Troy Democratic Chairman Frank LaPosta and also Robert Mirch, the county legislator and Troy Public Works commissioner who spearheaded an inquiry into apparent fraud that eventually saw more than 30 absentee ballots tossed out by a judge.

That investigation is still ongoing by special prosecutor Trey Smith.

On the FOXNews program, Mirch said he spoke last week for several hours with State Police investigators brought in by Smith to assist the investigation and said there is still more to the story that needs to be uncovered.

“I’m confident at the end of this, someone’s going to jail,” he told moderator Eric Shawn on the program.

For his part, the less bombastic LaPosta, who has had little backing from Troy Democrats since unsuccessfully running against party-backed candidates for a Rensselaer County Legislature seat, repeatedly stressed that those who carried out the alleged fraud were a small faction of “rogue” Democrats.

He said the scandal unfairly reflects poorly on the “good candidates” running on the Democratic line Nov. 3.

“This is very disturbing and does not represent our party in Troy,” LaPosta said.

It’s not the first time FOXNews has covered the story, but it’s the first time it has been done live.

After initial attempts to facilitate a shooting locally were unsuccessful, the pair traveled together in the same vehicle to FOX’s studios in New York City for the appearance.

Afterward, each said they took advantage of the opportunity to state their case.

Mirch said he thinks the national attention is great for the issue, and said it doesn’t negatively portray the Collar City.

“I think the only reflection locally is that elected Democratic officials, employees of Troy Housing and employees of the Working Families Party broke the law,” he said.

A Troy Housing Authority employee and city marshal, Tony DeFiglio, is named in affidavits as soliciting public housing residents to sign requests for absentee ballots.

He has since resigned from the THA; unsuccessful attempts to have him and two others suspended from their duties with the city have sparked fireworks in the City Council chambers.

“Why I went was to state, basically, that … this was done totally outside of the city committee’s knowledge."

"At no time were we aware of it,” LaPosta said afterward.

“I wanted to make it plain that if we were aware of it, we would have put a stop to it.”

In neither his live television appearance nor any of his comments surrounding the scandal has LaPosta gone where some other Democrats have.

Thomas Wade, the county’s Democratic chairman, initially stressed that Mirch hatched the plan to discredit Democrats.

He has since focused on instances of fraud he alleges Mirch has carried out.

Mirch makes no secret of his intent to try to rule the third-party lines.

But he has insisted, as he did on FOXNews, that he sticks to legal maneuvers.

Suggesting LaPosta was not a strong counterbalance to the outspoken Mirch, Wade said Sunday that he repeatedly reached out to FOXNews to get his voice heard on the matter and it took several phone calls to get a reply.

“I think FOXNews suspected LaPosta would be sympathetic to their pro-Republican position, and thus granted him an interview and not me,” Wade said.

While Wade takes issue with the fact that the investigators who took the affidavits were paid by Mirch, he stressed that “the Democratic Party does not encourage or condone this sort of activity.”

Dave Canfield can be reached at 270-1290 or by e-mail at dcanfield@troyrecord.com.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/10...2b894161214.txt

POLITICS IS A CHILDREN'S GAME THAT IS PLAYED BY TWO COMPETING TEAMS OF IDIOTS UP HERE ....

AT OUR EXPENSE, OF COURSE ...

And so ...

"Troy Democrats want Mirch probe - Candidate on ballot says he didn't know he was running"

By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

TROY -- City Democrats said Monday they have asked a special prosecutor to investigate city Public Works Commissioner Robert Mirch's role in putting a candidate for Rensselaer County Legislature on the ballot who didn't know he was running.

City Council President Clement Campana and Michael LoPorto, a Democratic council candidate, said they forwarded an affidavit signed by Kevin Gervasio to Special Prosecutor Trey Smith to be investigated.

Smith is heading an investigation into allegations of absentee voting fraud in the Working Families Party primary.

The alleged fraud was uncovered by Mirch.

"If we had $15,000 to hire investigators, we could come up with a lot more,'' asserted Campana, who is running for re-election.

Gervasio confirmed he signed and wrote the affidavit.

Gervasio said he never knew he was a Working Families Party candidate for County Legislature in Troy.

"I didn't give any permission to use my name."

"I would just like to know why I am on this,'' Gervasio said.

Mirch, who also is majority leader of the Rensselaer County Legislature, claims he has Gervasio's permission, which came through his brother Keith Abbott.

"I talked to his brother Keith to ask him to find me a candidate,'' Mirch said.

"My brother will run,'' Mirch said Abbott told him.

Abbott works for the city DPW headed by Mirch.

Mirch said the Gervasio affidavit is an attempt by Democrats to draw attention away from the absentee voters ballot fraud case.

He said he was interviewed by State Police investigators about the absentee voter fraud case last week.

Mirch, who is running for re-election to the County Legislature, has found candidates in past elections for the Working Families Party line in order to keep Democrats off it.

Mirch also has registered voters in the Working Families Party.

Mirch is an Conservative Party member with strong ties to the Republican Party in the city and county.

Republicans have run a series of ads about the voter fraud case to attack Democratic candidates in the city.

Mirch has filed an incident report with Troy police alleging that Campana hit him in the back with an elbow and shoved him at a wake Sunday night.

Campana countered that he brushed by Mirch, who in turn threw a hip into him.

CLASSIC, guys ...

This sounds like something out of the Three Stooges, although there are only two of them here ....

Mirch threw a hip into him at a wake .......

Knowing Bobby Mirch, he either caromed Campana off a door jamb and into some people coming in the door ...

"HEY, WATCH IT THERE, BUDDY!"

Or he hipped him so he ended up setting in some fat woman's lap ....

And so ...

"Minor party a big deal in Rensselaer County races - Working Families ballots could play key role in Troy, county contests"

By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

TROY -- As an investigation continues into alleged primary election absentee voting fraud, city voters will determine whether the Democrats continue to control the City Council and if the Republicans can maintain their majority on the 19-member Rensselaer County Legislature.

The Working Families Party primary in the city usually sees Republicans snatching the line away from the Democrats.

This time around, Democratic operatives aggressively pursued absentee ballots -- and their methods are under investigation.

A judge tossed out 39 absentee ballots.

That didn't keep the Democrats from winning the line in eight of the nine City Council races.

But it may have cost the six Democratic County Legislature candidates the extra ballot spot, which can play a role in determining tight elections.

In another closely watched race, County Court Judge Andrew G. Ceresia, a Democrat, and Republican Charles J. Wilcox, a former district attorney, will face each other Tuesday for the second time this fall.

Ceresia defeated Wilcox in the Independence, Conservative and Working Families party primaries in September.

In the Family Court race, Democrat Beth Walsh faces Republican Arthur G. Dunn, who also has the Independence, Conservative and Working Families party lines.

Two popular Republicans, County Executive Kathleen Jimino and County Clerk Frank Merola, again are running unopposed.

The Stephentown highway superintendent race is among town contests drawing interest.

Neil Gardner, who formerly held the job, is seeking to return to the post he resigned after he was convicted on felony charges of falsifying records while in office.

Gardner will be on the Republican line while the incumbent, Alden Goodermote, appears on the Democratic line.

Gardner's supporters were unsuccessful in a court challenge to invalidate the Democratic caucus that selected Goodermote.

The three-way Schodack supervisor's election has incumbent Supervisor Beth K. Secor running on a minor party line after losing the Republican primary to Dennis E. Dowds.

The third candidate is Democrat Kristen E. Shaw.

Hoosick Supervisor Marilyn Douglas, a Democrat, is opposed by Republican Keith P. Cipperly.

In the East Greenbush town board race, Democratic Legislature Minority Leader Virginia O'Brien is running for one of two open seats after deciding not to seek re-election to the County Legislature.

In the city of Rensselaer, Mayor Daniel J. Dwyer, a Democrat, is challenged by Republican Edward S. Kosinski.

Nine of the 10 Common Council races are contested.