HISTORY OF HOW THE RESIDENTS OF SCHODACK HAVE BEEN DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO CHOOSE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

The following is a summary history of the last 3 election cycles starting with 2003 to the present.  It will show how the actions of certain individuals manipulated the system to prevent any other candidates from being on the ballot to insure that Beth Secor could run unopposed.

2003 – The election of 2003 brought out 3 candidates for Supervisor for             the Town of Schodack

           Eileen Natoli, the incumbent

           Ray Lemka,   a councilman at the time

           Beth Secor, who had served 2 terms as Town Supervisor from               1984 to 1987.

A primary gave Secor the Republican line, Natoli the Conservative line & Lemka the Independent line on the ballot.

Tim Nugent was the Chairman of the Democrat party and called a Caucus which resulted in Beth Secor wining the Democrat line. It was obvious Nugent was backing Secor to win the Democrat line giving her both major party lines and assuring victory in November.  It was also obvious a deal had been struck to get Secor on both major party lines as the only way to overcome the Natoli support.

January 2004-  Once in office, Republican Secor appointed Schodack Democratic Chairman, Tim Nugent to serve as Planning Board Attorney & Zoning Board Chairman.

2005 - Beth Secor was nominated by the Republican Committee to run for another term.  No other Republican challenged her. Democrat Nugent also did not call a Caucus resulting in ONLY Beth Secor on the November of 2005 ballot and Nugent continued serving as attorney for the previously mentioned Boards. Mr Nugent was also called upon to serve as interim Town Attorney when a vacancy occurred in 2006.  It is also quite certain Mr Nugent was given other legal details to perform resulting in additional salary.  If one would follow the money and learn just how much Timothy Nugent among others, benefit from this one party system, it would be obvious why they are trying every trick in the book to shut out any other candidate.

Many residents were raising their eyebrows and not happy with the lack of choice at election time and also the actions of Supervisor Secor in carrying out the duties of her office. Money was being spent on needed projects, but they were quite grandiose and rather too much too soon.  A much needed highway garage was built for over 2 million dollars.

The very clever action of leasing a former SEFCU building to house a new town hall with option to buy for 2.4 million got mixed reviews.  Renovations to make the building useable to suit the needs for a town hall cost almost $500,000.  This was all done without the residents being allowed to vote for or against the project as the law does not call for approval by the people when leasing. Shortly after occupying the leased premises, Supervisor Secor and the town board passed a Permissive Referendum Resolution to buy the building. NOW! The people could petition for a vote but no one would vote against purchasing after all the money was spent for renovations and move.

Timothy Nugent remained on the town payroll enjoying the rewards from his actions in maintaining the one party system for Supervisor Secor.

2007 – Election in the air and no one would come forward to challenge Supervisor Secor.  Knowing the residents wanted a change, Ray Lemka came forward with many supporters to help him seek the office and stop the one party rule.  Ray Lemka secured many more signatures than needed on nominating petitions for the Republican, Conservative, and the Independence Parties.

The Conservative and Independence Party County Chairman would not authorize Ray Lemka to be a candidate, but did authorize Secor resulting in no primary vote for those two parties.  It obviously appeared the Party Chairman of those two parties were cooperating in the “shut out” to insure Beth Secor could run unopposed yet again!

The Republican primary of 2007 resulted in Secor 438 and Lemka 431 making it close to a tie. It is estimated incumbent Secor had approximately 100 patronage votes.

 Timothy Nugent saw the writing on the wall and knew the Schodack Democrats would expect a caucus. He put a small Paragraph-article in the West Sand Lake Advertiser, asking any potential candidates to call him if they wanted to be considered a candidate on the Democratic line.  This was not a legal manner in which to call a caucus. The Advertiser does not cover the entire town of Schodack.  Timothy Nugent did not get a response from any potential candidates; therefore, although he knew there were two candidates in the running, it appears he did not file a legal notice for a caucus.

It is said, the NYS election law states a member of the Schodack Democrat Party should call a Caucus. DOES IT SAY WHO CAN OR CAN NOT CALL A CAUCUS IF NO ONE IN THE TOWN HAS DONE SO? In the spring of 2007, Attorney Josh Sabo Jr. and County Democrat Chairman, Tom Wade and others could see a problem with Schodack AGAIN possibly not calling a Caucus. The County Democrat Party Committee met and added to their by-laws a resolution to the effect that;  “if the Town Democrat Chairman does not call a Caucus, then the County Democrat Chairman could call one if he sees fit.”

County Democrat Chairman Wade posted Notices on the last possible day a notice for a Schodack Democrat Caucus could be posted, 10 days before the Caucus. The Caucus was held on September 24^th, also the last possible day a Caucus could be called.  It was obvious a Democrat Caucus was not going to be called by Timothy Nugent or anyone else.  The Caucus convened and Joe McInerney was voted to be Presiding Officer of the Caucus. Nominations taken from the floor for candidates for Schodack Town Supervisor.  Raymond W. Lemka was nominated and received 67 votes and Beth Secor was nominated and received 21 votes, a 75% for Lemka to 25% for Secor. It should be noted incumbent Secor had an estimated 5 patronage votes cast. Other candidates nominated for office were Joe McInerney, town Council, Paul Peter, Town Justice.  It should ALSO BE NOTED many petitioners of the “Show Cause Order” were present and voted. It is obvious, if Secor had won, this “Petition of Order To Show Cause” would never have been submitted. The “Show Cause Order was signed by only one Democrat, Steven Kelly who happens to be the husband of Dawn Kelly, secretary to Beth Secor.  Five other Democrat petitioners were named in support of the “Show Cause”, one of which is Charles Fuda,  husband of Nadine Fuda, Director of Planning for the Town of Schodack. Robert Franklin, Edward Secovnie Daniel Morgan, and Richard Miller.

CONCLUSION:  The above Primary and Caucus figures demonstrate the residents of Schodack both Republican and Democrat, want an opportunity to choose who will be their Supervisor in the November election.  The people of Schodack are very upset that they have not had a choice in the actions of their town government.  The voters of Schodack want at least a two party election in November and DO NOT want the party bosses preventing a two party system.  The people of Schodack are CRYING OUT for “Democracy in Schodack.”  This phrase is being used daily.  The people of Schodack deserve to have a choice! 

Raymond Lemka stepped up to provide a choice when on one else came forward. It is now up to the courts to do what is needed when clever politicians try to control the lives and future taxes of the people of Schodack to the point of even USING THE COURTS to shut out any competition in the November election.

There is only one ruling for the people of Schodack and that is to allow the results of the Democrat Caucus to stand.

WHAT IF:

THEY HAD AN ELECTION WITH ONLY ONE CANDIDATE?

WHAT IF:

THEY HAD AN ELECTION AND NOBODY CAME?

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?