The major parties in Smithtown appear to be a bit jittery about a Kings Park resident running unaffiliated for a town board seat.
Two Republicans and two Democrats are challenging the petition signatures of Steve Weber, an independent candidate. Weber submitted his petition recently, having gotten 1,700 signatures. The challengers, say Weber, are questioning the way the signers identified their town. Election law says those signing the petition must identify their street address and township, not the community where one lives. On Weber’s petition, the signatories wrote Nesconset or Kings Park, but didn’t identify Smithtown.
Weber, a Kings Park resident, is running without party affiliation. A stay-at-home dad with two small children, Weber said he decided to get involved after viewing the town board meetings on TV.
“I’m just tired of all this I see on TV. It’s so counter-productive,” he said. “People root for their people like it’s the Mets and Yankees. It’s ridiculous.”
Stacey Altherr
Suffolk Republican Commissioner Cathy Geier said four people filed challenges; Randall J. Shaw, Richard W. Glasheen, John E. Gee Jr. and Tony Clemente. Voter records show Shaw, Gee and Glasheen as registered Republicans and Clemente is a registered Democrat. The two commissioners will decide the challenges after a check by election officials.
“This is old party politics,” said Weber, “the two big parties shutting out regular people.”
Comments (6)
So let me get this straight - both the Dems and GOP are willing to spend money in legal fees to get this guy off the ballot on technicalities? We always knew that the two parties were in bed with each other in Smithtown. This is further proof.
THEY DON'T SPEND MONEY EXCEPT for expenses. Repayment comes from the bench in the form of assignments or the consideration for the bench itself. How do you think these Judges got there ? No one needs proof tha they wash one anothers back. That is why the coopted Independence movement was so important but it has been neutralized.
The Dems own the Repubs in this county. Withers shines Schaffers shoes and anything els Schaffer asks. The only thing that can possibly change the one party rule in this county is an honest third party which you can't find.
www.kennedy2007.us
As Chair of the Smithtown Democratic Committee, I'd would like to know where Mr. Williams gets his information that the Democratic or Republican party have spent money on legal fees in the challenge to Mr. Weber's petitions.
I know of no legal fees spent by anyone for the challenge and although I was not a party to the challenge of the petitions, I suspect I would know if the Democrats and Republicans worked together to challenge the petitions.
I'd also like to know what basis Mr. Williams has for his statement that the Democrats and Republicans are "in bed together in Smithtown." The Democratic candidates have been fighting for years to end the one party control of the Republican party over Smithtown town government. For years we have spoken before town board meetings and waged campaigns noting that the REpublican control over town government results in a lack of transparency and accountability.
Please let me know how the committee I chair is in cahoots with the Republican Party so I can correct the situation. Obviously others have information I am not privy to.
Elaine Turley
An Open Post to Steve Weber,
While I don't know a lot about you yet, I do like what I have seen so far on utube and I do know that anyone should be able to run for office as an Independent if they get the required petition signatures. You should not be knocked off the ballot by the political parties simply because someone signed the Hamlet of "Hauppauge" instead of Town of "Smithtown". That is not only rediculous but downright offensive to the Constitution and the American way. The people's intent for you to run is clearly evident and that should be respected. If your opposition doesn't know what Hamlets fall within the Town of Smithtown, then we have some real problems.
What are you politicians afraid of, that some free thinker might come to town service with no strings attached?
Perhaps a "write-in" campaign is in order.
I just wanted you to know that I support your right to run for office and will make that clear on my website:
www.fixsmithtown.com.
Regards,
James Lamb