The Suffolk Conservative Party executive committee has issued a "declaration of non-support...no confidence and censure" against Smithtown party chairman Jimmy Tsunis for disloyalty to the party. Officials say the action effectively strips Tsunis of his powers as town leader.
The 60-member executive committee voted against Tsunis Wednesday night after a heated session which he later labeled "a proceeding with trumped-up charges reminiscent of the Soviet Union."
County Chairman Edward Walsh said the charges included: discouraging party members from buying tickets to a party fundraiser; actively supporting Democratic judicial candidate Peter Mayer over the Conservative candidate and supporting a candidate for town highway superintendent not backed by the party.
"The party didn't do anything to Jimmy. He did it to himself," said Walsh, who plans...
Rick Brand
...to send out a letter to all candidates and elected officials notifying them of the action.
The county chairman said he will decide shortly whether to hold a further proceeding, by a five-member committee, to determine if Tsunis should be ousted from the party. Such a move would require a further hearing, followed by either a trip to court to enforce the ruling or a wait until the next party convention in September, to officially oust Tsunis.
Tsunis called the committee meeting a "kangaroo-court proceeding" and said the party has failed to provide him with detailed charges and minutes of the meeting "so I can have an adequate opportunity to defend myself."