Embattled Smithtown Conservative chairman Jimmy Tsunis and his attorney threatened today to launch a lawsuit in 30 days if county Conservative leaders do not retreat from efforts to oust him.
About 30 supporters showed up as Tsunis, in a news conference at the Union Street Cafe, maintained he was “duly elected” and the ouster bid was done without due process. He noted he has yet to receive formal charges. “I have demanded that basic principles of democracy be afforded me,” said Tsunis, 79. “And my Conservative consitutents have expressed outrage at this clearly unacceptable conduct.”
Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and several town officials appeared for photos with Tsunis in front a sign that read ...
Rick Brand
... “Smithtown Consersatives” followed by a big red heart signifying love, “Jimmy Tsunis.” Vecchio, however, did not stay through the news conference.
Tsunis’ threat came after Suffolk Conservative Chairman Edward Walsh and the party’s county executive committee, in a weighted 79-6 vote last week, issued a “declaration of non-support...no confidence and censure” finding Tsunis disloyal to the party. Only Tsunis voted against the censure. Party officials also called on him to step down and ordered him to “cease and desist” acting as a party official.
Specifically, the party charged Tsunis discouraged party members from supporting a party fundraiser, backed a Democrat Peter Mayer for Supreme Court over the party’s nominee and supporting a highway superintendent candidate not backed by the party.
Robert Garfinkle, Tsunis' attorney, maintains the executive’s board’s action against Tsunis is “absurd” and based on “misinformation.” He said he will seek a meeting between Walsh and Tsunis to settle the dispute. “No one questions the credibility of Mr. Tsunis as a true Conservative,” said Garfinkle.
Backers say that Tsunis’ town has more Conservative per capita than any place on Long Island and three elected Conservative officials including newly elected town board member Robert Creighton.
Reached later, Walsh said that he will not meet with Tsunis and his legal challenge will fall flat. “I guess this means will be going to court,” he said. “What Jimmy doesn’t understand is that he can’t go off on his own and do whatever he wants. As a leader he has to represent the party.” Walsh added that meeting minutes are still being transcribed and will be sent to Tsunis when finished.
Walsh also expressed surprise that Garfinkle, the former GOP election commissioner and current Huntington GOP vice chairman, is representing Tsunis but said there would be no retribtion against candidates. “Will they be off my Christmas card list? Who knows,” he said.
]However, Republican town board member Edward Wehrheim said he showed up because Tsunis has always supported him and said he was unconcerned about retribution. “I was just elected myself. I have a four year term,” he said.
Comments (1)
James Tsunis is a great Conservative. Ed Walsh is in the same boat as Frank MacKay and the rest of the croonies.