Suspended Smithtown Conservative Party leader Jimmy Tsunis appears on the verge of jumping to another minor party and dropping his lawsuit against Suffolk Conservative officials who were in the midst of ousting him.
Tsunis signed papers to change his voter registration to the Independence Party and gave the form during a diner meeting in Hauppauge to local, state and national party boss Frank MacKay.
MacKay, who has yet to file the papers with the county board of elections, said he “certainly welcomes” Tsunis to his minor party and has offered him a post as a county party vice chairman anmd would recommend Tsunis to the national party in May as their vice chairman/financial director.
However, MacKay added....
Rick Brand
“We would not expect a leader of our party to be fighting with a leader of another party,” referring to Tsunis’ lawsuit against Suffolk conservative boss Edward Walsh, an ally of MacKay.
Robert Garfinkle, Tsunis' attorney, said confirmed that Tsunis is changing parties, but said he still has standing to sue because the change in registration does not officially take effect until after Election Day in November.
He added that Tsunis has not yet dropped his lawsuit, but he added settlement talks are under way. ”We’re talking and talking civilly,” he said, “They solved things in Northern Ireland and we hope we can solve things here in Suffolk."
“I think it ‘s pretty much worked out,” said Walsh, "I think the lawyers are just dotting the i’s and crpssing the t’s.” Walsh also said that he expects the minor party will leave the Smithtown leader's post vacant until the town's September coinvention because there is no pressing need to name a sucessor -- since no town nominations need to be decided this spring.
Comments (1)
yet again, another reach for someone's wallet by MacKay. MacKay knows Tsunis is a loose cannon and rows his own boat wherever he goes. Why would anyone in their right mind annoint him with these grandious titles ? What about the followers in his party who have worked and are deserving of a promotion or recognition ? Where is the election to these positions ? MacKay annoints and MacKay disappoints. This is just another boondoggle
by MacKay. Welcome to the land of smoke and mirrors Tsunis. By the way...what do Sliwa, Ventura and Paul have to say ?