Democratic Party Politburo

Yesterday I received a two page paper letter from the Democratic Party Politburo (Political Bureau) of White Plains.  It addresses the local September 9, 2008 primary, which will elect "members of the Democratic County Committee ... voters will be choosing two volunteers per district".

The letter represents the interests of five of the six the Common Council members who are not mayor.  They are all Democrats.  The letter is signed by the two New York state Assembly members who represent parts of White Plains: Amy Paulin and Adam Bradley.  I guess they could not figure out which of them represents me.  Amy Paulin represents the part of White Plains in which I live.  I have sent her two messages in the past couple of years but she never responded.

They could, however, identify the two candidates who should receive my vote.  Paulin and Bradley state that they "join Congresswoman Nita Lowey and State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer in urging" me to vote for their candidates.  They single out "Council Member Glen Hockley" as a Republicat who they claim is "attempting to take over the White Plains Democratic Party by organizing his own slate of District Leader candidates".

So?  They are using a sledge hammer to kill a fly.  Besides, no one ever asked me to decide on district leaders before.  I kind of like being asked.  It doesn't mean that I would support Hockley.

Paulin and Bradley go on to attack the new candidates and Hockley.  You would think that they would want new blood in their party.  They state that the newcomers never helped Lowey, Oppenheimer nor either of them, Paulin and Bradley.  Oh.  Now we're getting to the heart of the matter.

Paulin and Bradley state that "Hockley filed candidates ... against all five of his Democratic Common Council colleagues" (Boynkin, Malmud, Power, Lecuona, Roach) and against former CC members Brown and Oliva.  How does one file "candidates against"?  What does that mean?

Apparently Hockley is undermining the system that props up not just local office holders but also state and national incumbants.

Hockley is then attacked because he wants to run for mayor.  This is described as "his own grandiose personal ambition".  His ambition does not seem to be very high and mayor of White Plains is hardly grandiose.  Besides, don't all the other five CC members want to be mayor?  Would they pledge to not run in the next mayoral election?

I do not care about what Hockley is doing nor about the petty local politics that have been exposed.  I am offended by this public fued that should have been resolved among the petty little local power brokers involved who never asked my opinion on such matters in the past and only come to me when forced to do so.  Clean up your own mess and answer your damn e-mail messages.