Ed Gaddy, Chairman, Ulster County Conservative Party

According to the Ulster County Board of Elections (see below memo) – Manuela Michailescu has been nominated as a candidate by the Conservative Party on July 17, 2009 – almost 4 months before the elections held on November 3:



Ed Gaddy, the Chairman of the Ulster County Conservative Party, refused to sign Manuela’s nomination because “jumping in at the last minute doesn’t work.” Look what he wrote on this blog on January 22, 2013:

“…when Manuela did call me the petitions were already sent out, the meetings held, interviews completed and the “Show” was already on the road. I and the Conservative party have always given fair hearing to anyone who wants to seek our Endorsement. Unfortunately time is never on our side. There is that little known facet of the process called Deadlines. You know filing dates. You can’t jump in and contact me that late in the process and not expect it to problematic. With 20 towns, a city and 4 villages do you think putting a meeting together on no notice with Chairmen, and 5 other elected officers who were already out with petitions for other candidates was possible? I don’t wish Manuela ill but please stop blaming me for doing the right thing, and her getting in to the races so late.”

If you had to hold your nose while reading the paragraph above, I don’t blame you – it’s pure bullshit. In 2009 Ed Gaddy had promised Terry Bernardo to not let anybody challenge her on the Conservative line. Manuela was not late, not even by one second.

Coincidentally, the same day Ed Gaddy posted his lame excuse, Manuela Michailescu sent this letter to the town and county leaders of the Conservative Party:

Gerald Fornino
19 Deer Tail Trail, Accord, NY 12404

Edward J. Gaddy
176 Jockey Hill Road, Kingston, NY 12401

John R. Crispell
42 Tuytensbridge Road, Lake Katrine, NY 12449

Alan D. Hartman
841 Route 9W, Highland, NY 12528

January 22, 2013

Dear Messrs. Fornino, Gaddy, Crispell and Hartman:

This is my letter of intent to run in this year’s election for the seat of Legislator in District 21, on the Conservative line.

Considering the Presidential Inauguration as the beginning of the 2013 political year, I do not want to be in any way “late” in making my intentions known to all of you, leaders of the Conservative Party in Rochester and Ulster County, respectively.

For those who do not know much about me, few facts:

• In 2007 I was one of the five Republican candidates in the Town of Rochester who ran on the Conservative line – following the interview with the local Conservative leaders (including Mr. Fornino).
• After winning the election, I served for four years (2008-2011) as Town of Rochester Councilwoman, proudly representing both Republicans and Conservatives.
• I did not betray in any way the Conservative principles and cannot understand why I was not acknowledged as a town elected official being present at the Conservative caucus held in Rochester in 2011.
• In 2009 I ran for a Legislature seat in former District 1. There were four seats up for grabs and only two Republican candidates.
• Based on the signatures gathered – as notified by the Ulster County Board of Elections – I did qualify as a candidate, but I did not receive the Wilson-Pakula from the Conservative Party Chair, Mr. Gaddy.
• Instead, Mr. Gaddy chose to endorse three Democrats – the result of a deal among all four Ulster County party chairs at the time.
• In 2011, when I ran again for Legislature, Mr. Fornino, Chair of Rochester’s Conservative Committee, went to Court and nullified the Opportunity to Ballot filed on behalf of the Conservative Party line. If I recall correctly, an Opportunity to Ballot was allowed in a neighboring district, where a primary took place, but NOT allowed in our District 21.
• Mr. Fornino’s action was just an expression of the “commitment” the Conservative Party had made to Mrs. Bernardo. I may be “old style,” but I believe that elections are not about commitments to friends.

As I continue to believe in the strength of the democratic principles, I’m asking you to consider my intention to run for the Legislator seat in District 21 (Rochester / Wawarsing), and timely inform me about petition deadlines, dates you set up for interviews, meetings, Convention and any other events where a candidate must be present.

Wishing you a happy, politically meaningful New Year,
Sincerely,

Manuela Michailescu

5858 Route 209
Kerhonkson, NY 12446
845-626-5206
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

Despite Gaddy’s claim that he “and the Conservative party have always given fair hearing to anyone who wants to seek our Endorsement,” he never acknowledged Manuela’s letter of intent, and the Conservative party’s nominating convention is behind us. Ed Gaddy, you are full of it…

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco