Rochester Smoke Out

Originally aimed at pre-adolescent females, Hello Kitty’s market has broadened to include Terry Bernardo, the incumbent legislator from District 21.

Hello Kitty’s popularity began waning before the year 2000 and has never recovered, but Terry Bernardo didn’t get the memo. Look at her Facebook photo. Try not to cringe.

This coming Tuesday, Hello Kitty will fight John “do you know Jack” Dawson in the Republican Primary. This is the time when what is needed is not just rhetoric, but boots on the ground:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

On September 10, 2013 two candidates for County Legislature (District 21) will duke it out in a Republican Primary. John “Jack” Dawson is one of them.

Dawson is a modest man.

Look at his yard sign! He only gave himself two stars.

Five days before the primary, and he never bragged about himself. Not a word about his education, his curriculum vitae, his accomplishments.

He never has more than one reason at a time to run for Legislature. First, he wants to create jobs. Wait! He wants to clean the Rainbow Diner mess. Scrap that! Now he wants to change the Ulster County’s budget…

Not convinced about his modesty? Look at the bottom of his mugshot. See how softly he whispers “Do you know Jack?”

Despite his modesty, I could vote for John Dawson without thinking twice. Or once for that matter.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Asking the question “When did Rochester Republicans become tools of the Independence Party?” betrays the political innocence – make that ignorance – of John Dawson.

Any involved Republican knows exactly when Rochester Republicans became tools of the Independence Party: the day when David O’Halloran became the chair of Rochester Republican Committee.

The last line in the ad cracks me up. Vote for the preservation of the party? By voting for John Dawson? Folks, I was deeply involved in the last seven elections in the Town of Rochester, and I’ve never seen a Republican named John Dawson.

As for “Terry Bernardo has got to go!” what goes around comes around. See Terry Bernardo, unhinged.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Since the Rainbow Diner – on Route 209 in Kerhonkson – burned down on July 2, 2012 all kinds of rats were attracted to its remains. The political ones are the most frightening.

Lack of insurance, asbestos contamination, Department of Labor regulations, and the fact that the cost of clean up exceeds the assessed value of the property are all ingredients of the situation created by the fire. On January 18, 2013 an article in Blue Stone Press detailed the issue: “Bureaucratic red tape hinders diner clean up.”

While the people want the site cleaned up without paying for it, the politicians act on Rahm Emanuel’s advice: “Never let a crisis go to waste.”

One candidate – strongly supported by Len Bernardo – tried to score a point against Carl Chipman, our Town Supervisor: “I will clean up the Rainbow Diner!” Signs popped up on top of the wreckage: “Happy Anniversary – 1 year” and “Shame on you town!”

Two days ago a new sign ruled over the pile of debris: “What? Another 2 Year Term for Terry Bernardo? Really?” A photo of the sign (above) was posted by John Dawson (rainbowcleanup) on his Facebook timeline. One of the commenters asked this question: “What the heck does Terry Bernardo have to do with this?” The answer is simple: nothing, except for John Dawson running against her in the September 10 Republican primary. I know who put up the sign, and I’m scared that he is not familiar with the legislators’ job description.

Obviously, the Bernardos didn’t like the sign, so Len Bernardo paid a visit to the site (above photo, courtesy of my best friend forever). When he left, the sign left too:

On January 19, 2013 over 120 people came together at Bernardos’ Skate Time 209 and began calling themselves “Ulster County Friends of the Constitution.” Len Bernardo – a founding member, I believe – apparently befriends only parts of the Constitution. By taking down someone’s political sign he stomped on that person’s right to free speech.

Thank God he did not steal this humorous sign from the same location:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

In the Who’s your choice in this primary? poll posted a few days ago, John Dawson, the challenger in the coming Republican primary in Rochester, beat Terry Bernardo – the incumbent legislator from District 21 – by twenty points. Judging from the poll results, it pays to make people think that you are the lesser evil.

Not happy with the results of the poll, Bernardo tried to understand why people chose Dawson over her, found the hairy reason for her defeat and boldly took remedial action – as you can see in the top photo.

As for Dawson, despite his victory in our poll, he feels a tad apprehensive about the support for Terry Bernardo displayed by a couple of fanatic loyalists. In a note to himself, Dawson promised not to drive on Lucas Avenue before the November elections.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

On September 10, 2013 the registered Republicans will send one sacrificial lamb to a real battle. Seeking the Ulster County Legislature seat in District 21 (Rochester and East Wawarsing), John Dawson and Terry Bernardo are fighting in this primary for the horror honor to be on the ballot’s “R” line in November elections.

From the Ulster County GOP bylaws:

“In the event of the death, disqualification, or resignation of a Chair… the County Chair shall, with the advice of the existing members of the Town… Committee, within fifteen (15) days from the date of the vacancy, make an appointment. The temporary appointee shall be a member of the respective Town, City or Village Committee. The Chair shall call a meeting of said Committee, to be held within thirty (30) days after the appointment, for the purpose of filling a vacancy.”

Rumor has it that Roger Rascoe, the Chairman of the Ulster County Republican Party, is going to appoint Terry Bernardo to fill one of David O’Halloran’s shoes. O’Halloran, the former Chairman of the Rochester Republican Committee, finally announced his resignation on August 12, 2013.

Rumor has it that a merger of the Town of Rochester with the following fourteen cities bearing the same name is imminent:

Rochester, NY (pop. 206,759)
Rochester, MN (pop. 99,121)
Rochester, NH (pop. 30,527)
Rochester, MI (pop. 11,031)
Rochester, IN (pop. 6.447)
Rochester, MA (pop. 5,218)
Rochester, PA (pop. 3,680)
Rochester, IL (pop. 3,171)
Rochester, WA (pop. 1,829)
Rochester, WI (pop. 1,180)
Rochester, VT (pop. 1,135)
Rochester, TX (pop. 328)
Rochester, KY (pop. 187)
Rochester, OH (pop. 182)

Apparently, a plan to also merge with the other four cities named Rochester (two in England, one each in Canada and Australia) has been discarded.

Here is a comment posted last year on the Ulster County Cloakroom blog:

Since Len Bernardo got to be a fire commissioner in Rochester, the game changed. Promise a new fire engine, share a beer keg with the boys, spread a few rumors, and – between firefighters and their family – you control a 500-strong voting block… “See you guys on Tuesday! Don’t forget to vote for Terry!”

Rumor has it that things have changed. Firefighters’ unconditional love for the Bernardos petered out. The 500-strong voting block is getting smaller by the hour, and its size will count – one way or another – in the September 10 primary between incumbent legislator Terry Bernardo and the wannabe asbestos-remover John Dawson.

Rumor has it that David O’Halloran tried to sabotage Manuela Michailescu’s nomination of Carl Chipman at the Republican caucus by replacing her with Tim Bunch. He failed.

No surprise here, O’Halloran tried the same – and also failed – two years ago, when Manuela nominated Judge Babcock.

Rumor has it that the Chairwoman of the Ulster County Legislature Terry Lynn Bernardo-Blosser keeps busy preparing to challenge the incumbent Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (103 AD) in next year’s elections.

It makes sense: after December 31, 2013 she’s going to have lots of time on her hands. And I mean lots!

Rumor has it that David O’Halloran, Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Rondout Valley School Board, Member of the Committee to Fill Vacancies in 2013 local elections, President of the Rochester Republicans Club, former Chairman of the Industrial Development Agency Board, former Vice-Chair of the Ulster County Republican Committee, former Chairman of the Town of Rochester Republican Committee, and probably former member, president or chairman of a few dozen other organizations, is seriously considering getting out of Dodge.

Rumor has it that the Bernardos would be more than happy to unload “Skate Time 209” for $1,400,000. The rumor mentions moving out of town subsequent to a sale. Wouldn’t be funny if the Bernardos end up in the same town as O’Halloran and together start the same s%*t all over again?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

You have seen this email in my previous post Devious male chauvinist pig “out of politics”:

From: David O’Halloran
Date: August 13, 2013 11:37:53 AM

Committee Members,

All documents relating to our caucus have been completed and mailed to the County BOE. Attached are the Caucus nomination report & Harold’s acceptance cert.

I wish you all the best of luck, you will need it. Having Manuela & Terry on Rochester’s committee is like having Jack the Ripper & Son of Sam at a Boy Scout Meeting… you are all prey.

Have fun!

David O’Halloran

Obviously none of the Rochester Republican Committee “boy scouts” dared to disobey the order of Mr. Important, so they started to have fun immediately. Except Jack the Ripper – a/k/a Manuela Michailescu – who actually took the time to open and read this document attached to David’s email:

From the bus taking the town kids on a day trip to Lake Taghkanic State Park, Manuela sent this email:

From: Manuela Michailescu
To: Carl Chipman
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 9:24 AM
Subject: Missing…

… Name of candidate Wayne Kelder from the certificate filed by David (too focused on Jack and Sam?!). Maybe u tell Wayne or D about this?
We’re on the bus…
Best,
M
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Town Supervisor Carl Chipman replies:

From: Carl Chipman
To: Manuela Michailescu
Date: August 14, 2013 11:47:34 AM
Subject: Re: Missing…

I told David. I am sure it was an unintentional error. Don’t want to get Wayne worried.

Carl

David O’Halloran takes care of business:

From: David O’Halloran
To: Tom Turco, Ulster County Elections Commissioner
Date: August 14, 2013 12:01:33 PM

I missed Wayne Kelder on the initial form, please use attached.

David O’Halloran

Let’s say that Manuela didn’t catch the mistake (yes, I know, it’s hard to imagine that.) Do you have an idea how much would have cost the taxpayers the re-printing of the ballots?

I think David O’Halloran should call Jack the Ripper and say “Thank you, Manuela!” but I’m not holding my breath.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

David O’Halloran’s first email:

Manuela Michailescu’s reply:

David O’Halloran’s second email:

David O’Halloran’s third email:

Tavi Cilenti’s reply:

Possible excuse for David’s emails, according to the conventional wisdom:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Supervisor Carl Chipman speaking before the vote. He was nominated by Manuela Michailescu (far left) and seconded by Tavi Cilenti.

Rochester Republican Caucus is behind us. Here are all the candidates seeking endorsement, the winners highlighted:

Carl Chipman / Tim Bunch – Town Supervisor
Kathleen Sergio – Town Clerk
Wayne Kelder – Highway Superintendent
Vinny Nigro – Town Justice
Philip H. Davis II / Harold Lipton / Cindy Fornino – Town Councilmen

Carl Chipman secured the endorsement of three legitimate parties: Republican, Conservative, and Democratic. I’m curious if Len Bernardo, the Chairman of the Mickey Mouse Independence Party will roll with the punches, or will dig his heels in and give the “I” line to Tim Bunch just to make some obscure point known only to him.

Chaperoned by Lisa Mance, Terry Bernardo, the Chairwoman of the Ulster County Legislature, attended the caucus but – surprise, surprise! – did not take her seat at the Committee’s table. Hmmmm….

Seconds before the meeting was adjourned, David O’Halloran announced his long awaited, and much anticipated resignation from the Republican Committee, effective immediately.

The rumor that he resigned because of the uphill struggle with pronouncing Manuela’s last name appears to be unfounded. But, just in case he returns to the Committee, here is the easy way out:

Michailescu is pronounced Me-Hi-Less-Koo.

In a comment to my previous post O’Halloran claimed to be “out of Rochester Politics.” Why was he placed on the Committee to Fill Vacancies a minute before he resigned? Out of politics, but not in a fanatic way?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco