-
Candidate Also Required To Spy On Mayor, City Hall Employees
& Council Republicans -
(CITY
OF BINGHAMTON, N.Y.) Binghamton City
Council members Joe Mihalko (R - District 2), Chris Papastrat (R
- District 5) and John Matzo (R - District 6) expressed concern and
disappointment over a recent e-mail sent to Broome County Democrats
at the request of Council President Teri Rennia, advertising a
vacancy in the City Clerk's Office. A copy of the e-mail is attached.
"We do not
feel the function of the taxpayer-funded position of City Clerk and Deputy
Clerk is to gather political intelligence to undercut the opposing
party in power," said Council
members Mihalko, Papastrat and Matzo. "We should be working
with the new Mayor and his team on behalf of the residents, not trading
public positions for political gain."
"What this e-mail
reveals is a peek behind the curtain as to how the Council President and some
members of Council's leadership view the City Clerk's Office,"
said the Council members. "What we're seeing here is not in the best
interest of the taxpayers. We applaud one recipient of this e-mail for
recognizing the job requirements were unethical and wrong, and exposing these activities
to the public."
"We were
elected to work on behalf of all City residents," said the
Council Members. "We support the new administration's efforts to
pave more roads, add police, attack blight, better manage City finances and
address quality of life issues in our neighborhoods. We've had enough of
the obstruction that's followed the change in administration. After
reviewing this e-mail, what we thought was just resentment from losing the race
for Mayor, is actually a more serious and organized effort to undercut
Mayor David, City employees and Council Republicans."
"We feel this
incident has compromised Councilwoman Rennia's ability to effectively
represent this body as President," said the Council Members. "Not
only has she failed to renounce this scheme, but she is identified in the
e-mail as its architect — requesting it be sent and personally collecting
resumes for review. At the next City Council meeting, we will call for a vote
to select a new Council President. We urge our Democratic colleagues to support
a change, and encourage them to think long and hard about the message they want
to send to their constituents."
The author of the e-mail
is Marty Doorey, Chair of the City
of Binghamton Democratic Committee. Doorey is also
Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC), an official
City committee responsible for coordinating citizen input regarding the
$1.9 million Community Development Block Grant program and submitting
recommendations to the Department of Planning Housing and Community Development and
City Council. Doorey represents the 7th Council District on the committee —
Councilman Bill Berg's district. CDAC members receive a $500 annual stipend.
"In light of
Mr. Doorey's participation in these unethical political
activities involving taxpayer-funded positions, we are calling for his
resignation from the CDAC, effective immediately," said the
Council Members.
The Council members will
also consult with the City Attorney because they feel the public trust has been
breached. The Council Members will explore next steps with the City
Attorney to pursue an independent external review of the matter.
"Candidates should
be selected based on experience and qualifications, not political affiliation
or years of service to the party. We encourage the Council's Democratic
majority to implement a transparent hiring process. The positions should be
publicly advertised and any member of the public should have an opportunity to
apply."
The source e-mail was
supplied anonymously to the Republican Council members. Its legitimacy was then
confirmed by a Democratic member of City Council.
For more information,
contact Councilman Joe Mihalko, (607) 765-2352.
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