What's At Stake

Tomorrow we vote for the Town and Village Boards.

I'm guessing you knew that.

You may already know the rest of this, but let's review anyway. OK?

The Town Board

Caruso is running for re-election.  

The only difference from last year was that he couldn't arrange to run unopposed. 

The best laid plans of mousy men...

Caruso currently controls two votes on the board, his own and Lyn Prestia's.

Why Lyn, a seemingly intelligent and well-spoken person, would give up independent thought and vote with Ralph on everything, including things she opposed before he became Supervisor, is a mystery.

However the other three members of the Board, Republican Tim Arone, Democrat Bob Hunter and independent Frank Palermo, have denied Caruso's moves to consolidate power.

So, even if, heaven forfend, Ralph wins reelection, he will continue to be impotent.

The Village Board

Of far greater importance is the Village election.

First of all, villages can over-rule towns on matters such as zoning.

Second, under New York State law, village mayors have far more independent power than town supervisors.

This hasn't come up before in Woodbury, because Mayor Queenan and majorities on both boards have worked sanely together.

Ralph's chosen candidate for mayor could change that.

"Working sanely" isn't Ralph's strong point and Tommy Burke will do as Ralph says.

And what makes me call Tommy Burke Ralph's pawn?

First of all, Ralph's proxies and Manny Mangual's proxies control the Democratic Committee.  That's how Tommy was chosen.

Then, as soon as he had the Democratic nomination, Tommy Burke carried petitions for Ralph's Perversion of Woodbury Party for himself and for opponents to his Democratic running-mates.  

Petitions notarized by Ralph.

And now Ralph and Tommy are walking, hand-in-hand, campaigning together through Woodbury.

If Tommy becomes Mayor, Ralph will have more control over Woodbury then he's ever had.

This stuff matters.

                           To read other posts by Uncle Betty click here.