Editorial: It’s Time For Good People To Run The Town Board
Written by Jim Tricoli, Editor of the Amhersttimes.com
New Board Members Must Stop Listening To Old Town Bosses
I have sat through almost every town board meeting for over 15 years. I’ve witnessed good town boards and those which have been demeaning to the people and ignored their needs. I sat in the auditorium and watched decent people of Amherst beg for their homes only to be ignored because they didn’t have connections with the power boys, who mainly are developers and political bosses.
To run for office you must have the guts and integrity to stand up for the people of Amherst, which includes anyone who is in the right. I have been threatened by my own party leader who warned me to keep my mouth shut. Don’t tell the people the truth of what really happens in Amherst.
I have no problem doing the right thing. It’s the only way to correct the problems caused by weak leaders and the money hungry friends of these “leaders.” It is a sickening problem which needs to be dealt with.
One man can not correct the problems of Amherst by themselves but if our Town Board in November elects 2 strong Democrats we have a shot at moving ahead on a positive path. We will be able to identify the problems of Amherst, focus on them and try to solve them.
I have seen the ugliness of what this Town Board has done to our town therefore my decision to run for the Town Board is the only choice I have to help put Amherst back on the road of honesty and a wonderful place to live again.
I know how hard it is to get on the Town Board but if serious people understand what I’ve written I must run for the Town Board.
Thank You
Bill Said,
March 13, 2013 @ 7:37 pm
Who are some of the democrats possible options? Is it the same old candidates?
Steve Said,
March 14, 2013 @ 1:41 pm
I’m guessing Dan Ward makes a return…file that under the same old, same old.
Joe Said,
March 14, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
I’ve known Jim for years. He’s a man who can’t be brought. He has shown his love for Amherst by attending every Town Board work session and Town Board for the last 15 years only missing two.
Then he informs the people of what’s really happening in our town.I plan to vote for Mr.Tricoli.
Steve Said,
March 15, 2013 @ 1:30 am
Joe: I agree 100%
Don Said,
March 15, 2013 @ 2:39 pm
Jim is an honest person who cares deeply about our community of Amherst. He also knows a great deal about what is currently going on inside town government and it makes him very upset. He would be a great assert to the Amherst residents regardless of their personal political beliefs since he is not an motivated by ideology.
Make no mistake, it will be very difficult for him to succeed since he is trying to do this from outside of political party structures. He will need help from other like minded Amherst residents, especially those who have not traditionally participated in working for or backing a candidate in the past. Especially important for him would be to get the vote of the “blank” voters, those who have not registered with any political party, many who traditionally vote Republican.
Good luck Jim!
NB: Please note Jim is a personal friend and I intend to help him in this new challenge. For Jim this is not about personal power or position, but an attempt to fix our broken town government. He would have been just as happy if some other individual(s) with his same commitment would have tried, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Lynne Said,
March 15, 2013 @ 7:27 pm
Jim continues to expose the unsavory activity going on at town hall.
He, irrefutably has the best interest of Amherst and its residents at heart and is incorruptible. He is a genuine public servant.
I have watched rebroadcasts of the meetings and cheer him on when he challenges the garbage that often is spewed from the town stage.
I’m afraid, the town’s power base will make it very difficult for Jim to get a seat at the town-cabal table. Maybe his role in protecting Amherst is to continue exposing and informing from the outside.
Sojourner Said,
March 15, 2013 @ 7:48 pm
Heard the Republicans interviewed 2 other new names, and real mavericks, Tom Frank and Chris Drongosky, along with a member of the Rath family, for new town board types…and trashed them all…
Peggy Said,
March 16, 2013 @ 11:15 pm
I can no longer get to the Town Board meetings but I would watch them on TV . I would watch Mr.Tricoli stand up and fight for the people who came before the Town Board. He never took any negative remarks made to him or about him lying down. If he runs I will vote for him and my friends will to where I live.
AnotherView Said,
March 16, 2013 @ 11:18 pm
Sojourner, you are too funny.
Chris Drongosky Said,
March 18, 2013 @ 10:04 pm
Contrary to what sojourner has written the Amherst Republican Executive Committee was very receptive and courteous during the interview process. I look forward with working with them in the future.
walter Said,
March 21, 2013 @ 10:54 am
We need people that are willing to listen to all of the involved parties and have the willingness to compromise. Blindly voting on any proposal is not helping the community proceed in a healthy direction. I do not need more of the Dan Wards,Debbie Bruch-Bucki, J. Anderson, etcs. running for office. While in office, I see very little positive things that developed (through them) during their tenure. In fact in some cases, the Town regressed.
Concerned Citizen Said,
March 22, 2013 @ 2:39 am
Walter, if only it was that simple. The two former democrats you mention opposed the out of scale development now going on in Amherst. You need to dig deeper to find the real “culprits”.
Clearly it’s the supervisor Dr. Barry Weinstein, doctor, developer, and most of all, politician. The buck stops with him!
Followed closely by the deputy supervisor Guy Marlette, and the three blind mice Jay Anderson, Barbara Nucherino, and Steve Sanders. Last but not least is the lone Democrat Mark Manna.
The three blind mice owe the supervisor big time for their positions, and never do anything he doesn’t like. In fact they rarely offer any new resolutions at all. They sit, listen, sometimes discuss, vote, and then go home.
Marlette, ever the technocrat, is somewhat more independent, but doesn’t rock the boat especially in public. Manna who seems to be from the “opposition” party rarely shows it, and in the end goes along with much of the supervisor’s agenda. When he does put a “stink” now and then, it is rather ineffective.
The thing they ALL have in common is they take political donations from the developers and many others seeking influence.
That’s our Amherst Town Board in a nutshell. The voters now have to decide if they want keep them or replace them.
PS: I personally like most of board members as people, but I wouldn’t vote for any of them!
Walter Said,
March 23, 2013 @ 4:32 pm
“Concerned Citizen”
I did not think for a moment that it would be that simple. As far as the existing TB is concerned, they are collectively than those in the past. I have no idea who would be a good candidate that would provide a balanced approach to representing the people of this Town, as well as operating the day to day business of town government
8 cringe to think what names will be blogged as viable candidates.
Gotcha Said,
March 23, 2013 @ 7:02 pm
Everyone has an opinion on the town board- but the current crew is lead by a developer doctor, and nothing but a rubber stamp for the development and construction industry. They take turns opposing certain projects, posturing for various neighborhoods, but its all a shellgame – and the second rule of the game is that there is always a majority of votes on the town board for any given project. The first rule is, of course, the Golden Rule – those that have the gold (or cash) rule….