 August
30, 2008
Who's a Democrat? Voters decide Journal
News editorial
"For years,
Ramapo has been a Democratic town. And for
years, the Ramapo Town Democratic Committee
- up to 320 people representing their
various neighborhoods throughout the town -
has seen little challenge for membership.
Now, that's changing. On Sept. 9, Ramapo
Democrats will see contested ballots in 31
of the 90 districts that make up Ramapo's
Democratic Town Committee. Election
districts have up to four people
representing them. Each district has
multiple seats, and a stunning 215 people
are on ballots for those 31 contested
districts." Read the full editorial
here.
August
26, 2008
Ramapo forms new election district as
Democrats battle for committee
seats James Walsh The Journal
News
"One more election district has been
added in time for the Sept. 9 Democratic
Committee primary pitting longtime Town Hall
supporters against others hungry for change.
The formation of District 52 may be unlikely
to sway the results either way, as it holds
only two committee seats in a primary with
107 contested ones. Overall, there are 215
candidates, both opposed and unopposed. Its
formation was upsetting, though, to Joseph
Meyers, a Democratic county legislator from
Airmont and an organizer of Ramapo Democrats
for Change. 'It shows that the Ramapo Town
Hall machine leaves no stone unturned in its
attempt to hang onto power,' Meyers said."
Full story
here.
August
7, 2008
Ramapo Democratic Committee challenged in
primary
James Walsh The Journal News
"The town Democratic Committee could
face one of the biggest challenges to its
power structure when primary day rolls
around on Sept. 9.
The contests involve candidates not for
public office but for seats on the committee
that runs the day-to-day business of
politics.
There are 215 candidates, a
number seen by some longtime Democrats as
the largest field in 20 years or more."
August
10, 2008
Ramapo
petition drive not a 'plot'
Steven White letter in The Journal
News
As a candidate for the Democratic Committee
in the Town of Ramapo - as reported in the
Thursday article, "Upstarts plotting
political takeover" - I strongly object to
the term "plotting." Merriam Webster defines
"plot" as "a secret plan for accomplishing a
usually evil or unlawful end" (for example,
an assassination plot). The actions of
Ramapo Democrats for Change have been
totally open and scrupulously honest. Dozens
of grass-roots members of the Democratic
Party publicly gathered hundreds of petition
signatures. Ramapo Democrats for Change
include a diverse group of elected
officials, community activists and
registered Democrats.
We are tired of seeing our party hijacked by
a group of machine operatives who "plot"
with special-interest groups and ignore the
interests of the average Democratic Party
member.
August
12, 2008
Who gets to
define 'true Democrat'?
Lori Schwartz letter in The Journal
News
It is outrageous that Town of Ramapo
Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence would
publicly state that challengers to his
position are not "true Democrats" and are
attempting "to hijack the Democratic party,"
as stated in Thursday's article, "Upstarts
plotting political takeover."
I am one of the reform candidates running
for a committee position. I registered in
the Democratic Party for the first time in
1975 when I turned 18 and became eligible to
vote, and have proudly been a member of the
Democratic party ever since. I was born in
the United States and have worked and paid
taxes all of my adult life. Moreover, I have
raised my family in Ramapo and my children
have graduated from the local public
schools.
It would be interesting to know how Mr. St.
Lawrence defines being a true Democrat and
to hear him explain why I do not fit that
description.
Many citizens are concerned about decisions
being made in Ramapo that impact the quality
of life for everyone living here. As a
citizen, it is my right to involve myself in
the political process so that I can
participate in how decisions are made.
I do not believe, as Mr. St. Lawrence
appears to, that only those who agree with
the supervisor's actions can participate.
Mr. St. Lawrence, this is America, not a
dictatorship and it is counter to Democratic
beliefs for one person to control politics
and squash dissent.
It is very sad that an elected official in
this country does not support the American
ideal of freedom.
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