Stephentown Politics Turn Nasty

by David Flint
Politics in Stephentown seem to get a bit nastier each time the local elections roll around. Halloween is three weeks away, but, apparently, last Monday night was designated political mischief night. Sheriff’s Department Deputies responding Tuesday morning to a call from Gardner’s Coffee Shoppe, found four smashed windows in the front of the snack bar section and a damaged door and window in the back of the building. According to Sgt. Marc St. Germain, it was apparently a case of criminal mischief with no burglary involved. He said there were no suspects at this time.
Neil Gardner was not pleased with the damage which entailed throwing away all food materials and fry oil that might have been contaminated with broken glass. He estimated the cost of the damage to be at least $2,500. Gardner was of the opinion the vandalism could very well be linked to the 37 of his political signs that he said had been trashed or gone missing over the previous three nights. The signs that have been stolen, he said, were mostly not in the village but had been in scattered locations around town. Gardner expressed exasperation by what he characterized as continual harassment by some in the town. “Enough is enough!” he said.
Andrew White, Chairman of the Stephentown Democratic Committee, also reported “a night of vandalism, theft and destruction,” during which political signs belonging to supporters of the Democratic slate of candidates had been stolen from private lawns, run over and otherwise vandalized at various locations throughout Stephentown.  Locations included Madden Road, Route 22, Goold Road, Gentile Road, Garfield Road, South Stephentown Road and Hanky Mull Road. White said that at least two official reports had been filed with the State Police. In one incident, he said, signs supporting the “Row A” coalition of Democratic and Republican candidates were stolen from a resident’s front yard and replaced by a Neil Gardner sign. In another incident a resident’s mail box was vandalized, which, White noted, is a federal crime.
White recalled that the same sort of thing occurred to a lesser extent two years ago when signs were stolen from private property on Route 22. “This is exactly the sort of behavior we are working hard to bring to an end in Stephentown,” he said. “Our ‘Row A’ slate of candidates is a coalition of Democrats and Republicans that have shown the integrity and just plain basic decency to stand up to this thuggish behavior. We call on all sensible residents, of all parties, to help put an end to this criminal behavior. Enough is Enough!”
Lawsuit Filed To Nullify Democratic Caucus
In another development, a lawsuit has been filed in State Supreme Court requesting that the results of the Democratic Caucus be thrown out. The three petitioners who brought the suit, James Phillips, Stacey Shufelt and Kelly Beebe, are registered as Democrats. White labels them supporters of Neil Gardner. At the Caucus, held September 18 at the Stephentown Fire Hall, Aldie Goodermote defeated Neil Gardner by a vote of 111-13 to become the Democratic candidate for Highway Superintendent. Gardner’s name was placed in nomination for the candidacy by James Phillips.
The petitioners are being represented by Attorney James E. Walsh of Schenectady. Their suit notes that Election Law provides that notice of a caucus shall be made in one of two ways – “either by newspaper publication thereof once within the town, at least one week and not more than two weeks preceding the caucus or by posting in ten public places in the town at least ten days preceding the day of the caucus.” Since notice of the caucus appeared in The Eastwick Press only in the September 18 issue of the paper and since petitioners allege that there was also no timely posting of notices of the caucus in ten public places within the town, they are requesting that the results of the caucus be declared null and void, and the Board of Elections should be prevented from placing the names of the Democratic candidates on the November ballot.
“This is completely outrageous,” was White’s reaction. “They are trying to take away the right to vote in Stephentown.  Our residents have the right to choose someone other than a convicted felon for office,” he said, noting that Gardner was removed from office in October 2008, following his conviction on 24 felony counts related to his actions as Stephentown Highway Superintendent.
Tom Wade, Chair of the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee, who attended the Stephentown Caucus added, “The Democratic Caucus was announced through a variety of legal, effective means.  The effectiveness is evidenced by the record number of participants, a full 50% increase over any such Caucus Stephentown has ever had. The charges are simply ridiculous and represent the action of a desperate candidate.  He is clearly afraid of facing the public in a fair and open election.”
The case was scheduled to be heard in the Rensselaer County Courthouse at 10:30 am on Thursday, October 8, before Judge Roger D. McDonough. Attorney Brian Baker, representing the Democratic Committee, said he is confident the challenge to the Caucus will be defeated.