Golisano vs. Mohr

Ralph Mohr and Tom Golisano are engaged in an interesting and unusual battle.

Mohr is questioning if Golisano's Responsible New York is operating on the up and up and says Steve Pigeon has been playing fast and loose with campaign finance law for some time now.

Golisano has taken offense, to put it mildly. He went so far as to stage a press conference  Friday outside Mohr's office at the Erie County Board of Elections. Among TG's beefs -- politics at the Board of Elections.

These two stories by Bob McCarthy lay it all out.

Buffalo Pundit has a good video clip showing Friday's conversation between Mohr and Golisano. Much of it involves TG jawing at Mohr.

Golisano, in complaining about politics at the board, is stating an obvious fact that everyone in government has overlooked for, well, forever.

Boards of Elections are political cesspools all over New York. State law lays the groundwork and county legislatures take it from there, appointing political types as commissioners.

Look at who we've had in Erie County. Right now we've got as commissioners Mohr, a Republican insider who used to serve in the County Legislature, and Dennis Ward, a Democratic Party insider whose wife just happened to be vying in the recent Senate primary with the Golisano-backed Joe Mesi.

Puts Ward in a compromising position, wouldn't you say? And what about Mohr, who just happens to spring into action involving a Senate race that could decide the balance of power in the State Senate.

Let's not stop with the two commissioners. Look at their deputies. Dennis Ryan is chairman of Republican Party in the city, while Alonzo Thompson Jr. is president of Grassroots Inc., the political organization from which Mayor Brown emerged.

It's been like this for a long, long time. In recent memory, we've seen Roger Blackwell move from the County Legislature to the Board of Elections. Larry Adamczyk, a key political strategist for Dennis Gorski, succeeded Blackwell. Mohr's predecessor as GOP commissioner was Phil Smolinski, a Jimmy Griffin political operative and secretary of the Erie County GOP.

The result is a good old boys network in which the kind of enforcement Mohr is now pursuing is rare. And in this case, refreshing.

I don't know if Golisano or Pigeon is violating campaign finance laws. But, based on my previous reporting of their involvement in the Sam Hoyt-Barbra Kavanaugh primary, I believe Mohr is certainly within bounds asking questions and using his power of subpoena.

In opting to operate as an independent political committee, and using Pigeon as his quarterback, Golisano should have anticipated the scrutiny. Now he's got it.

In refusing to answer questions, Golisano is running the risk of the he "doth protest too much" syndrome.

And in investigating potential skulduggery, Mohr begs the question "Why doesn't the Board of Elections do this more often?" This is only the second time in nine years the board has used its subpoena power.

Comments

[BobbyCat]

I don't understand Golisano's beef with the Elections people. But it seems to me that Ralph Mohr was using his office to obstruct the West Seneca down-sizing vote. The guy appeared to be anti-democracy and thwarting the will of the people. He's acting more like the Commiczar of Elections. I agree with Golisano that Mohr should be canned.

[lanres]

Mr.Mohr is just doing what he always does, pointing fingers - hiding behind the law. All this while he skips down the back elevator to carry on his private law practice. - - -

- "Why doesn't the Board of Elections do this more often?" The answer to that is simple , they only do it when an opposing candidate becomes a potential winner. . .

- Both sides of the isle at the B.O.E. should be purged - they are just another "Arm" of the over paid "Tax-fed" political machine.

..

[Hank]

The only word I can use to describe our local WNY politics is putrid. It is never about serving the public, it is always about whose is bigger (you know what I mean.) It goes to every sector, the County Executive showing his true colors in failing to offer a full budget (Comptroller Poloncarz is right about the $16 million missing); raising pay for his friends and cohorts; neglecting any diversity in his personnel (see Rod Watson's article). The two local political parties are pools of self-interest and evasion of public service needs. Only Artvoice tends to the criticisms needed in the media. The TV networks local news? A travesty. The bankers? They engineered the greatest transfer of wealth in the nation's history and can never be trusted. The Governor? A beggar, hat in hand, going to the Carribean, Washington, wherever. With the Democrats about to be massively elected, Tom Golisano's paychecks will be diminished even more. Decades of encrusted politics here will make this area more than a rustbelt story. It will be one of desolation and destitution.

[lanres]

OK Folks - the elections are over - Now time for Mr.Golisano to show Mr.Mohr the door. Can it be done? Will the camilian of the B.O.E. slide down the back elevator and make his escape through the Court house or will Mr.Messi land a right cross for justice square on Ralphs kisser? - - Time will tell - my bets on Mr.Mohr - he will now use every favor he ever bought by using the power of the B.O.E.

[lanres]

It seems Mr.Moore has been hunkering down on his leather couch - next to his jukebox in his B.O.E.Office. Phone in hand - calling anyone who owes him a "Favor" - - - he's been over eating and sweating more lately as well. - - - He feels his days at the B.O.E. are numbered , this because he may have finaly ruffled the wrong feathers. - - - Will Mr.G. forget Ralph called him a law breaker ? - - Will Mr.G. just smile and turn the other cheek ? - - - Was it all just another "Political Show? ! ?" Only time will tell ! ? !