vote today to clean up our county government!...(fact: Dealy already part of pay-to-play)...

[again-- get out and VOTE today-- Spinzia, Fox, Gelb, Kinsella, Jablonski, Steinberg (me)-- row A all the way!]

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Hi all...

Twice now in the last decade the Poughkeepsie Journal has strongly editorialized for what I've been suggesting since 1999-- when I brought together former County Executive Lucille Pattison, various county legislators, and dozens of county residents at a forum at the Family Partnership Center on the need for campaign finance reform here in Dutchess County similar to what Rockland County has had in place since 1998 without legal challenge-- a $100 limit on campaign donations to county officials and candidates from companies who have contracts with the county (Duane Smith picked up ball on this)...

[fact: County Exec/GOP involved with millions of dollars of legalized kickbacks/contracts: public records:
see: http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2009/08/re-pay-to-play-in-dutchess-county-brand.html ]

Well, it's bad enough that my Republican/Conservative opponent Pat Dealy has repeatedly told us all he disagrees with me, Pok. Journal, and vast majority of us on need for campaign finance reform...

[go to bottom of this email to see strong Poughkeepsie Journal editorials from 2000 and 2004 on this!]

But the truth is also that public records from our County Comptroller's office and NYS Board of Elections website show that Dealy himself has already gotten mixed up in pay to play (not even in office yet)...

[new info recently brought to our attention; have been urged by others to pass this along so am doing]

Don't believe me; see for yourself @ NYSBOE site: http://www.elections.state.ny.us/recipientstext.html :

Fact: Dealy received $500 campaign donation from Christian Meyer of Meyer Contracting Sept. 22nd.

[recall-- Meyer and his firm Meyer Contracting have been working overtime to kill cost-saving PLA law:
http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2009/09/facts-re-plas-electrician-licensing.html ]

Fact: Meyer Contracting got $1.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and has given over $10,000 to the County Exec since Feb. 12 2006 (and publicly fought for his political agenda).
Meyer Contracting also gave our County Executive $1350 in 2000 and $2500 in 2003, and got $3.5 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000-- and $1.1 million in county contracts in 2004.

Recall this from Mary Beth Pfeiffer's Oct. 19th Poughkeepsie Journal article:

"Royal Carting's founder and owner Emil Panichi and his wife, Emily, gave County Executive William Steinhaus $12,000 in campaign donations since 2005-- more than any other individuals, while giving nothing to county Democrats or members of the Legislature. Only one corporate donor, Meyer Contracting Corp. of Pleasant Valley, gave more to Steinhaus than the Panichis, $15,300.

[from "Trash-Pickup Competition Is Rare in Dutchess County" Pok. Journal 10/19:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20091019/NEWS01/91016011 ]

Clean up our county government-- join 50+ signed on to http://www.petitiononline.com/cleangov !...

Government of, for, and by the people of Dutchess-- not special interests-- too much to ask for?...

[scroll down to see documentation on how this law is perfectly legal, contrary to G.O.P. statements]

And get out there today and VOTE-- to clean up Dutchess County government once and for all!...

[pass it on]

Joel
242-3571/876-2488
joeltyner@earthlink.net

p.s. Also-- with all due respect, I really do take issue with quite a few snide comments and snarky innuendo remarks/attacks made by Dealy recently towards yours truly-- fact is that I gave up a $53,000/year NYC teaching job four years ago to devote myself as fully as possible to being the best county legislator I could be (which has meant yes, often leaving needed car repairs undone among many other things)...but...despite this-- I even successfully fought powerful members of my own caucus to work across the aisle with GOP like Co. Leg. Bob Sears to lead effort over the last year to get county legislators to start paying for at least 15% of our health insurance benefits (recall petition effort I started on this almost a year ago-- http://www.petitiononline.com/cutlgpay ; I co-sponsored w/Sears last year)...

p.p.s. The Albany Times-Union has reported on how every town in Dutchess has contaminated water(!).
[searchable database: http://www.timesunion.com/TUNews/SpecialReports/HiddenPoison/index.aspx ]

[see: http://www.RealMajorityProject.blogspot.com ; http://www.ToxicsTargeting.com ; public records]
http://www.TownofClintonDems.blogspot.com ]

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Recall...

"County Campaign-Giving Limit Proposed: Law Would Affect People, Companies That Do Business with Dutchess"
[Poughkeepsie Journal 8/6/09]

A proposed Dutchess County law would limit political contributions of individuals and corporations that do business with the county, if they donate to candidates running for county offices.

Individuals and corporations that have contracts with the county could only contribute up to $100 to candidates running for county executive, county clerk, county district attorney, county sheriff, county comptroller and the county Legislature during any primary, special or general election campaign, according to legislator and law co-sponsor Joel Tyner, D-Clinton.

"It prevents undue influence on elected officials based on campaign contributions," said legislator and law co-sponsor Tom Mansfield, D-Red Hook.

The law would be enforced through a civil procedure by the County Attorney's Office. For the first offense, violation of the law could lead to a $250 fine or three times the contribution, whichever is greater. Any subsequent violation could lead to a $500 fine or four times the illegal contribution, whichever is greater.

A legislative committee will discuss the law at 4:45 p.m. today [in our County Legislature's chambers on the sixth floor of our County Office Building], but not vote on it.

State Board of Elections Communications Director John Conklin did not see a constitutional issue here.

"They can limit contributions to candidates in their own county for their own level of government," Conklin said. A county law that would limit contributions to candidates other than those at the county level would be challenged and struck down as unconstitutional, he said.

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Report below re: de-facto pay-to-play right here in Dutchess County government here!...

[again-- thanx to Co. Leg. Tom Mansfield for co-sponsoring law I drafted and some of research below;
donations info < http://www.elections.state.ny.us/ContributionSearchB.html ; other info < Comptroller]

Do you think it's pure coincidence these county vendors from outside Dutchess are giving big money?...

-- A. Colarusso & Son of Hudson got $2.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave $7500 to County Exec since 5/15/06; county G.O.P. committee got $750 donation 12/13/06.
A. Colarusso & Son, Inc. also gave our County Executive $1000 on 12/14/02 and $2500 on 11/4/03, and got more than $700,000 in county contracts in 2003, and $346,000 in county contracts in 2004.

-- Charles H. Sells Inc. of Briarcliff Manor got $181,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $2000 to the County Executive since Feb. 3, 2006. Charles H. Sells, Inc. gave $3000 to our County Executive in 1999/2000 and $1000 4/30/03, and got $140,000 in county contracts in 1999.

-- C & S Engineers/World Wide Holdings of Syracuse got $366,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive since May 12, 2006.

-- Cosentino Architecture, PLLC of Newburgh/New Windsor got $116,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $200 to the County Executive since May 18, 2007.

-- Peckham Industries of White Plains got $181,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008 and gave $2000 to our County Executive in 1996 and 1997-- getting $224,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, and 2000, and $214,000 in county contracts in 2004. They also gave $1500 in 1999, $1500 in 2001, and $1100 in 2003 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee, and $550 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund [long-time top G.O.P. Co. Leg. Gary Cooper has long worked for Peckham too].

And we're supposed to believe these millions in legalized kickbacks annually are coincidence too?...

-- Marshall & Sterling got $1.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave
$750 to the Dutchess County G.O.P. Committee on Dec. 13, 2006. Marshall & Sterling also gave the Dutchess County Republican Committee $3000 in 1999, $800 in 2001, and $500 in 2003, and got $2.6 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000-- and $1.5 million in county contracts in 2004.

-- Vosburgh J. Paul Architect PC got $483,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave $2500 to the County Executive 10/14/06-- and $1000 to the County Executive 11/4/07. Paul Vosburgh gave our County Executive $4000 in 1995 and 1999, $2500 on 6/17/03, and got $497,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $56,000 in county contracts in 2004.

-- Bottini Fuel/Morgan Fuel & Heating Co. DBA got $440,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $2000 to County Exec since 7/21/07; $1000 6/10/08 to Dutchess G.O.P. Comm.
Bottini Fuel gave our County Executive $2000 in 1998 and 1999, and got $241,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, and 2000.

-- H.B. Wiltse Excavating got $754,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive May 10, 2006.

-- NYCOMCO got $550,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive June 5, 2007. NYCOMCO also gave $2500 to our County Executive on 4/18/03, and got $382,000 in county contracts in 2004.

-- Dutchess Quarry & Supply Inc. got $1.1 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- $100 to BS Apr. 6, 2007. Dutchess Quarry also gave our County Executive $200 in 1995,$2500 on 12/20/04, and got $458,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $647,000 in contracts in 2004.

-- Herb Redl got $230,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008 and gave our County Executive $3000 in 1995 and 1997-- also getting $277,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and got $11,000 in contracts in 2004.

-- Chazen Environmental Services got $45,701.69 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08--
and gave $3000 to the County Executive since Feb. 26, 2006. Chazen Engineering gave our County Executive $2500 on 5/7/03 and $2500 on 12/19/04, and got $3200 in county contracts in 2004 alone.

-- Smith Environmental Laboratory, Inc. got $156,000 of our county tax dollars in contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $800 to the County Executive since Aug. 16, 2006.

And that's not all folks...(again-- all of this from public records @ NYSBOE/DCBOE/Comptroller's office)...

Reclamation, Inc. (of Kingston) gave our County Executive $1000 in 1997 and got $1.3 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and $157,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Highway Rehab Corporation (of Patterson) gave our County Executive $3000 in 1995,1999, and 2002, $1000 on 6/14/03, and got $429,000 in county contracts in 1996, and $218,000 in contracts in 2004.

York Hunter (of Kingston/NYC) gave $4000 to our County Executive in 1998 and
1999, and received over $2 million in county contracts in 1997, 1999, and 2000 (largely for work on Dutchess Community College classrooms and renovations on the county's fire training building).

Progressive Transportation Services, Inc. (of Horseheads) gave
our County Executive $1000 in 1999 (besides $1000 given previously), and got
$7.3 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Bank of New York (of New York City) gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995, and got $47,000 in contracts in 1996 and 1997.

Willkie, Farr, and Gallagher (of New York City) gave our County Executive $1000 on 12/20/04, and got $8960 in county contracts in 2004.

Bennett, Kielson, Storch, Yabhon, and DeSantis gave $1350 on 6/24/99 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee $920 on 10/25/99 and $300 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund. They also gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $580 over the past three years ($190 on 10/23/02, $100 on 3/21/03, $100 on 9/15/03, $90 on 3/18/04, and $100 on 11/19/04); interestingly, each time no address was recorded on those finance disclosure statements- while all the addresses for other contributors were recorded. They got $55,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $74,000 in county contracts in 2004.

VanDeWater & VanDeWater gave $2500 on 5/24/99 and $1000 on 6/16/03 to our County Executive, $1000 on 10/12/00 and $500 on 8/14/99 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. They also gave $1025 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. in 2001, $1175 to them in 2002, $1100 in 2003, and $950 to them in 2004. They gave $515 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund (on 9/9/03, 3/18/04, and 9/29/04 in total). They received $21,000 from the county in contracts in 1999 and 2000.

Hollowbrook Associates gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995, $2500 in 2002, and $1000 in 2003, and has gotten at least $55,000 a year in county contracts for many years, getting $63,000 in contracts in 2000 and a pledge from our County Executive for $55,000 a year for the following four years-- this is $15,000 more each year than what the Fishkill building would have cost the DMV; former County Clerk Dick Anderson wanted to make this move to save tax dollars and have after-hours drive-through service, but our County Executive and his Republican allies blocked it.

Montfort Brothers Quarry gave $1000 to our County Executive in 1995; they have been noticeably silent about their plans to destroy beautiful and historic Fishkill Ridge by turning it into a mine. They also gave $1750 in 2000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee and $690 in 1999 and $550 in 2001 and $190 in 2003 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund. Montfort Brothers also got $3571 in county contracts from the county in 1999 for highway and construction materials. Southern Dutchess Sand and Gravel gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $400 on 8/29/01.

Clove Excavators gave $2700 to our County Executive in 1995, 1997, and 1999, and got $2.6 million in county contracts in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000, and got $791,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Perreca Electric gave our County Executive $5000 in 1995, 1999, and 2002, $2500 on 4/23/03, $2500 on 12/13/04, and got $104,000 in county contracts in 1996 alone.

C.B. (Don/Richard) Strain gave $2000 to our County Executive in 1995 and 1999, $1000 in 2003, and received $4.2 million in county contracts in 1996, 1999, and 2000, largely for work on Dutchess Community College classrooms. They also got $331,000 in county contracts in 2004.

C.J./Jean W. Patrick Real Estate gave $3000 to our County Executive in 1995,
1997, and 1999, $1000 on 4/26/03, $1000 on 12/12/04, and got $287,000 in contracts in 1996, 1999, and 2000, and $164,000 in country contracts in 2004.

Star Gas gave $250 in 1999 to our County Executive and got $55,000 in contracts In 1999 and 2000, and $10,000 in contracts in 2004.

Morris Associates gave $2000 in 1999 and $2500 in 2004 to our County Executive. They received $6000 in contracts in 1999, and $15,000 in county contracts in 2004. They gave $500 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. in 1999, $900 to them in 2001, $1100 to them in 2003, and $155 in 2000, and $225 in 2004 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund.

Freedom Ford gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995 and got $40,000 in county contracts in 1998, and $24,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Arthur Fried gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995 and got $132,000 in county contracts in 1998.

McCabe & Mack gave our County Executive $3500 in 1995 and 1999 and got $71,000 in county contracts in 1998 and 2000, and $92,000 in contracts in 2004.

James Sedore and/or his accounting firm gave our County Executive $6000 in 1995, 1997, and 1999, another $1000 on 6/12/03, and got $20,000 in county contracts in 1997 and 1998, and $10,000 in county contracts in 2004; they also gave the County Republican Committee $1350 in 1999, $400 in 2001, $950 in 2003, and $50 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2003.

Sucato Builders gave our County Executive $200 in 1999 and got $11,000 in county contracts in 2000.

Package Pavement gave our County Executive $500 in 1999 and got $7000 in county
contracts in 1998.

Cerniglia & Swartz gave our County Executive $500 in 1999 and $2500 in 2003 (and $3500 that election cycle, besides), and got $70,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $2800 in contracts in 2004.

Royal Carting gave $400 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2001, $100 in 2003, $1000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee in 2000, and received $97,000 in county contracts in 1999, and $102,000 in county contracts in 2004.

H. G. Page gave $150 in 1999 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund and got $22,000 in county contracts in 1999, and $7000 in county contracts in 2004.

Blacktop Maintenance Corporation gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $90 on 3/11/04 and got $366,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Liscum, McCormack, and VanVoorhis gave our County Executive $1000 on 6/18/03, $490 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2004, and got $16,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Prudential Serls gave our County Executive $2500 on 5/3/03 and $2500 on 12/20/04, and got more than $12,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Red Wing Properties gave $1000 to our County Executive on 6/19/03, and $45 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund on 3/11/04, and got $27,000 in county contracts in 2004.

Corbally, Gartland, and Rappleyea LLP gave $50 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund on 9/29/04; they got $4300 in county contracts in 2004.

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[scroll down for text of law proposed; Rockland law here: http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=RO1021 ]

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"Keep Improving Dutchess Ethics Law"

[Poughkeepsie Journal editorial 5/29/04-- over five years ago-- how much longer should we wait?!?]

"Accountability in Dutchess County government has taken a big stride forward recently-- though there's still room for improvement...more could be done to foster accountability. The Legislature could look to other counties, such as Rockland, for examples of strong laws. Dutchess could: * Limit campaign contributions to $100 if they come from individuals or organizations that do business with the county. This would minimize any appearance that they're buying political influence. * Put a $100 cap on ''soft money,'' or even eliminate it altogether. The term refers to gifts funneled through political parties or other means to get around direct contribution limits. Laws like these can help ensure that public servants remain honest in their official dealings. Dutchess County should continue to strive for integrity in government."

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"Ethics Law Must Cover Gift Limits"
[Poughkeepsie Journal editorial 9/16/00-- literally almost a decade ago-- how much longer do we wait?]

"Dutchess legislators recently took the high road and stepped up the ethics code for elected county officials, but there's more to be done on this road before they make an exit.

In other words, they should approve important campaign finance reform proposals still pending to the revised county ethics law passed last week. These additions, proposed by Legislator Duane Smith, D-Beekman, would demonstrate across-the-board devotion to the highest ethical standards.

To start off, Smith urges a $100 limit on all gifts to all candidates for county office from any person or company that does business with Dutchess County. That would eliminate any question of politicians returning favors for big campaign donations. Smith's additions also would strengthen bans on nepotism, cronyism and lobbying when it comes to appointed, paying positions in county government.

His amendments would make it impossible for county officials to have close relatives in high-paying jobs, if other applicants are equally or better qualified. Besides, the lawmaker urges closing loopholes so campaign contributors doing business with the county don't appear to be buying political influence.

Besides the ban on gifts worth more than $100, he advocates the elimination of "soft money,'' gifts funneled through political parties or other means to get around direct contribution limits. Smith's proposals would provide just that. The Beekman lawmaker based his proposals on Rockland County's ethics law, which is superior to Dutchess' recently revised measure in several ways: It clearly defines conflicts of interest, simplifies the financial disclosure process and makes it enforceable, and ensures membership on the ethics board can't be controlled by a political majority.

Anthony Quartararo, counsel to the Dutchess Legislature, and County Attorney Ian MacDonald say the county can't pass a campaign finance law because New York state law supersedes any county law.

Not so, according to Rockland County's own legislative counsel, Bruce Levine, a Democrat. He and his GOP predecessor both determined that the Rockland measure is completely within the county's power and isn't in conflict with state law. According to the state attorney general's office, Rockland's law has never been challenged.

If Rockland County has been able to pass and enforce these campaign finance reforms without legal problems, shouldn't Dutchess be able to do the same by using the same model?

Dutchess lawmakers should investigate that question. They have already straightened out the mess that was the old ethics law, giving county residents clearer, stronger standards to use in judging elected officials.

Making Legislator Smith's proposals part of that law would complete the job."