What Really Happened at the Kent Republican Caucus
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Jeff Green
May 5, 2007, 12:23:23 PM5/5/07
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It's stranger than you think.
When someone as respected as Kent's Town Clerk Edith Schanil nominates someone to run for the Town Board you might believe the Town party would respect that nomination - but not so in Kent. When Ms Schanil nominated Penny Osborn to run for Town Council, party chair Christine Woolley denied the nomination because, well, she didn't want to accept it. What ensued after that might be best termed as "Kafka meets Democracy."
Regardless of calls from the floor to accept the nomination Ms. Woolley steadfastly refused. The attorney was consulted. County Chair Anthony Scannappieco was consulted. Parliamentarian Michael Bartolotti was consulted and they all agreed - Ms. Woolley could make up the rules as she saw fit.
Motions were made and denied. Robert's Rules of Order was denied as being valid, (it goes on like this for a long time).
Later in the evening when the ballots were handed out, a member from the floor told other members they could 'write-in' anyone they wanted, a view which was agreed to by parliamentarian Bartolotti - but only after much noise, argument and persuasion from those gathered and repeated questions for clarification, something he was wont do to.
In the end, Ms. Osborn won the day with Mr. Tierney coming in second. Ms. Madigan and Ms. Z must primary if they want to run on the Kent GOP line come November.
JmG
(source: Putnam County Times)
When someone as respected as Kent's Town Clerk Edith Schanil nominates someone to run for the Town Board you might believe the Town party would respect that nomination - but not so in Kent. When Ms Schanil nominated Penny Osborn to run for Town Council, party chair Christine Woolley denied the nomination because, well, she didn't want to accept it. What ensued after that might be best termed as "Kafka meets Democracy."
Regardless of calls from the floor to accept the nomination Ms. Woolley steadfastly refused. The attorney was consulted. County Chair Anthony Scannappieco was consulted. Parliamentarian Michael Bartolotti was consulted and they all agreed - Ms. Woolley could make up the rules as she saw fit.
Motions were made and denied. Robert's Rules of Order was denied as being valid, (it goes on like this for a long time).
Later in the evening when the ballots were handed out, a member from the floor told other members they could 'write-in' anyone they wanted, a view which was agreed to by parliamentarian Bartolotti - but only after much noise, argument and persuasion from those gathered and repeated questions for clarification, something he was wont do to.
In the end, Ms. Osborn won the day with Mr. Tierney coming in second. Ms. Madigan and Ms. Z must primary if they want to run on the Kent GOP line come November.
JmG
(source: Putnam County Times)
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