The Independence Party of New York is unusual in that most of its members are not politicians - but rather just plain working people. When these simple, mainly a-political folks, in spite of great pressure to do so, failed to endorse Stephan Stirling for Tonawanda Council last year, opting instead to support Dan Crangle - who won - by the way - thanks to the votes he got on the Independence line - certain Republicans said "enough is enough." They then attempted to run their own committeemen and women, registering in fact spouses and friends of long time Republican operatives in the Independence committee races in an attempt to, frankly, get control of the party.
At the end it almost worked. Charley Flynn, the independent-minded Independence Party chairman managed to win reelection by the narrowest of margins. But win he did.
Failing to take the party by legal vote, Ralph Mohr, using his authority as Republican elections commissioner has called for an investigation of the Independence party, by the Republican Erie County Sheriff (Gallivan) who in turn has assigned from his department a top shelf investigator. Mohr is hoping to stir up some grief for Flynn and other party faithful. Oddly, Flynn says he welcomes the investigation and literally licking his chops says he has lots to say. "I plan to use this as a bully pulpit to show the hypocrisy of the Republicans who will steal any election they can and shamelessly," said Flynn. "And boy do I have a lot to say."
At times, the issues have gotten quite personal, and anonymous e-mails alleging scurrilous and wholly irrelevant actions of various individuals have circulated in recent days with some saying that they emanated from the independence party. Flynn denies this.
However, members of the party have been described as rather hot headed, but, and it is curious, usually people shy away from investigations. But Flynn and his strong City Chairman Ricky Donovan, are eager to meet investigators "face to face" at their attorneys office ... They say they also plan to invite the media to attend, and the Illuzzi letter plans to be there....
This is going to get, ladies and gentlemen, I suspect, very interesting. Stay tuned....
