Illuzzi letter

Greenan's replacement, and playing with fire?

Sources have reconfirmed the Publisher/President of Politics WNY.com Inc. Joseph J. Illuzzi's story that EC Leg Majority leader John Greenan will be appointed by County Exec Joel Giambra to the post of personnel director, a multi year run with an approximately $100,000 per annum salary. He will replace outgoing Len Lenihan who is said to be, in turn, the frontrunner to replace G. Steven Pigeon for Erie County Dem. chairman.

Speculation is rife on two counts: One: Who will replace Greenan, and, two: who will be the next Majority Leader? Our sources inform us that the next majority leader will Mike Razenhofer.

The decision is made by the Repub. caucus. Dale Larson is also said to be thick in the running.

As to who will replace Greenan on the legislature, two names have surfaced: One is a blood relation of Greenan and another -and this, not entirely surprisingly - is a Democrat, closely related to the Greenan family. The reason, some say, that the affable Greenan fairly welcomed the infusion of Democrats into his newly reapportioned district -which now has a plurality of Dems - (after all they had to go somewhere) is that he knew from early on he would get the nod for Personnel Director. Provided Greenan’s replacement is "Joel - friendly," and a member of the Greenan clan, we could see why it might not be playing too much with fire to pick a Dem. for this West Seneca district.

PIGEON NOT RUNNING? AND A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK?

Reliable sources have assured us that Steve Pigeon may, in spite of his own protestations to the contrary, drop out of the race for County Chairman at the last moment. Pigeon has a multitude of "big offers" both statewide and nationally, we’ve confirmed. "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own land," seems always, alas, to hold to be too true.

We also learned that another candidate, a very high-profile, charismatic, and successful businessman in WNY, whose name we are presently withholding, is very seriously contemplating joining the group seeking the Dem. chair.

TALES FROM THE LEGEND OF TOM GOLISANO

This one, we urge you, is to be taken "cum grano salis." But a source, a leading "player" in the Independence Party, and as much an unabashed supporter of Golisano, as he is a maligner of the Republican party, told us unequivocally that Tom Golisano entered the race for Governor after an attempted back-door political deal went awry. The story told is that months ago, a prominent Erie County Republican offered Golisano a significant civic post on the condition that he pledge not to run against incumbent Governor George Pataki. This so irked Golisano that he decided then and there that he would enter the race, if for nothing more than to try to thwart this kind of back-door NYS politicking.

At press time, Golisano was unavailable for comment.

FISHER AND PEOPLES HAVE HOSTILE SATURDAY

Some of the moments were decidedly unpleasant as two of our finest local debaters, Crystal Peoples and Charley Fisher had it out Saturday, first on WUFO Radio's popular and long running Ted Kirkland show and later at the Kensington Place Restaurant, the latter, a debate sponsored by Buffalo’s oldest black newspaper, The Buffalo Criterion.

At the latter debate, Fisher surprised the audience when he pulled out and then read a letter signed by his opponent, Peoples, who apparently apologized for using an endorsement she hadn’t earned. The story, we’re told, is this:

An advertisement appeared in the Buffalo Challenger paid for by friends of Crystal Peoples which indicated she had the support of Pastor Troy A. Bonner of the Elim Christian Fellowship. The ad ran last Wednesday, the last time an ad could run in the Challenger prior to the primary. Pastor Bonner’s support is highly coveted since he heads what is probably the largest congregation in the 141st assembly district.

According to sources, Pastor Bonner was in Philadelphia when he learned about the ad, and was upset. He had endorsed neither Peoples nor Fisher. His church contacted Peoples who expressed surprise and indicated the ad was placed by her campaign people without her knowledge of its exact contents. She then wrote the letter apologizing for the mistake, the same one which Fisher read at the debate.

Pastor Bonner has, we learned, also instructed the Pastor conducting the service on Sunday (while Bonner is away) to read Peoples’s letter to the congregation. And, furthermore, to give a panegyric on Charley Fisher’s illustrious career.

POLLS, SAY WHAT? ON FISHER- PEOPLES

On the same theme, the 141st, contradictory information is being leaked about private polls allegedly conducted on that Dem. primary. One, seemingly emanating from the Grassroots camp purportedly show the popular Peoples with a commanding lead. Another, from a Republican source, said the results of a poll allegedly conducted on behalf of restauranteur, Clifford Scott, the Republican who will face the winner of the Dem. primary, show Fisher slightly ahead. When asked about this, Fisher, who says he does not believe in, or conduct polls, said his campaign has made more than 20,000 phone calls to people in the district and based on the responses they have received he thinks it probable he will win on Tuesday.

"Winning or losing however is not the issue," Fisher said, "it is running. A campaign that makes a difference is the only ideal. I’ve had 25 press releases, four rallies, four press conferences, 50 speeches - stump speeches, where I got up on a bench, with a microphone and spoke to the people, and four debates. I have visited more than 10,000 people at their homes. It’s been a great summer for me. Win or lose, if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it."

Fisher was also chosen as cover- boy for Buffalo’s newest publication, the Buffalo Beast (buffalobeast.com) where he was pictured, almost astonishingly, as a football player, in a spoof on the common council. Inside the Beast's humurous pages, are all 13 members whose faces are superimposed on rugged bodies of circa 50's football players, purportedly as seen in old bubble gum trading cards.

Golisano SERIOUS OR WHAT, ABOUT buying THE SABRES ?

To that significant question, the answer is resoundingly a "yes," at least according to our eminent friend, Dr. Hormoz Monsouri, who is working closely with billionaire Golisano in trying to acquire the team.

"It is really a civic matter," the multi- millionaire, and nationally recognized nuclear engineer told us. "Our interest is simple. Number one. We want to make sure the team stays in Buffalo, and, number two, we want to make sure the team has enough money to attract the talent it needs to be a serous contender."

The latter proposition, Dr. Monsouri added, will probably cost more than the price of the franchise. Later, when questioned closely about the final tag for the Sabres, Dr. Monsouri was elusive, saying only that the deal is "very complicated" because of financial obligations and bankruptcy proceedings that have intertwined the Sabres with the troubled Adelphia Cable Corp and the current owners of the team, the embattled Rigas family. The Golisano -Monsouri group may be viewed as, if not front runners, at least among the most serious of contenders, and perhaps the only group, currently expressing interest, which has the capital to both buy, operate, and invest in the Sabres, a franchise that is not likely to be profitable in the foreseeable future.

"After the primary," Monsouri said, "we will be making an offer."

Frank Parlato Jr, who writes for a number of local and national publications can be reached at par730@adelphia.net