Archive: Opinions

It's amazing what a difference two years can make in local politics.  Two years ago the Lansing Republicans and Democrats were in disarray.  They were disorganized and made rookie mistakes.

The Democrats had a contentious caucus during which some members trashed Connie Wilcox, arguably the most successful Lansing Democrat at that time.  The Republicans liked her so much they wanted her to run on the Republican line as well as the Democratic line, and she was called on the carpet for it at the caucus despite a lifelong commitment to her party.  Eventually she was nominated, but the committee couldn't find another candidate to run for the available Town Board seat.

For years all a Republican had to do was say, 'Here I am' and he or she would get elected.  But there has been a changing wind in Lansing's political demographic, and two years ago local Republicans didn't test the wind.  They ran lackadaisical campaigns that didn't take into account that the number of registered Democrats in the Town had outpaced the number of Republicans.

Even still the most contested race between Steve Farkas and Scott Pinney for Town Supervisor was very, very close.  After a shaky start Pinney got his act together.  He campaigned early, making people familiar with his name and put forth a platform that spelled out what he would do if elected.  Farkas was so late to put up his yard signs that many people wondered if he was even running. Perhaps out of modesty he didn't articulate his accomplishments in his years as Supervisor.  Pinney signs were everywhere, and Farkas signs were nowhere.  Farkas considerably upped the pace in the week before the election, but it was too late.  A little campaigning could have gone a long way.

Fast forward to this year.  Both parties are more organized, and have candidates for each open position except for Town Justice.  Justice William Burin is running uncontested for another term.  But for County Legislature and Town Board Lansing has a real race, real choices, and six real candidates who appear to be ready to run.

This year's Democratic Caucus was well organized.  Instead of scrambling for Town Board candidates there were three.  Each got to speak and the group chose the two they wanted to endorse.  This time it wasn't personal -- it was policy and politics, as it should be.

Republican County Legislator Mike Sigler's signs were up before anyone else's, and the Town Board candidates quickly followed suit.  All the candidates are viable choices, and some of their ideas are shaping up to be different enough that there will be something to choose from in November.

My hope is that voters will look beyond party and look at the individuals and what they have to offer.  Six years ago a very experienced candidate almost lost to someone who wasn't prepared because of party-line votes.  The fact that we have good candidates means that Lansing will have good elected officials no matter how the vote goes, but who wins will determine what actually happens to the Town over the next four years.

Win or lose, both parties seem to have reflected on past mistakes and have clearly made an effort to learn from them.  That makes Lansing stronger as a community and really increases my faith in the Democratic process and local politics.

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