Wōdnesdæġ
“The Off-Season” by Flickr user rssloan via the AV Daily Flickr Group
1. Max Dismissal
Supreme Court Justice Deborah Chimes dismissed Frank Max’s lawsuit challenging Jeremy Zellner’s election as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee. Judge Chimes ruled that Max had waited too long to challenge the June 1, 2012 redistricting that the board of elections undertook. Max’s side argued that the board acted after the 1st, but the court disagreed and determined that the lawsuit should have been filed by October 1st, but was 4 days late.
Naturally, the dismissal of the case of Max v. Foregone Conclusion will be taken up on appeal.
2. 2013: Brown vs. Rodriguez?
“Who is Sergio?” signs have been popping up all throughout town, and young Republican veteran Sergio Rodriguez is making the rounds, promising to be the first Republican to become Mayor of Buffalo since Chester Kowal in the mid-60s. Although he has no money, little name recognition, and little to no support among the county Republican committee, Rodriguez is right in suggesting that no incumbent should be unchallenged in a general election. The problem here is that Stefan Mychajliw, fresh off a poorly-managed mini-scandal concerning his chief of staff’s DWI conviction, is likely to face a tough re-election battle against a popular Democrat. His margin of victory could be so narrow that a Rodriguez challenge to Brown might bring out enough people in Buffalo to hurt Mychajliw’s chances.
On the other hand, when your countywide election strategy includes consciously and actively suppressing the urban vote, then your ideas and candidates suck. Be good enough to win in Amherst and Hamburg and Buffalo.
3. Social Media & Politics
Our podcast with Brad Riter at Trending Buffalo has changed over the last few weeks into a commentary on local social media usage, among other things. Yesterday’s edition covers social media and politics in western New York.
http://www.trendingbuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TBOneThing01-22-13.mp3
4. Time Machine
Incredible photographs of the Russian Revolution – many of them hand-colored – have been found in a California basement.
Judge Chimes seems to have punted here and decided it on a technicality rather than its lack of merit. Still I’ll take it anyway I can get it. The most interesting comment in this decision is that there was some
piss poor lawyering on behalf of those who initiated the suit.
” The problem here is that Stefan Mychajliw, fresh off a poorly-managed
mini-scandal concerning his chief of staff’s DWI conviction”
When it came to light the chief of staff resigned rather quickly. I’m pretty sure if it was family related democrat he would still have his job along with a full support program to battle his drinking problem at the tax payers expense. Where is the mini-scandal part of this?