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Democrats overturned a longstanding common council tradition Monday by rebuffing the Republicans' choice to fill a vacant GOP alternate's seat on the planning and zoning commission.
Republicans had nominated Andrew Rak, who ran unsuccessfully for a planning and zoning commission seat last November. Democrats chose instead to appoint Stephen Gadomski, a former planning and zoning commission member.
The vote in favor of Gadomski was strictly party line, 8-4.
Democrats did not give a reason why they rebuffed Rak. Instead, they talked about Gadomski's qualifications and prior service to the commission -- experience especially valuable in light of longtime chairman W. Lee Osborne's departure in November.
Republicans stressed they had no problem with Gadomski's qualifications.
One Republican, Councilman Francis T. Patnaude, said Rak was being punished for his "connections," but didn't elaborate.
Republicans were furious, however, that Democrats would tamper with a tradition that allows each party to provide its own names for various city boards and commissions. The Republican council members were unable to muster the votes to make the appointment go their way.
Councilman John Robinson, a Democrat, accused Republicans of breaking the tradition first, pointing to last November's organizational meeting of the council. Robinson didn't name names, but it was clear he was talking about Patnaude's refusal then to endorse Democratic plans to "punish" Democratic Councilwoman Phrances Szewczyk by putting her on some of the lesser city boards and commissions.
Republicans said Patnaude had voted his conscience and that the other three GOP members had gone along with the Democrats' wishes.
Szewczyk, not happy to be mentioned even obliquely by Robinson, said she wouldn't change her vote.
"Don't use me as your scapegoat for why you vote for someone. I take that personally," she said.
Robinson said he wasn't speaking to her directly but to the tradition. Republicans made it clear that tradition was going to be a thing of the past from now on.
Republican Councilman Stephen Gionfriddo said Republicans would use much more scrutiny in reviewing Democratic appointments.
Sebastian Garafalo, a GOP councilman and former mayor, said the tradition had to work 100 percent of the time, not just 80 percent or 90 percent. He also faulted Democrats for submitting a resolution naming Gadomski at the last minute. Garafalo complained Democrats didn't even have the courtesy to call the GOP before the meeting; Republicans had to learn Rak wasn't going through once they arrived for the session.
Democrats said Gadomski learned of the vacancy and stepped forward to serve. Gionfriddo disputed this timeframe, noting the vacancy had existed since Nov. 26 and it was only after the Republicans filed a resolution naming Rak that Gadomski's name was suddenly in play.
Gadomski couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
Rak said he had no idea his nomination was in trouble.
"No one interviewed me," he said. "It's politics, you know?"
Republicans had nominated Andrew Rak, who ran unsuccessfully for a planning and zoning commission seat last November. Democrats chose instead to appoint Stephen Gadomski, a former planning and zoning commission member.
The vote in favor of Gadomski was strictly party line, 8-4.
Democrats did not give a reason why they rebuffed Rak. Instead, they talked about Gadomski's qualifications and prior service to the commission -- experience especially valuable in light of longtime chairman W. Lee Osborne's departure in November.
Republicans stressed they had no problem with Gadomski's qualifications.
One Republican, Councilman Francis T. Patnaude, said Rak was being punished for his "connections," but didn't elaborate.
Republicans were furious, however, that Democrats would tamper with a tradition that allows each party to provide its own names for various city boards and commissions. The Republican council members were unable to muster the votes to make the appointment go their way.
Councilman John Robinson, a Democrat, accused Republicans of breaking the tradition first, pointing to last November's organizational meeting of the council. Robinson didn't name names, but it was clear he was talking about Patnaude's refusal then to endorse Democratic plans to "punish" Democratic Councilwoman Phrances Szewczyk by putting her on some of the lesser city boards and commissions.
Republicans said Patnaude had voted his conscience and that the other three GOP members had gone along with the Democrats' wishes.
Szewczyk, not happy to be mentioned even obliquely by Robinson, said she wouldn't change her vote.
"Don't use me as your scapegoat for why you vote for someone. I take that personally," she said.
Robinson said he wasn't speaking to her directly but to the tradition. Republicans made it clear that tradition was going to be a thing of the past from now on.
Republican Councilman Stephen Gionfriddo said Republicans would use much more scrutiny in reviewing Democratic appointments.
Sebastian Garafalo, a GOP councilman and former mayor, said the tradition had to work 100 percent of the time, not just 80 percent or 90 percent. He also faulted Democrats for submitting a resolution naming Gadomski at the last minute. Garafalo complained Democrats didn't even have the courtesy to call the GOP before the meeting; Republicans had to learn Rak wasn't going through once they arrived for the session.
Democrats said Gadomski learned of the vacancy and stepped forward to serve. Gionfriddo disputed this timeframe, noting the vacancy had existed since Nov. 26 and it was only after the Republicans filed a resolution naming Rak that Gadomski's name was suddenly in play.
Gadomski couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
Rak said he had no idea his nomination was in trouble.
"No one interviewed me," he said. "It's politics, you know?"
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The dispute over the filling of an alternate seat was not the only one occurring in March of 2000, during the administration of Dominique Thornton. In addition, there was contention over the representation of each political party on the Planning and Zoning Commission. The top vote-getters in the 1999 municipal elections were all Democrats, they were all seated, and this led to a 5-2 majority of Democrats. The Commission elected Carl Bolz as chair.
However, the seating of 5 Democrats violated the city charter, which allows no more than a 4-3 majority of one party and there was a question of whether any decisions made by the Commission would stand up in court. Republicans challenged the mayor, and eventually she announced that Carl Bolz was stepping down from the Commission, to be replaced by Andrew Rak. Thus, instead of becoming an alternate on the commission, Rak became a regular member.
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