Democrats Lose Big in Village Elections

Morelle and Gumina take it on the chin in Webster

Democrats lose seat in Pittsford

Joe Morelle and Carmen Gumina are having a bad day!

The County Democratic Boss and the Webster Democratic County Legislator made a full court press to win two trustee seats in the Village of Webster in yesterday's election. They came up woefully short.

Our source in Webster, a Democrat angered by Democrat High Command in the City blatantly interfering in a small community's local election, told us the Democrats did no fewer than six mailings (including one piece featuring Barack Obama) and conducted robo calls for the Dem candidates.

Even more embarrassing to Morelle than losing despite an extravagant effort, was Gumina’s failure to pull off a win on his home turf. Gumina sent residents a personal endorsement letter, was featured in mailings, and made personalized robocalls -- that's right, those annoying prerecorded messages -- to village residents.

Typically, village elections come down to just a few votes. Voter turnout for them trends especially low, with 5 to 20 votes usually deciding the winner. Yesterday in Webster, voters thumped Democrats by over 60 votes.

Review of the Democrats' mailings provided to us raises concerns over unauthorized use of photos and mailing lists. Here are examples:

1. A photo and and a quote by Barack Obama in one mailing created the impression of a Presidential endorsement of candidate. Did the White House authorize this use for village candidates in Webster, New York? We wonder whether Obama staff would have approved this use if asked.

2. We noticed a Gumina endorsement mailing included a photo of children in a classroom. Did the parents authorize this photo? Does the Webster School District approve of classrooms being used for political photos? Did the Webster School Superintendent give permission for Mr. Gumina to use a classroom for political photos?

3. Word from Webster is that Mr. Gumina used PTA (Parent Teacher Association)lists for political mailings -- specifically, to recruit residents to join Webster's Democrat Committee. Did the school district's Superintendent consent to this beforehand? Would she allow a misuse of a PTA list for partisan political gain?

Boss Morelle sustained a second loss yesterday in the Village of Pittsford, where Democrats lost the only seat they've held there since the Civil War -- a two-year seat they won narrowly in 2007. The incumbent, Dem Trustee Mary Beth Cleary, did not run for reelection. Running for the open seat, Democrat Stacey Freed lost to incumbent Republican Paula Sherwood and to Republican Trip Pierson, also seeking the open seat. Word from Pittsford village is that Pierson did not even campaign much.

Tough luck, Joe!