Hugh Reynolds: Hurley Dems Prey On Each Other
The open warfare between Hurley Democrats probably isn’t of much interest to anybody outside the historic town of about 6,200 souls, but something like it could be coming to a town near you. I think they call it democracy and it ain’t pretty.
Hurley may be unique in that its town board is entirely Democratic in a town that just a decade ago was solidly Republican. It would appear that Hurley Democrats, having fought for so many years to take power in the town, are suffering from an embarrassment of riches. County Democrats beware: it could happen to you.
At the top of the ticket, supervisor Melinda McKnight, just 15 months into a two-year term, is being challenged by councilman Mike Boms, with whom she often disagrees.
There are actually two slates of Democratic candidates running in the June 27 primary. McKnight’s team, called “One Hurley,” was endorsed by town Democratic committee members last January. Boms heads up the opposing ticket, “Keep Hurley Hurley.”
It would appear the Hurley Deuce got off to a faster start: their lawn signs are all over the place.
But social media may determine the outcome of these contests. Fed by trolls on the web, this is turning into one nasty internecine spit fest. Typical of web politics, small things get both sides crazy.
For instance, the town’s website put out a glowing pro-administration report on Memorial Day activities, mixing politics where it doesn’t belong, but left out, deliberately, say critics, town highway superintendent Mike Shultis. Shultis, who is running without opposition, is widely credited for his department’s “clean sweep” along the parade route. He deserved at least a passing mention, ya’ think?
The catalyst for all this, other than personal feelings between candidates, seems to be a fundamental change in how town candidates are nominated for office. In practice dating to colonial days, political parties held caucuses to nominate their candidates. Unless there was some serious controversy going on or scandal, it usually took only a handful of party members to determine a slate in the fall. There were no primaries.
In recent years, surging Democrats have embraced the primary system, thereby opening up the process to not just some steamy town hall among a small percentage of enrollees, but to any party member. Sixteen towns (out of 20) now offer primaries, according to the county board of elections.
“It’s more democratic that way,” said Democratic elections commissioner Ashley Torres, herself a Hurley native who suffered through the lean years with her party.
But this deep divide between Hurley Democrats, sure to linger long after the primary, offers what’s left of a once-powerful Republican majority a unique opportunity to maybe take a few seats back in November.
