Democrats vs. Republicans had nothing on Democrats vs. Democrats Monday when they after a firey exchange that saw insults and charges hurled back and forth between the two factions.
Mr. Hay, who’s led Schoharie County Democrats for nearly 50 years, kept his seat after a challenge from Theresa Heary of Wright in a 2,600-2,100 weighted vote.
Ms. Heary and her supporters said it’s time to energize the badly-outnumbered Schoharie County Democratic Party.
Mr. Hay’s supporters countered the challengers need to start from the bottom and earn the position—not just show up.
“We all know that Cliff and I don’t always agree,” said Gail Shaffer of Blenheim, who nominated Mr. Hay, “but he’s toiled in the vineyards.
“We want new blood. But you don’t just take over the leadership without paying your dues, without rolling up your sleeves.”
With everything that’s at stake in November, Ms. Shaffer said “We need to be unified as Democrats. This is no time to split us into factions. We don’t want a hostile takeover.”
But playing by the rules hasn’t worked, said Bobbie Wilding of Seward, who nominated Ms. Heary.
Democrats’ meetings are inefficient and disorganized, others said, and anyone with new ideas or energy is ignored and dismissed and left out of the loop.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” Ms. Wilding told the veterans, “but in Theresa, I see a new energy and an enthusiasm to go forward. Change is possible.”
Jennie Mosher of Schoharie, another Heary supporter, said working with Ms. Heary has given her the courage to go door-to-door and to phone bank.
“The best scenario I can see is us working together, not just to win elections, but to play to our strengths and values,” she said.
It was about this time that the insults and allegations began flying, making it hard to hear in the outside venue, the Town of Carlisle pavilion.
Patty Shultes of Middleburgh said she’d gotten an email from Ms. Heary asking committee members to show up to Monday’s meeting, after which they could “just resign.”
“It shows no integrity to me,” she said.
Jim Buzon, also of Middleburgh, agreed the Democrats need new blood, but said when he welcomed Ms. Heary and others two years ago, “I never knew it would be a takeover. It never happened in the past…
“What I see now is a shame. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
Kristin Williams of Wright charged old-guard Dems with rejecting petitions from four would-be committeemen, when it would have easy to point out errors in things like addresses.
When Ms. Shaffer and Virginia Kintz of Schoharie demanded that Ms. Williams identify herself, Ms. Williams said that’s exactly the problem.
“Many of us [here] are active in politics, in our towns. We are the face of the Democratic Party in Schoharie County and yet you don’t know us,” Ms. Williams said.
No, Ms. Shaffer said, “I’ve never seen most of you.”
“The division in this room is not people who are bringing energy,” shouted Ms. Kintz.
With darkness looming, both candidates spoke to their strengths and plans.
Mr. Hay said he wants to see more Democrats registered; “This is no time to be timid,” Ms. Heary said. “If you have a vision, now is the time to say it.”
The “old guard” closed any gap with proxy votes and after it became clear Mr. Hay was the winner, Ms. Heary tapped him on his shoulder to shake his hand.
“I’m not going away mad, I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
Afterward, Mr. Hay said his next goal is to find ways to actively involve the “new blood.”
“We can all work together,” he said.
Reorganizational meetings typically draw about a dozen, Democrats said; Monday’s drew about 50.