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Selection of Lockport for Vote Riles Some Democrats

By Darryl McPherson

Jeremy Schnurr (above left) says Lockport is the center of the county. His opponent Nick Forster (above right) says most Democrats live in the western part of the county. “If Schnurr set a location central to Democratic committee members, in Niagara Falls or Wheatfield, the
majority of committee members would have a ten minute drive, instead of an inconvenient, 35 minute trek,” Forster said.

The elected members of the Niagara County Democratic Party will gather together on Monday to elect a chairman.
In other words the party boss.

There are three candidates: current Chairman Jeremy Schnurr, a local attorney, who was appointed to fill the position after a vacancy; Nick Forster, a senior investigator with the New York State Racing and Wagering Board; and Gary Parenti, an entrepreneur and political consultant.

Under county rules, a chairman must be elected within 20 days from the Primary election, which this year was Sept. 13.

The vote will be held at 7 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County, 4487 Lake Avenue, in Lockport on the Fairgrounds. Schnurr told the Reporter that he picked that location because "Lockport is the county seat" and that the location served to "balance" the county.

Forster, a former Democratic Party chairman, is convinced there is a political motivation.

"He is the only county chairman to have the reorganization meeting in Lockport. Look at the demographics. The City of Niagara Falls is the largest. He couldn’t be further away from us. He wants it to be inconvenient for the supporters of Nick Forster."

James Joyce, a current State Democratic committee member, a county committee member for 35 years and a supporter of Forster, said he is "discouraged and disgusted."

In his experience, the reorganization has never taken place in Lockport, which is in the far east portion of the county.

He also pointed out that the heaviest weighted vote is in the City of Niagara Falls.

"This is a gerrymandered attempt to try to keep the people from the west side of the county away."

Joyce believes the journey to Lockport would be difficult for the seniors in Niagara Falls. "I’m very disappointed that [Schnurr] chose to do this."

This development has not deterred Forster, who is getting buses to transport committee members out to the Fairgrounds. "It is clearly an attempt to keep voting low, since most committee members have already committed to me. He has only a handful in Lockport. His hope is low turnout, and that's not my idea of the democratic way. But we will be out there in numbers. The Forster Express will be rolling and refreshments will be served."

The third candidate for chairman, Gary Parenti, could not be reached for comment.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Sep 25 , 2012