"Once candidates are under the wing of MCDC, original ideas are replaced by generic blandness."

"By closing out the process in the committees the way it did, Morelle insured a low turn-out in the City, which hurt the County-wide races."

"By closing out the process in the committees the way it did, Morelle insured a low turn-out in the City, which hurt the County-wide races."

"Once candidates are under the wing of MCDC, original ideas are replaced by generic blandness."
...........................................

Please go to www.Harry2009.com, click on FACEBOOK & become a Fan!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174785143600&ref=ts
..................................................
In April, just before I decided to run for Rochester City Council, I was told by a Democratic leader that this would be a futile task for me, as all of the decisions had already been made. I was then, and am now, attempting to get a job with the Obama administration in the Health and Human Services Department in Washington to help get stem cell & regenerative medicine resources out to where they are needed. This leader told me to stay focused on the DC possibility and forget playing local politics, because I had no chance with it, i.e. the fix was in.

Obviously, I did not follow this man's advice! I am happy that when I began this course in April that I was one of 20 candidates for five City Council seats. In the end, I was one of 6 candidates for five city council seats thanks to my nomination and endorsement by the Working Families Party. And I thank very much the 1,694 of you who voted for me!

I still want to bring CHANGE to Rochester. I want a downtown that is civilized, where one can live; not the wasteland it is today. The way this will happen is when we have a true democracy in Rochester. Less than 10% of the voters actually chose our leaders this election, in the sense that very few people were involved in the Democratic Party endorsement and nomination process. This process was a travesty as we know from Tom Brennan's experience running for Commissioner of Schools, where in three of the City’s LD committees, he came in third place. But like all the other candidates who did not get 50% of the committee vote, Tom had to enter a run-off at Party convention with the convoluted rule that committee votes for the run-off candidates were entirely up to the LD leader, all of which gave all their votes to David Gantt’s darling Cynthia Elliott, in spite of the fact that she received no more than a few votes from the original committee caucuses while Tom received the third highest in each. Word on the street has it that this was the result of a deal struck with Gantt to endorse her (almost assuring the nomination as well); and in return he would not run another City Council candidate to oppose the others.

Joe Morelle, who presided over this process fixing, either needs to resign immediately or allow the fresh candidates who want to run for office to actually speak for themselves. Once candidates are under the wing of MCDC, original ideas are replaced by generic blandness. Candidates should be about ideas and plans. If they aren't, they shouldn't be running.

An example of this was evident when I and the other City Council candidates presented ourselves in caucus to the committee that David Gantt controls. We all made speeches presenting our case in hopes of a real vote. Mr. Gantt did not even bother to stay in the room to listen to what I had to say, about Renaissance Square, about high tech possibilities with stem cell research for jobs in our area, and for high speed rail. Mr. Gantt was not even in the room when all of us spoke to his committee! Mr. Gannt was outside, seen through the glass window, smoking a cigarette during the entire process! And, when the votes were tallied for David's committee, it was unanimous. EVERYBODY David chose had EXACTLY the same amount of votes!! And who was the leader of the MCDC when this happened? Joe Morelle, that's who.

By closing out the process in the committees the way it did, it insured a low turn-out in the City, which hurt the County-wide races.

I will be holding an event in a couple of months to have a better look at where we are all going politically. I will invite Green Party members, Working Family members, and all of you who have no political affiliation. If the Democratic Party in Monroe County wants to succeed, I think it is time we all looked at where it's leadership has taken it and decide if we want to continue in the same direction.

Harry Davis
Rochester, New York
November 7, 2009