To the Editor:

Last Tuesday’s Democratic nominating caucus saw Vasilios Lefkaditis make another attempt to limit this November’s town election to only one slate of candidates. His explanation for this action was to offer the Democrats a choice.

In my opinion, to help him achieve this choice, some residents, who until recently were enrolled as Conservatives or Republicans, changed their enrollment to Democrat and gained access to the Democratic caucus so they along with some disgruntled Democrats could achieve Lefkaditis’s so-called choice.

As Lefkaditis and his slate had already been chosen for the Republican party line, if successful, this attempt would have resulted in absolutely no choice in November’s election, except for maybe a candidate or candidates on a lesser party line.

Lefkaditis complains that the caucus was scripted. Actually, based on the fact that approximately 150 voters were present at the caucus, it was conducted in a very orderly and civil manner without any glitches.

I’m not sure how he expected the caucus to proceed. Perhaps, for the benefit of his supporters, he would rather have had the process interrupted by shouting matches and outbursts similar to those that occur during many of his town board meetings.

He also claims that the Democratic committee members who chaired the caucus were professional politicians and that he and his slate are not. However, his attempt to eliminate any and all competition certainly belies his claim, and is indicative that he is more of a professional politician than any of Knox’s Democrats.

The caucus was a perfect example of democracy in action — there were nominations for each position and the winners of those nominations received the most votes. Period!

Lefkaditis’s idea of democracy seems to be limited to himself, his slate, and no one else. I don’t know what his definition of choice or democracy is, but his actions are cause for me and my gut to wonder if Knox residents will ever rue the day he became mixed up in our politics. I hope that never happens.

Ken Saddlemire states that the Democrats have never supported him. Apparently he conveniently forgets that several years ago Knox Democrats successfully went to bat for him to obtain the position of Albany County coroner, which gave him a competitive salary plus benefits. After being appointed, he later decided he couldn’t meet the duties required of that position.

Choice is often used as a grading device from prime to not so good. In this November’s election, I would urge Knox voters to make the best use of their choice and vote for the prime slate of candidates: Democrats Amy Pokorny, Dan Hanley, Brett Pulliam, Tara Murphy, and Jean Gagnon.

Let’s bring civility back to our town board so it can exercise democracy as it’s meant to be.

Ed Nicholson

Knox

Editor’s note: Ed Nicholson works part-time for the town, assisting Knox Assessor Russell Pokorny, the husband of Amy Pokorny who is challenging Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis in November’s election.