To the Editor:

I have been a member of the Guilderland Democratic Party Committee since the late 1970s.  I have worked for the party committee for most of the past 37 years or so, including collecting signatures, having petitions signed, going door-to-door with candidates in my neighborhood, having campaign signs on my lawn, participating in fundraisers, and more.

I worked for the party in the old dark days when the town was completely controlled by the Republican Party, and in the more recent times when the Democrats have been in control.

I have participated in town and county caucuses for most of these years, at the community centers on Washington Avenue Extension and at Tawasentha Park.  The food was good, the fellowship was excellent, and we got to meet all the candidates for the various positions.

I was always provided ample time before the events to be able to plan my schedule to attend. For many years, I received a telephone call or a letter, and in recent years I received computer e-mail and Facebook notifications.

However, until I read Kathy Burbank's letter in the Aug. 6 Enterprise, I was unaware of this year's caucus.   After reading the letter, I called several other Guilderland Democrats who have attended prior caucuses.  Not one of them had been notified either, or even seen any notice in The Enterprise.

I am extremely disappointed and upset that the Guilderland Democratic Party leadership did not provide proper notification to its members about the caucus. A cynic might suggest that because there were several positions that were being contested this year that the leadership wanted fewer members there, that they wanted only members they were sure would follow their direction.

I would prefer to provide a different reason for their lack of notification, but unfortunately I cannot fathom one.  

It seems to me that, if the members were not notified about the caucus, then any and all actions taken at the caucus should be invalidated and a new caucus be held where all the members are provided proper notification.

Barry Nelson Uznitsky

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.