THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008
Township Incumbents Ask For Party Support
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
Incumbent Maine Township office holders who are also long-time Republicans are asking members of the Maine Township GOP to support their slate rather than one expected to be fielded by the regular organization.
A two-page letter was recently mailed to all members of the Maine Township Regular Republican Organization asking for their support of the Maine Township Incumbents---a newly organized slate whose members will run for reelection in April 2009. The Incumbents consists of current Maine Township office holders and mostly long-time members of the Maine GOP Organization who either left or were fired by Committeeman Mark Thompson several years ago. The dismissals came during a lengthy heated dispute involving control of the local political organization and Maine Township government.
Incumbent members include Maine Township Supervisor Carol Teschky, Highway Commissioner Bob Provenzano, Clerk Gary Warner, Assessor Thomas Rueckert, Collector Peter Gialamas, and trustees Walter Kazmierczak, Laura Morask, and Susan Moylan Krey. The names of all of these incumbents were on the May 23 letter sent to area Republicans. Trustee Peter Ryan is a Democrat and not part of the slate.
"Today, it's no longer a foregone conclusion that the Republican Party will maintain its control over local elected offices," said the letter. "In 2006, we saw the Democrats seize control of our state senate seat, a seat which was held for several decades by the Maine Township GOP. The Democrats also swept three judicial subcircuit races in 2006. We will now see our local GOP state representatives tested like never before by the Democrats this November.
"In light of this political sea change, we feel it's in the best interest of all Maine Township Republicans that we step forward and address a potential situation that could be very destructive to the Maine Township GOP."
The letter went on to say that the Incumbents "believe there is no reason to have competing GOP township slates facing off in 2009. The Maine Township Incumbents are Republicans and have a very successful political track record. Our successful administering of efficient and effective township government is a proud record we plan to run on." It concluded, "We graciously ask for your support of the Maine Township Incumbents with the concession of not running a competing slate."
The sharp differences between Thompson and members of the Incumbents surfaced about eight years ago when the Republican organization abruptly dumped Thompson from the local township ticket. Thompson at the time was Maine Township supervisor. Bob Dudycz replaced him on the ticket. What followed were years of strife between two township Republican factions. While Dudycz, Provenzano, Teschky and the others maintained control of township government, Thompson was elected GOP committeeman which controls the political organization.
About a year ago, township office holders decided to form their own slate and name it Maine Township Incumbents even though every member is a registered Republican. With the letter, they are hoping that local Republicans will abandon Thompson's organization and side with them in the April general election. In doing so, they are also avoiding an intra-party primary contest that could cripple even more the local party.
"We are Republicans," said Provenzano on Monday. "Some candidates have close to 50 years in the organization. I have 40 and Carol Techky has 20. Why put up another Republican slate? We could have three to four slates running. We're trying to get unity. We want to have a united front. We have a good record as incumbents. We've kept taxes down to a bare minimum. We're running as Incumbents. A primary would be a waste of time and money. Things have changed. Times have changed. Why run on a label?" This November, many political observers believe it could be a banner year for Democrats across the nation primarily because of the unpopularity of President Bush.
Provenzano said everyone in the Regular Maine GOP organization was mailed a copy of the letter. He said area officials will also soon be mailed the same letter.
In addition to separate Incumbents and Republican slates, Maine Township's Regular Democratic Organization will field a ticket of its own, according to Committeeman Laura Murphy.
Several attempts to contact Thompson were unsuccessful.