appropos for election day ...

This one was written after primary day ... How many people do you think will be voting today?

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FIERY PRIMARY BATTLE BETWEEN HEENAN AND SZOT GOES LARGELY UNNOTICED (Column written about the Democratic Primary for Chautauqua County Legislative District 2)

During the 2004 Election cycle, Hip Hop Mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs spoke bluntly to America. From New York to Los Angeles, he spread the message of civic engagement with just three words.

“Vote or DIE!”

Diddy’s posse might be on its way to Dunkirk.

According to the Observer—Dunkirk’s daily newspaper, only 25% of the total number of registered Democrats in Dunkirk participated in the primary elections.

But maybe the other 75% had too much going on at work and then had to deal with the kids after school.

Maybe the other 75% was busy researching a presidential primary candidate—watching Law & Order re-runs.

Or maybe the other 75% just doesn’t care.

Six votes—1.34% of the total vote—separated the winner from the loser in the Democratic primary for the District 2 seat in the Chautauqua County Legislature. 431 District 2 voters closed the curtains and pulled a tab for one of the candidates. 17 others sent their votes through the mail.

After election officials finished counting the absentee ballots, incumbent Ron Szot narrowly defeated challenger Shaun Heenan. Prior to the absentee ballot count, Heenan had a five-vote lead over Szot, 218 to 213.

Heenan vs. Szot was no ordinary small county legislative primary. The heated battle for the nomination was inundated with controversy and tension. Mud was slung. Felony fraud accusations were filed. Blackmail may have been conducted.

It was the type of juicy politics that can really consume a voter.

The Observer asked the obvious question: if all of this stormy hullabaloo can’t bring out the vote, “what does it take to get people out to vote?”

According to his voter registration card, Heenan is a Democrat. The Republican Party ignored his listed affiliation and gave him their endorsement. The Conservative and Independence Parties endorsed the Heenan candidacy, as well. The Democratic Party (and the Citizens First Party) endorsed the incumbent, but Heenan had his eyes set on that Democratic nomination.

Heenan went forth and acquired the necessary signatures for his primary petition. He submitted his petition, and his name was put on the primary ballot.

It’s safe to say that Szot and the Democratic Committee members who chose to endorse Szot were not happy to see Heenan’s name on the ballot.

Can you blame them? Heenan already had three lines locked up for the general election. Why should he try to hijack the Democratic nomination from Szot?

Shortly after challenger Heenan turned in his primary petition, Dennis Gawronski—brother of Dunkirk Democratic Committee member Frank Gawronski—accused Heenan of committing election fraud. Reports said that Gawronski claimed that Heenan did not witness his signature.

Felony fraud charges can be brought against a candidate who knowingly submits a primary petition that has signatures that he did not witness.

County District Attorney David Foley conducted the investigation into Heenan’s primary petition practices.

After his investigation, Foley concluded that the evidence did not support the accusation. Heenan did not participate in any sort of criminal behavior.

While at Dunkirk's Moniuszko Club, one of Heenan’s friends was introducing the candidate to other club-goers. Though in some instances, the friend handed the petition and pen to potential signers, Heenan witnessed all of the signatures obtained at the club, including Gawronski’s, Foley ruled.

A few days after the case was closed, Heenan submitted a letter to the editor of the Observer. Heenan used the letter to fire back at his opponent Ron Szot and other Democratic Party officials.

“The public may be under the impression that the charges against me were made solely by one gentleman, Dennis Gawronski,” Heenan wrote, “They were not. In fact, I hold no ill will for Dennis, who I believe was misled and used.

“I have credible information that these false charges were orchestrated by my opponent, Ron Szot, and a small group of Democratic Party insiders who were trying to force me from the race and damage me in the eyes of the voting public.”

If those words were spit in an MC battle, people would be jumping around, shouting, “Ooooohhhh,” while waving towels over their heads.

Apparently, Democratic Election Commissioner Norman Green spoke to Heenan's Attorney, John Gullo, prior to the fraud charges being filed. Heenan alleges that Green informed Gullo that if Heenan were to drop out of the primary, the charges would not be filed.

Blackmail in Chautauqua County politics? You better believe it.

Green's response: “As far as John Gullo, he’s a long-time personal friend. I called John to tip him off... It was nothing more than a conversation about what Shaun Heenan’s options were.... it’s my job as the loyal opposition to release information that may not always be flattering.”

So you've got the fraud accusations, verbally violent letters to the editor, the Moniuszko Club and alleged blackmail? What more could a voter ask for?

How about a campaign promise to give an entire term's salary to the community?
You got it.

Heenan said that if voted into office, he would donate his salary to a slew of local charities. The following groups' pockets will get a little fatter: the Dunkirk Little League, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton CYO, the Dunkirk Humane Society, the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry and the Dunkirk Fireworks Show.

Dunkirk voters had all of this enticing political beef to attract them to visit their polling places, but most of them said, “No, thank you.”

Lost in the midst of all of the succulent tenderloin was debate over the issues.

To the Observer's credit, they did publish one article about the candidates’ views on certain issues. It came just as the polls were opening. Thus, the article might have been too little, too late. Most people planning on voting had their minds made up while the fraud and blackmail charges were swirling.

In the issues article, however, both candidates said basically the same things. Szot—the former City of Dunkirk attorney—was more long-winded, but the arguments were essentially the same. Two registered Democrats residing in an economically depressed area will have similar feelings about the consolidation of services, property and sales taxes and the size of the county legislature.

So what would you rather read about? Taxes… or Blackmail.

The primary vote ended the way I hoped it would. Szot wins and gains the Democratic nomination.

Am I a Szot backer?

No, and I’m not really a Heenan supporter, either.

I’m just excited to have another month of Szot and Heenan bashing heads.

The general election is November 6. Until then, I’m sure the two campaigns will continue their shady and aggressive political tactics.

Maybe more scandal will bring out that other 75%.