GIVE HIM BACK HIS BALLS

It may be the first time in history that a mayoral candidates Mom weighs in on her child's candidacy. In this case it's Toni Consuello talking about her son, Christopher, the WFP candidate for Mayor of Troy:

Toni Consuello says, "He was put up to go up for election and he was told that if he didn't do it, he was going to get fired."The candidate's mother says her son's boss, Public Works Director Bob Mirch, is forcing him to run on the Working Families Party line, specifying that he should not run a campaign.

The candidate has been very silent in response to Mom's interview. Perhaps he's been to busy driving the Harrymobile around town. Mirch has had no comment.

So, what's Toni Consuello's motive to lie.* Her interview certainly does not help Christopher with his DPW Boss, Bob Mirch. And where did Toni Consuello get her information?

If you've seen her taped interview, Toni Consuello looks like a concerned Mom, worried that her son is being used and intimidated. Hardly the type to thrust herself into the spotlight with a lie.

Christopher has every right to run for office. Mirch has every right to take over the WFP. That's the system. Due to their enrollment size, minor parties are subject to hostile takeovers. It comes with the territory. Those with plenty of time and nothing more constructive to do...plot and plan minor party takeovers. Mirch has a true genius for such work.

What has not been discussed, not on Fox News, not in The Record, is the propriety of a DPW Commissioner using a DPW employee for political purposes. The relationship between Mirch and Consuello is hardly equal. The situation lends itself to, at the very least, the appearance of impropriety.

That's not to say it can't be done. There's no law against it and, depending on the circumstances, there's no ethics code violation.

The larger issue is leadership in City Hall. Why won't Mayor Tutunjian protect City employees from being used by the DPW Commissioner? Why won't he crack down on Mirch's antics. Whether it's using County and City employees for political purposes, abusing a store owner or ridiculing a handicapped citizen, Harry seems unable to control his own DPW Commissioner.

He also stood by silently as his Corporation Counsel treated those at the recent public hearing in a rude, disdainful manner.

It's time for Tutunjian to cut the puppet strings and retrieve his testicles from the Department of Public Works. If he doesn't, we are left wondering who is in charge?

Tomorrow: Is City Hall surplus property?

*Like others that have issues with Mirch, Toni Consuello will not doubt be branded a liar. Funny, how many 'liars' have issues with Mirch.