The City of Troy, New York, "Where Henry Hudson Turned Around."

Saturday, October 24, 2015

DISTRICT 5

The Gordon 911 story held us down for a few days. Now we can get back to our district race profiles.

DISTRICT 5

Possibly the most diverse election district, economically, socially, racially and alphabetically. District 5, or The 5-0, encompasses parts of South Troy as well as the East Side. Five has it all. A resident can imbibe at a local common room, break into a house on a tree-lined street and find themselves down at the jail: All without leaving the confines of District 5. Except for the jail. That's in 6.  It's one-stop shopping. Newcomers may refer to anything south of Washington Park as South Troy but to the Old Timers, South Troy began south of the canal.

Geography: Very urban and industrial, until you climb the hill.  One great feature: the Avenue of Presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson et al. and those two shadowy, enigmatic Chief Executives, Ida and Canal.


Electoral History:

2009

K. Zalewski - D  Unopposed

2011

K. Zalewski - D 1,266
S. Donnelly - R 740

2013

K. Zalewski - D Unopposed


Enrollment

D- 1,511
R- 675
C- 168
W - 74
I- 293
Blank - 1,298

Councilman Ken Zalewski (term-limited) challenged incumbent Bob Krogh back in 2007 and defeated him handily. Since then, Zalewski has made District 5 his bitch. In an electoral sense, that is.


Contestants:

LYNN KOPKA - D



Kopka has served as Council President after her 2011 victory in the at-large race. Two years later she won another at-large race, narrowly, but lost the presidency. She is now gunning for a district seat. She should be a shoe-in, but for David Bissember. Bissember, of Team Troy, looked like the primary winner on September 10. After the absentee ballots were opened, Kopka emerged victorious. Like a feral cat, she appears to have nine political lives. But Bissember is still on the ballot as the Working Families candidate. You know,  Kopka takes a lot of shit for raising the feral cat problem as an issue. Right. Because trying to reduce the feral cat population is 'whacky' rather than humane. It also helps prevent the spread of disease. If you find that ridiculous, you're  a twat. Wiltshire and Zalewski strongly dislike Kopka, finding her rude for not sampling their Kool-Aid.



TOM CASEY - R

 I know. We couldn't believe it either. This is the same Tom Casey that used to be Troy Republican Chair. He might be a decent guy, but Christ. Years ago, when Casey was Chair, Ken Zalewski challenged incumbent Bob Krogh. This was in 2007. In an interview with Chet Hardin, Zalewski and Krogh comported themselves as gentlemen. No cheap shots. Casey couldn't help but criticize the money raised by Zalewski, which was quite a bundle. Some of it from people outside Troy! Egad! Perhaps this was a vague reference to Zalewski living openly as a Polish-American. Anyway, while he's criticizing Zalewski for raising $6,000 of non-Troy money, Tutunjian had raised more than $30,000 from corporations outside of Troy. A hack in the truest sense. Enjoys Buxtehuda while quaffing a '47 Pichon Longueville.  D-5 isn't known for self-inflicted wounds. Maybe this time.


DAVID BISSEMBER - W

A newcomer to the political scene, Bissember made a move for the Democratic nod as the shortstop for Team Troy and almost won. Now, he's the WFP candidate for District 5, with a real shot at being a spoiler and giving us Councilman Casey. That, frankly, should give any thoughtful person pause. Or, does Zalewski have enough political juice to push his hand-picked successor over the finish line. Reform party politics by hand-picking your successor? Guess that's not a machine.





Did You Know: District 5 sits between District 4 and District 6.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

From council president to at-large (by a hair) to district candidate. I would think Zalewski is right this time. She's as sneaky as those feral cats she neuters. And to be fair if Casey's a hack so is Kopka. Since she is a Wade dem her carrying Lou's water off a cliff makes her loyal not a hack?

Anonymous said...

At least she's not a lazy slob. Saw Casey campaigning the other day, I thought it was a homeless person

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Kopka for not drinking the Zalewski/Wiltshire kool-aid. It's not popular being a strong-willed woman but just what the Council has needed. Hoping the voters see that too.

Anonymous said...

I'm no fan of Kopka but she's better than big head blowhard Zalewski. Will be great to get rid of that jackass!

Anonymous said...

One of the few things Mark McGrath got right...referring to Ken's MO as laptop leadership. BTW, I believe case opposes Polish-American marriages.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, meant Casey, not case.

Anonymous said...

I'm a cat with no balls and I can't even vote for her.

Anonymous said...

Tom Casey is a decent guy, has long time family roots in Troy, and has a common sense approach to issues. Kopka is an elitist, who has more interest in snipping feral cats than addressing the real issues confronting Troy.

She's big on passing Resolutions supporting the (Un)Safe Act, but turns a blind eye to the real problem--illegal guns--and the continuing gang violence in Troy.

Tom Casey is the better choice in this race.

For the Kids said...

You could if Mirch was still here. He have you in the Green Party and voting by absentee .

Anonymous said...

McCassion isn't posting today. Think he's down paying off his tax warrants?

Snippy said...

He'd Check the disabled box and if anyone bitched he'd be playing the trans-gender card

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Casey might be a decent guy but as a representative of actual citizens, he's a dud. He is also a county employee so we know where his marching orders will come from.

As for Kopka being an elitist, what exactly does that mean. She wears decent clothes, speaks proper English and drinks white wine? That's such a bullshit, 1990's label. If you have an issue with her, fine. but elitist? Maybe we need some elitists.

Anonymous said...

Kopka has made enemies of Zalewski. Wiltshire and Doherty, why? because they questioned Lou's budget and lack of leadership? If Kopka and madden are elected Troy will further go down the same sorry path that Lou and crew plummeted. The more residents that meet Madden don't like him. He's got the same 'feral' affliction Kopkas got.

Anonymous said...

@1:58 why do you care if McCasshat isn't posting? This blog is the bomb. All 7 of us don't need McCasshole.

Anonymous said...

Troy Republican's definition of elitist: anyone who's smarter and better groomed then they are. Not a high bar to clear. Look at the slobs and dunderheads they have running. That mailer, holy shit. Its like they went down to to the jail during visiting hours and took photos with a first generation smartphone.

Meow said...

Don't know where you are getting your info but all signs point to Madden picking up serious steam in this race. Response at voter doors is overwhelmingly positive and he is outpacing Rodeny on social media by 2 to 1 and Gordon by 4 to 1. Why you couple him with Lou is beyond me, He's never worked for or with Lou. The only two in this race who are directly responsible for the mess we are in are the two who have been on the Council, Rodney and Jimbo. Perhaps you were bitten by a feral cat and are now raving.

Anonymous said...

Are you sure it wasn't John Donohue? Where does the GOP get these schlubs? Their mailer looked like mug shots from a meth house bust.

Anonymous said...

It's not hard to figure out. Wiltshire and Zalewski are only out for themselves, Troy be damned. And Doherty is not "all there." If there was a mental competency exam for council it would be an open seat this year.

Anonymous said...

Another Rich Crist puppet and GOP patronage hack on the tit. No thanks.

Anonymous said...

Now now kool-aid drinkers. Pat would be a great mayor. He knows what needs to be done to undo the damage Lou has done. Rodney brings nothing to the table. Look at some of his kook supporters. And after watching zalewski's inability to make a damn decision for 8 years - enough is enough!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Looks like Gordo is keeping a low profile. He's probably tired of getting slapped on the face by female voters when he goes door to door. Still wearing that domestic violence pin Gordo? You're gonna need it.

Anonymous said...

Make sure ya'll read the headline in the morning. Pat should schedule a meeting out of town. I'm sure it will be "no comment".

Anonymous said...

So, Bissember is a progressive. Kopka a Democrat but Bissember might be responsible for a casey win? What does that get him? How does that advance his progressive agenda? Not sure I understand the ideological strategy here. Is it all ego? Is that it? Or is there some delusion involved here.

Anonymous said...

Zalewski has him convinced he can win and the Ken (ie. Wiltshire) will control that vote. If Bissember wins who do you think he'll go to for advice and to learn the ropes?

Anonymous said...

Twitter must be tax free

Anonymous said...

If Bissember gets in I agree with 1:14. Bissember's a good guy who can have a political future. I hope the WFP isn't leading him down the primrose path.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to say, I'm seeing Casey taking this. Of all the Team Troy candidates, Bissmeber has the best chance of fucking this up for the Dems. I still don't know what that gets Team Troy accept a council full of Repubs, who will not advance their agenda.

Anonymous said...

8:12:
Rodney and Ken have questioned Lou's leadership ...
How did Rodney vote on the last two Budgets?


Anonymous said...

We'll have to ask him at the next gathering. I'm sure he's got his line all ready.

Phana24JG said...

Even if Casey gets in, how does this get a council full of Reps? I can't see more than 4 winning unless something surprising develops. Even if they get the 5, we have some history to suggest that even a large majority, like 7-2 for example, is not a guarantee of a working majority.

Anonymous said...

Phana. Just my opinion but there could be R's in 1 2 3 5 6 not to mention 1 at large. Now 1 5 6 could go D but anything is possible this year

Phana24JG said...

1:09, OK, but everything has to fall the Reps way. 2 is Rep, Miss Amerikkka is toxic, and I think Carmella has an at-large. 3 is not in the bag. Dean barely beat Russ Ziemba in 2011, and Sue is well-known and always had the reputation for working hard. 5 should be Dem, but if Bissember can split the vote..... 4 is Dem, and I see two Dems winning at large. Pat should help the Dem in 6, it is in play. Is there REALLY an election in 1? Could it possibly get any more quiet? I think 6-3 or 5-4 Dem is the most likely.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Phana. I agree.Like I said, it could go that way though. I agree that 1 is anyone's game. 2 is McGrath unless there are plenty of Wiltshire people there and they turn out for him. 3, still think it's Bodnar. 4 no contest. 5 I would be worried if I were Kopka. Ken will really push David and possibly take enough away to elect Casey. 6? Toss-up?

Agree about at large. 2-1 with Mantello winning.

Observer said...

Agreed. It's either 6-3 or 5-4 Dem. I say Dems lose one at large to Carmella and lose D2 but keep 4 and 6. GOP keeps D3. I think Dems pick up D1, tough w/o the C line but the GOP candidate is weak and the D is well known. D5 is the big tossup. Overall don't see Dems losing the majority.