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What seemed like an obvious Hail Mary Pass by 20 year incumbent Town Supervisor Frank Petrone and 16 year incumbent Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, a press conference was held to ask Town Supervisor candidate Eugene Cook to step down because of a comment he made two years ago.
The press conference was organized by Petrone’s campaign manager, Eric Rotondi. The speakers were current Town of Huntington Planning Board member Jane Devine and Sherry Pavone who was named woman of the year by Frank Petrone earlier this week.
The pair talked about comments Gene Cook made two years ago at a CSA meeting when he jokingly said he would be “better off carrying a Gun” than a camera because he was trying to end the corruption in Town Hall.
The pair said the comments brought back chilling memories of a hostage situation that took place 34 years ago in 1979.
At the press conference, Pavone and Devine made reference to Sandy Hook and Aurora, but made no reference to the victims of the gun violence in Huntington Station. Many in attendance took exception to that.
Ms. Devine’s opening statement was incorrect. She stated that the comment made by Gene Cook was at a rally. It was actually about 2 years ago at a meeting of the CSA where they arranged for Mr. Cook to speak about his first 30 days in office. The format was that Councilman Cook spoke of his experiences and then took questions from the members.
Devine was not correct when she said someone asked the question “How would you solve an issue in Town Hall?” Devine claimed that Cook said that “it would be a whole lot easier to carry a gun.” That is a completely untrue.
We advise people to listen to the entire 20 minute tape.
One person was heard from the crowd stating, “This is a character assassination.” Another said, “You need to watch the whole video.”
Another shouted out that “Petrone and Cuthbertson should run on their record rather than these types of tactics.”
Several people were heard saying, “Where were you when they were closing Jack Abrams?”
Huntington resident Susan Collins said, “I’m confused about what was held here today. This was called a press conference – which I understood was going to be an announcement or question/answer session held by an official. This was negative campaigning – which is still campaigning – on Town property. The primaries have been held, candidates were chosen. Trying to harass a candidate into leaving the ballot seems like election tampering. It definitely seems desperate.”
Michael McDermott who attended the press conference said, “what I am concerned with is that we have thugs in office now, they can’t run on their record, they run on character assassination. They are attacking a really good man. They are really afraid that Cook may win and actually clean up the corruption in this town. He wants to have audits; he wants to have full transparency. He wants to have term limits so we don’t have people who are in there for 20 years.”
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Signs of desperation: manufactured moral outrage and character assassination. Looking forward to a new era of open and honest town government.
John Carillo
October 21, 2013 5:53 pm at 5:53 pm
Hit the nail on the head; Petrone and Cuthbertson are showing their fear at finally being forced to show themselves for what they really are, self serving hypocrites. Ugh, why do Petrone and Cuthbertson feel the need to behave like defensive children? If they are as wonderful as they portray themselves to be, then why the need to disparage and demonize their opponents? If they believe in themselves so fully then they should have nothing to worry about, right? If their opponents are so ill equipped to hold these positions, then let us, the voter decide based on what we see and hear directly from each candidate. The practice of using a community event to promote your political aspirations by engaging them in a “lets boo our opponents when I say their name” game, is just that, a game, not to mention the height of ignorance. And because Cuthbertson spoke in Spanish to try and ingratiate himself to the community, arrogant and demeaning. These actions solidify what I already know about Petrone and Cuthbertson’s lack of honor, character and humility. Their lack of these basic qualities have been on display at each of the town meetings I have attended. Sad that two grown men feel the need to denigrate another in the name of politics. Lovely legacy to leave your children and grandchildren. Good luck with that, “gentlemen”. –
blanch42
October 24, 2013 12:22 pm at 12:22 pm