Weak Turnout at the Republican Election Party

November 4, 2009


There was no disguising the weak turnout at the Republican Election Night gathering at the OnCenter Tuesday night. You could count the people gathered around the small table of food on two hands. Most of the chairs and the tables were empty. "The local towns always have their own parties," said New York State Senator John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.

What he left out is that the GOP gathering usually draws a much bigger crowd anyway. He did not mention that Steve Kimatian took the Republican nomination away from Otis Jennings in a primary, so each had his own party somewhere else. Maybe Kimatian would have come if he won.

So You Think You Can Dance played on a TV screen in the ballroom until 15 minutes after the polls closed. Candidates looked for results on a computer in the next room.

"It's a little upsetting because we came expecting a big screen, which we've had in the past," said Jim Corl Sr., Chairman of the Cicero Republican Committee. "We had to physically call in a kid with a lap top. It's embarrassing."

It seemed County Legislature Chair William Meyer, R-Cicero had bigger problems than event attendance. He found himself behind and declined to talk with reporters about it.

"He's a good, level-headed guy," said Mike Radziewski, a member of a Republican Party committee. But, his opponent Ed Szczesniak "definitely does have some name recognition."

Meyer eventually secured a win and the Republicans did gain a seat in the County legislature. But few seemed in the mood to celebrate.

Kimatian never showed.