Ramapo Republicans must stop St. Lawrence

July 2, 2009   Letter in The Journal News

Joseph Schumpeter once defined a democracy as a place where there is a "competitive struggle for the people's vote."

You can be sure that Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence does not want a democracy in Ramapo. He is trying to get every single party in Ramapo to endorse him for supervisor. If he succeeds, only Preserve Ramapo, an independent group, will oppose him on the ballot.

The Republican leadership in Rockland has sold out its membership. Vinnie Reda, the county Republican chairman, has given his blessing and, indeed, promoted this sellout. ("GOP endorses Democrat St. Lawrence for Ramapo supervisor," June 11.)

Unfortunately, the Republican Party organization barely exists in Ramapo so the sellout was easily accomplished. I hope that all Republicans in Ramapo will unite behind Robert Romanowski's challenge to St. Lawrence. The corrupt clique that rules the party is in for a surprise, a real primary in which Robert Romanowski and Mark Lerer who is running for judge against Democrat Rhoda Schoenberger, will give the machine a run for its money.

If you are a Republican please help preserve democracy in Ramapo. Print out the petition at Preserve Ramapo's Web site and circulate it among your Republican friends. (A PDF of the petitions is here, and specific instructions are here.)

Tell Vinnie Reda and his backroom boys that the Republican line is not for sale.