The Rotterdam Republicans will hold an open forum for the candidates on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Rotterdam Senior Center, 2639 Hamburg St.
In a letter to Democratic town supervisor candidate Frank Del Gallo earlier this week, Republican town supervisor Steve Tommasone sent an apology for words directed at Del Gallo which questioned his literacy by members of the Republican committee. In the letter, Tommasone asked Del Gallo to meet at the Senior Center at 7 p.m. so that the community members of the town could "compare and contrast" the issues for the voters of the town.
Town board candidate and county legislature Joe Shurada has stated that the night was created so that members of the community will be able to ask questions to the candidates, questions that Shurada believes have been left unanswered since the League of Women Voters "Meet the Candidates" Night on Oct. 20. Shurada stated that the forum at the senior center will allow member of the community to speak their mind, stating, "there will not be nay censorship there," believing that the LWV did not allow candidates in Rotterdam to speak their minds after members of the Democratic and No New Tax parties boycotted the LWV night in protest of a Oct. 12 from Rotterdam Republican Committee Chairman Gerard Parisi to Rotterdam Democratic Chairman Cooke, regarding the qualifications of Del Gallo to run for public office.
Cooke has stated that Del Gallo has gotten the letter and has responded, and will not be going to the event held at the center because of the way the Republicans have treated him during his campaign thus far.
