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October 31, 2009

Cordora irritating Kingston GOP

Council president accuses defeated mayoral candidate of mudslinging.

For all the influence John Cordora hoped to have in Kingston as a mayoral candidate, he has perhaps had more effect on the election as an outspoken citizen.

After being whipped handily by three-term Mayor James Haggerty in May’s Republican primary, Cordora quickly jumped ship, accusing voters of the same “incompetence” that “elected (indicted and disgraced) judges Conahan and Ciavarella” and asking his supporters to cast their votes in November for the Democratic primary winner, Stephen Radzinski.

Five months later, Cordora has become a certified irritant for Republicans, publicly accusing – as often as possible – Haggerty, council President Sandy Kase and every other incumbent seeking reelection – of covering up crime issues, being shortsighted and risky with municipal finances and fomenting a quiet – but growing – disgruntlement among residents.

At October’s council meeting – the last one before the election – Cordora demanded information showing what financial benefit Kingston is receiving from consolidating its $3-million fire house and department with Forty Fort. Haggerty and municipal manager Paul Keating couldn’t provide an answer that satisfied him, so he published the incident in a letter to a newspaper, saying Kingston is “getting the short end of the stick” and calling for “the defeat of Mayor Haggerty and his cronies.”

That was too much for Kase, who criticizes Cordora’s comments as mudslinging that only further divides the municipality when it needs cooperation.

“I don’t like negative campaigning. I don’t like criticizing the other guy. I think people should run on their own merit: What they can do; what they can bring to the table … have they volunteered in the community, have they been part of the community? Or have they just watched?” she said. “He’s putting information out there without a sense of the real knowledge of what the issue is and what the benefits are. … People have a right to their own opinions, certainly. But when you put an opinion out there, I would hope you would have the information to back that. … It seems he’s just out there with these statements and no clear facts or figures to back up his statements.”

In fact, Keating wrote a response to Cordora before the rebel Republican published his letter, noting Forty Fort brings to the table $58,444 annually, three new vehicles and five firefighters, plus the consolidation allowed for a $85,000 grant and 24-hour staffing that was previously infeasible.

Cordora calls the letter a “partial, hazy printout” and says officials rebuff him by saying they’ll take his concerns “under advisement.” “I always walk away from that council meeting dissatisfied by Mayor Haggerty and his crew because he never gives you a clear answer,” Cordora said. “I didn’t create the negativity; I’m just uncovering it. … I’m extremely flattered that Haggerty and his crew are up in arms about my comments … I think we’ve got them running scared this year, I really do.”

He believes that his supporters could swing the election to Radzinski, but Kase isn’t worried about his influence. “I don’t think by the figures that Mr. Cordora has a great following, but I think the issue itself needs to be addressed,” she said. “Most of the time we would ignore it, but I know with (these) statements, he’s ruffled the ire, not only of the administration, but the fire department.”

For his part, Radzinski appreciates Cordora’s support and supports his right to comment, but is careful not to endorse his statements or acknowledge them as representative of his campaign. “I obviously am not going to discourage anybody from speaking out on my behalf. … He wants to stay relevant in politics in Kingston, and he wants to do it an independent way,” Radzinski said. “He’s certainly not coming to me and clearing any of this … because nobody speaks on my behalf but me.”

Still, he agrees that the Republican response indicates Cordora’s having an impact. “I don’t know why they’re so hot under the collar about Cordora unless it’s hurting them,” he said.

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