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By DAVE JANOSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
Sunday, October 19, 1997 Page: 1A
KINGSTON- A voter, let’s call her Alice, could find much to confuse her in
the looking-glass world of Kingston politics.
Mayor Gary Reese, a former Republican, is the first Democrat elected to the
office in modern memory. But his party won’t endorse him for re-election.
Curious.
Republican James Haggerty has been endorsed by the Democratic president of
the council. And former Republican mayor Charles Bankes is backing Reese.
Curiouser and curiouser.
But, you see, Alice, the answer to the riddle is personal, not political.
“I think it’s the nature of politics in Kingston to be more interested in
the candidates and their characters than in their political party
affiliations,” says the above-mentioned council president, Sally Teller
Lottick.
The town’s finances have been the main topic in the race. But Reese’s fiery
personality and his constant confrontations with the council- Democrats and
Republicans alike- have come a close second.
Haggerty says four more years of Reese would mean four more years of sour
council/mayor relations, because only one of the five Democrats running for
council is allied to the incumbent.
“Whatever the outcome of the council race, you’re going to continue to have
a council and mayor that are unable to work together to solve our problems.
“While I support the Republican council candidates, I have a good
relationship with all five Democrats and I’d have a good rapport with any who
may be elected,” says Haggerty, a 31-year-old lawyer.
Reese, a 52-year-old county employee, blames the council for the
squabbling, while touting his own record and taking credit for $31 million in
new business investment since he took office.
“So I don’t get along with anybody? I’ve gotten along with people who’ve
spent $31 million in Kingston.”
Reese changed his registration to Democrat to run against incumbent
Republican Frank Sorochak in 1993. Sorochak’s one-term administration had run
up a multi-million debt, borrowing $3.2 million and doubling property taxes to
cover it.
Reese says the council at that time was too unquestioning of Sorochak’s
spending.
“The last mayor and the last council were all buddy-buddy. They wanted the
meetings over with so they could all go out and a have a drink afterwards.
“I’d rather fight with the council and not be bullied and get things done.”
The 1993 election was a watershed. It not only put a Democrat in the
mayor’s office, but also sparked a resurgence in Democratic registrations in
the former Republican stronghold. The numbers of Republicans and Democrats are
nearly equal.
One of the Republicans who switched parties that year was Sorochak’s
predecessor, five-term mayor Charles Bankes.
“I left him $1.5 million clear and no debts,” says Bankes, now a committed
Reese supporter. “Reese is paying off the bills that Sorochak ran up.”
The new Democratic strength worries Kingston Republican Chairman Thomas
O’Malley. But he believes the split in the Democratic Party will work to
Haggerty’s advantage.
Lottick, who lost the May Democratic mayoral primary to Reese 874 to 779,
should bring many of her voters to the Haggerty camp, O’Malley says.
He hopes that won’t be offset by Bankes’ continuing popularity with some
Republicans.
“He still carries some support. I wouldn’t be able to tell you or anyone
else that he doesn’t. There are still people who follow Charlie’s lead.”
Haggerty received 1,238 of the 1,486 votes cast in the Republican primary
and Lottick’s votes would give him more than 2,000- the number he believes
will be necessary to win if the turnout is about 50 percent.
The Democratic Party, controlled by opponents of Reese, will make no effort
to keep the Lottick Democrats from breaking ranks in the mayor’s race. But
they won’t back Haggerty either, according to Democratic Party chairman and
council candidate Jack Schumacher
“There’s no love for Reese, but we absolutely won’t work against him. And
we won’t work for Haggerty. We absolutely will work for the taxpayers of
Kingston with whatever mayor is elected.”
Despite the party rift, Schumacher believes the new Democratic strength is
here to stay.
“We were way down and then we came back. It ended up that people needed the
two-party system in Kingston.
“It used to be just a foregone conclusion that a Republican was going to be
elected. Not now.”
But Haggerty argues many of the new Democrats are really Republicans who
switched parties to vote for or against Reese in the primary and will be
Republicans again.
Clearer now Alice?
See you in the voting booth.