The Board of Aldermen on Tuesday didn’t re-appoint a long time police commissioner — and Republican Aldermen are calling foul.
Seven Democrats on the board voted against reappointing David Cassetti, a 51-year-old member who has served for 10 years on the Board of Police Commissioners.
The four Republicans voted in favor of Cassetti.
Three Democratic Aldermen were not present for the vote.
Republican John Marini said the move was “political retribution” because Cassetti allowed a political sign — supporting Marini’s bid for Alderman — to be placed on his lawn during election season.
Cassetti is a Republican. The Seventh Ward race was hotly contested, as Marini tried to take one seat away from incumbents Stephen Blume and David Knapp.
Blume, the former president of the Board of Aldermen, ended up losing his seat on the board.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Marini said after the vote Tuesday.
When Democrats were questioned at the meeting about why they voted against the appointment, Board of Aldermen President Eugene Sharkey said they didn’t have to explain themselves.
Sharkey said he has been on the receiving side of the process: when a Republican mayor was elected, Sharkey lost his seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
“And I wasn’t allowed to ask why,” Sharkey said. “I never even received a letter thanking me for my service. People have the right to vote. I never questioned those people as to why they voted against me.”
Cassetti was not at the meeting during the vote.
But reached Wednesday, he said he was upset and surprised by the move.
“I’m pretty devastated by this,” Cassetti said. “I think it’s purely political. I don’t know why they wouldn’t reappoint me.”
Cassetti, who has also previously served as a member of the Board of Aldermen, said he hasn’t put out political signs on his lawn in past elections. But when a Republican decided to run in his ward in November, Cassetti changed his mind.
“I’m a Republican. Why wouldn’t I support my own people?” Cassetti said Wednesday. “So I put up a sign for John Marini and I think that upset them.”
Reaction
The Board of Aldermen voted on 29 proposed appointments Tuesday. Mayor James Della Volpe recommended the appointments, and the board has the final say to approve them.
The other 28 appointments were approved by the board.
But, reacting to the ‘no’ vote for Cassetti, the four Republicans refused to vote for some Democrats.
Instead, they abstained from the votes.
For example, seven Democrats voted to reappoint Kevin Blake as the city’s corporation counsel, and four Republicans abstained.
“This is nothing personal,” Charles Stowe said to Blake. “This is all political and it has nothing to do with the individuals who are getting ready to be read. Abstain.”
On some appointments, such as for government liaison, Democrat Tara Kolakowski, some of the Republicans voted in favor while others abstained.
Marini on Wednesday said it was done to make a point.
“On the one hand the Republicans didn’t want to vote against anyone for political reasons,” Marini said Wednesday. “But we wanted to send a message to the newly elected president that he’s in danger of losing our confidence.”
Things To Come?
The political rancor came during the first Board of Aldermen meeting after the lcoal Republican Party gained some seats on the board.
During his last two-year term, Marini was the only Republican on the board. Prior to that, the board consisted of all Democrats for a decade.
Then, in November 2011, four Republicans were elected to the board.
They are still very much a minority party — there are 14 members on the board.
But it means that the Republican Party has a person to second motions and force discussion on topics.
Still, both parties vowed to work together.
So does Tuesday’s fight change that promise?
“We’re not changing our strategy,” Marini said Wednesday. “We’re there to work hand-in-hand with the Democrats. While we were upset … this is not changing how we see things.”
Sharkey was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
