Independence Party endorses only two candidates for board
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The endorsement of Amherst Town Board candidates has become a "he said, he said" issue.

Questions remain as to why only two candidates are endorsed by the Independence Party, especially when at one point four candidates for three seats had been endorsed.

The only two candidates endorsed are Democrats Jerry Schaad and Robert Foladare. This is after Guy Marlette's choice to not accept the endorsement.

When asked for his decision, Marlette said he sent an empty envelope.

"The envelope was a statement; there was no acceptance in there. It's what I thought of the validity of the process," he said.

It was also in response to Dr. Barry Weinstein's endorsement being pulled.

Independence Party Committeeman Don Oakley said Marlette's decision is legal but it blocked the party from endorsing another candidate.

"Essentially he has taken a vote out of the hands of the Independence Party voters," Oakley said. "If Mr. Marlette did not want the ballot spot he could have notified the party, and his spot would have been filled with another candidate."

Marlette responded by saying if the party wanted to endorse another candidate it should have been done from the beginning.

He said he had told Oakley he sent an envelope concerning the acceptance.

Oakley said Weinstein's endorsement was pulled because he didn't follow party bylaws that stipulate he must support other endorsed candidates.

Weinstein said he did support other candidates, but he thought his endorsement was rescinded in a manner that he called mean spirited and questionable.

He added that the validity of the parties' endorsements are currently in court. A decision has not yet been made.

The Independence Party endorsements are made by an executive committee. Currently there are approximately 2,300 members in Amherst.

Weinstein called the process corrupt, saying if the party wanted its members to have a voice it would have endorsed the original four - Weinstein, Marlette, Foladare and Schaad - and allow a primary.

Oakley said in a statement that the party will endorse another candidate, but that name will not appear on the ballot.

Town Clerk Susan Jaros also did not accept the party's endorsement.