Mohan moves to Democratic Party
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Mohan

Supervisor Satish Mohan shocked political observers this week when he announced his decision to change his party affiliation.

He said he doesn't need to notify the Amherst Republican Committee that he will switch to the Democratic Party, but will resign as a committeeman, most likely next week.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time," Mohan said, adding that his announcement will be made first in this edition of The Amherst Bee.

He said the town's Republican Party is too concerned with businesses in the town - a small percentage of Amherst's population.

"They are supporting business blindly without care for the other 98 percentage of the population," he said.

Mohan added that he gave thought to what party connects with the other 98 percent and concluded that it is the Democrats.

When asked when the change would be official, Mohan said he would go to the Erie County Board of Elections in the near future.

Mohan has been a member of the Republican Party since September 1996, shortly after earning his U.S. citizenship.

When he ran for town supervisor in 2005, taking office in 2006, he challenged the endorsed Republican Dirk Rabenold to a primary and was victorious. He went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Susan Grelick.

Questioned about whether his change had anything to do with a plan to run for the seat in the 61st Senate District, Mohan said no. He added that he has been approached on the subject by several people.

For more of Mohan's comments on his decision to change party affiliation, see page five.

GOP Chairman Marshall Wood said he was shocked and disappointed when told of Mohan's announcement.

"I'm not sure exactly what this means - time will tell - but he hasn't shown a willingness to work with anybody," Wood said, adding that he doesn't expect that to change when Mohan becomes a Democrat.

He said Mohan hasn't been able to move his agenda forward because of that attitude.

Wood also noted that Mohan has always said he upholds the basic philosophies of the Republican party - smaller government, fewer taxes and accountability. And Wood said that will sound strange now coming from a Democrat.

Mohan's decision shifts the majority to the Democrats. Council members Dan Ward, Deborah Bruch Bucki and Mark Manna are Democrats, leaving three Republicans, Deputy Supervisor Shelly Schratz, Dr. Barry Weinstein and Guy Marlette.

In other town political news the Town Board denied Council Member Dr. Barry Weinstein's resolution to create a referendum in the 2009 election to downsize the Town Board from six members to four. He was the only member who voted in favor of the resolution.

"I've been through this once before on the Erie County Legislature ... it passed with 80 percent of the vote, and the only people affected were the two legislators that were downsized," he said.

The Legislature went from 17 to 15 members in 2004. In 1981 it was downsized from 20 to 17.

Weinstein said he's in favor of the change in towns across Erie County and said it can be done without reducing anyone's representation.

He said his resolution was motivated by Kevin Gaughan's presentation made in January, in which Gaughan challenged boards to reduce the size of government and cut costs.

Weinstein said all he asked of the board was to give residents a chance to vote in a referendum.

Council Member Mark Manna said he didn't support the motion because he didn't see how the town benefited from saving $51,000 by losing two board members.

"There is a lot more, better ways to save money in that people won't lose representation," he said.