Crumb Won't Run for Supervisor as Independent

RFH 2010, Featured Articles, Town of Hamilton

Wed, Aug 17, 2011

Dave Crumb has decided he will not run as an independent in the November town election.

Crumb Won't Run for Supervisor as Independent

As it stands now, the race for Town of Hamilton supervisor in November will look like it has for many years: Democrat vs. Republican ... only. Eve Ann Shwartz -- the Democrat -- vs. Scott Mills -- the Republican.

Council Member Dave Crumb (on right in photo) has decided not to make it a three-way race and run for town supervisor as an independent candidate. He said it would cost too much money and take too much time.

Crumb also said he is discouraged by the fact that the Nov. 8 election will be business as usual, something he said the town can ill afford.

"It will be about the party and not about the person (running)," Crumb said of the election, saying Shwartz and Mills were "party loyalists". "And, that saddens me."

Crumb was planning to seek the Republican nomination for supervisor. But, he said the nominating procedures at last month's Republican caucus were changed at the last minute to exclude him from not just getting the nod for supervisor but also for seeking his existing seat on the council.

Without party backing, Crumb said running for office is too expensive and too time-consuming. He said his campaign cost him between $300 and $400 when he ran for council four years ago; plus he lost income by taking time away from his own business. And, he said he spent between 15 and 16 hours a week for the four weeks before the election campaigning.

He estimates running for supervisor as an independent would cost him at least $1,000 because there would be no party funds to pay for advertising and other campaign expenses. And, to run on his own, he said the time commitment would more than double.

Crumb's decision not to run as an independent did not come lightly, especially in light of the results of the village election in June. He said he was encouraged by the showing of the newly-formed Bullthistle Party.

"I was really excited by the Bullthistle showing," said Crumb. "It was more about the candidates and not the party. That's important. I worry we don't have enough independent thinkers."

Crumb is also worried about the town in general, specifically about what he said is a lack or transparency and efforts by the past two supervisors to not share information with the council. He also is worried about the state of the town's finances.

"As president of SOMAC, I can walk in (to their offices) and punch a few keys (on a computer) and see the budget and how much has been spent in each category," he said. "As a town councilman, I have no idea how much money we have or how much we have spent. That's not right. It's tough making decisions when you don't have all the information you need.

"We need someone (as supervisor) who will follow the rules and be open about what they are doing," said Crumb.

In specific, he said the town bookkeeper is hired and/or fired by the supervisor. He said there is no reason the bookkeeper should be responsive to the council.

"We have had four bookkeepers in the past two years, and we still have no idea how much money we have," said Crumb.

Crumb's term expires at the end of the year.

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Comments(1):

Following the Rules and Transparency.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Penny

I find it interesting that Mr Crumb would call for "following the rules" and "transparency". While he is at it perhaps he should also speak to ethics and integrity. Certainly citizens look to their representatives the leaders of their communities to have the highest degree of integrity and ethics. We all look for our leaders to "follow the rules" and certainly with a lovely little town such as Hamilton transparency is a part of daily life. I wonder; did the supervisors really "conspire" to squeeze out Mr Crumb. Or is it possible that Mr Crumb's antics over the past few years and his (in my humble opinion)lack of the qualities so noted came home to roost?