What?

It appears the Rotterdam GOP has succeeded in ousting Mr. Mertz from the Town Board. Personally, I am dumbfounded that arguably their single best vote-getter would be considered a liability somehow. It’s mind-boggling.

Undeniably the lightning rod for all issues controversial in town, he carried the water on the issues that scared others into silence but mattered most to residents. I suppose the only explanation is that he was carrying water someone else didn’t want carried. The local GOP must have another agenda and I confess, I can’t imagine what it could be.

What seems equally odd is that according to news reports, Mr. Mertz will be replaced by Mr. Suhrada, a Schenectady County GOP legislator, and an extremely vocal and often controversial character in his own right. What perplexes me most is that the GOP is already firmly in control in Rotterdam, soon to have 5 sitting Republicans while the County GOP is in the minority and Mr. Suhrada has proven to be an effective minority voice. This seems to weaken an already tenuous county foothold.