Republicans form new club
Dissidents call town group too secretive
By John Sullivan
Times Herald-Record
January 29, 2008 6:00 AM
WOODBURY — Dissatisfied with what they claim is a secretive and dictatorial party leadership, current and former members of the Woodbury Town Republican Committee have broken off to form their own election machine.

"They (the town Republican Committee) don't seem to exist for any particular reason, except to have a meeting once a month, if they have it at all," said town Councilman Mike Queenan, spokesman for the new splinter group known as the Republican Club.

The club established its bylaws and mission statement last week and counts about eight members, including town Councilwoman Geraldine Gianzero and former Councilwoman Lorraine McNeil.

It is modeled after other Republican clubs in Orange County and around the country, Queenan said.

The club will serve as a political election committee, campaigning and raising funds for its own candidates, as well as mobilizing votes in the community.

Voting and non-voting memberships are offered to registered Republicans in Woodbury.

The club's formation comes in the wake of outcries against leaders of both parties. Critics allege that members of the Republican Committee, including Ralph Caruso, the chairman, worked with John Burke, a Democrat and the town supervisor, as well as other Democratic Committee members, to oust McNeil and Mike Aronowitz from the Town Board.

Queenan alleged that Caruso runs a committee that barely holds meetings, operates on proxy votes from absent officers and acts like a "kangaroo court" for Caruso's will.

Deals Caruso has made in the past have undermined the committee's purpose, as well as hurt the democratic process, Queenan said.

Caruso did not return calls for comment.

"We feel a lot of people don't know what's going on, and that's detrimental to everyone," Queenan said.

The splinter club will likely also mean a break with the Orange County Republican Party, which holds loyalties to Caruso and does not tolerate dissension within the ranks, Queenan said.

County Republican Party Chairman Bill DeProspo could not be reached for comment.

jsullivan@th-record.com