Published: November 09, 2009 11:57 pm      

NIAGARA FALLS: Fruscione calls for shakeup of city Dems

A newly re-elected city councilman is calling for a change at the top of the Niagara Falls Democratic Party Committee.

Councilman Sam Fruscione, a Democrat who was successful in his bid for another term on the council during the Nov. 3 election, on Monday publicly requested the resignation of current city Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Lewis.

In a statement issued to the press, Fruscione listed a series of complaints about Lewis’ performance as the committee’s leader. Fruscione suggested that Lewis did not provide adequate support to selected Democratic candidates, including incumbents like him, failed to undertake fundraising campaigns and was subject to influence from “outside sources” which led to Lewis not “listening to actual committee members’ individual requests.” Fruscione said other city Democrats supported his call for Lewis’ resignation, although he did not name any of them in his release to the media.

“For all the reasons above and more, we are asking for the resignation of Michael Lewis and ask for a special meeting to be called by the Niagara Falls Democratic Committee to vote for a new leader who can move the committee into a new direction in anticipation of the governor’s race and other important races to take place next year,” Fruscione said.

Lewis said he was “mystified” by Fruscione’s request, saying he has not personally heard any criticism about his leadership from Fruscione or any other local Democrats. Lewis said he was particularly surprised to hear Fruscione leading the charge for his ouster, saying he supported Fruscione as a candidate, provided money to his campaign and defended him to members of the county Democratic committee when it looked like his endorsement may have been in jeopardy this year.

“Personally, I’ve done nothing but support him,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he’s not aware of any provisions within the by-laws of the Democratic committee that would allow for him to be forcibly removed as chairman. He noted that when he was elected chairman it was by a unanimous vote and Fruscione’s wife was present at the meeting.

As for the direction of the committee itself, Lewis said he pointed to the success of a recent fundraiser that helped generate funds for Democratic candidates in the run up to the November election as one example of his leadership paying dividends for the committee.

“I feel that, without divulging the finances of the committee, we have more money now than we did last year,” he said.