Sue Kelly (NY-19) announced that the 15,000 strong Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council endorses her campaign for re-election.
Press Release here
This is at odds with Democractic candidate John Hall's many Union endorsements: Hall recieves support from AFL-CIO, NYSUT, 1199 SEIU, CWA District 1 as well as several others.
Very strange -- until start digging which is where we learn the truth about her 'new' union support that is.
Learn about Rep. Sue Kelly's ties to this organization below!
[alright guys I was going to post this yesterday but I didn't get around to it and this is a very rough draft of information so please work with me, I have more detail about the situation I'm not releasing at this time but I need to fact check it more]
Alright guys and girls welcome to the 1st Edition of:
Let's Fact Check Sue Kelly
This 1st edition will deal with her brand new 15,000 strong union support -- the 'Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council (HVBCTC)'
The HVBCTC's President is L. Todd Diori, Vice President is Sam Fratto. (Sue Kelly Press Release)
Lets do a little digging shall we?
Mr. Diorio is also the leader of Laborers Local 17 (part of the Laborers International Union of North America or LIEUNA).
All right so lets get the big picture - LIENA is the national group, Local 17 is the local chapter led by Mr. Diorio. Mr. Diorio also leads the Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council.
Got me so far?
Good.
LIENA's International PAC gave Rep. Sue Kelly $6000 last year. (http://opensecrets.org/... Bottom of page )
Alright so LIENA decided that they support Kelly... last year right?
You would still be incorrect however because digging a little deeper reveals that LIENA has donated money to Kelly's campaign since 03/24/1998. (very very large document http://query.nictusa.com/... ) Totaling the sum it reaches an astounding $47,500 since 1998!
Okay, so we have figured out that the national union has given money to Rep. Kelly - a lot of money, but maybe you believe that this funding is on the national level and not something perhaps the local organization was involved in.
Too bad thats still not true.
Lets go back to the local level shall we?
The President of the Local Chapter (and the Hudson Valley group) is Mr. L Todd Diorio. In 2003 Mr. L Todd Diorio (occupation: LIENA's local business manager) gave Rep. Sue Kelly $1000 (2nd name listed http://images.nictusa.com/...)
In 2005 a Mr. Lawrence T. Diorio, employed under the business `Safety Harbor Management & Consulting' (which I can't find any record of btw) gave Rep. Sue Kelly $500 (2nd name listed http://images.nictusa.com/...)
In 2005 a women by the name of Ms. Laurell Diorio-Taylor donated $1500 to the Sue Kelly campaign. In her FEC contribution form she put down that she was a housewife and lived at 350 Neelytown Road, Montgomery, NY 12549. (2nd name listed http://images.nictusa.com/... )
Anyway she is Todd's sister (http://archive.recordonline.com/... )
[I have more information to go here about Ms. Laurell Diorio-Taylor, but I'm not sure about accuracy so maybe I will post about it later]
In 2006 Mr. L. Todd Diorio donated to Sue Kelly's campaign, $500. (http://images.nictusa.com/...)
So maybe you're starting to see a pattern - the Trade group that Kelly announced as recentaly endorsing her has always backed her. It's not something new - its a position their leaders have held for a long, long time.
Alright, what about Sam Fratto -- the vice president, does he have a record?
Yes he donated to Ms. Kelly's campaign too.
Sam donated $500 to Sue Kelly in 2003. (http://images.nictusa.com/...)
So I don't think one group supporting you that has always supported you means you have union support Ms. Kelly.
The Internation Union backed and gave you money since 1998.
The President of the local union supported you since 2003.
The Vice President of the local union supported you since 2003.
So, why are you trying to say that this 'support' is new? Why the frontpage news on your website?
Nice try Ms. Kelly, but you fail the Fact Check.
-- MrMacMan