Says she has been branded 'disloyal'
The chair of the Philipstown Republican Committee has resigned from the party's countywide organization, saying it is "in crisis" and has branded her disloyal for supporting a fundraiser for sheriff candidate Larry Burke.
Cindy Trimble, in an Oct. 16 letter to Chair Andres Gil, said that the Putnam County Republican Committee is "challenged by internal disagreements and divisions that have affected endorsed candidates, incumbent candidates and dedicated committee members." She and other members of the Philipstown committee have formed a separate organization, the Philipstown Republican Club, she said.
One reason for the breakup, said Trimble, is that she has been "targeted for disloyalty" for attending an event for Burke, a Philipstown resident and Cold Spring police officer who is challenging Brian Hess, the acting sheriff and Republican candidate for the position. If he wins, Burke would be the third consecutive sheriff from Philipstown, along with the late Kevin McConville and his predecessor, Robert Langley Jr.
Gil said on Tuesday (Oct. 28) that he asked Trimble to resign and that committee leaders are expected to support the candidates endorsed by the county, "regardless of whether or not they actually chose that person." He highlighted Trimble's attendance at the Burke fundraiser and an August post on Burke's Facebook page.
Although Burke is a "lifelong Republican," according to Trimble, he is running as an independent because the county committee chose Hess over Burke and others who interviewed to be the party's candidate after McConville abandoned his re-election campaign due to illness. McConville died in September.
"My decision to attend [Burke's fundraiser] was based solely on friendship and community support, not politics," said Trimble, adding that she supported Hess's nomination by the county committee and has distributed his campaign signs.
According to Trimble, other officials and members of the county Republican Committee "have openly chosen to support non-endorsed candidates over endorsed candidates, support non-incumbent candidates over incumbent Republicans, support write-ins over endorsed candidates, support Democrats over Republicans and support Conservatives over Republicans."
In a photo on Burke's Facebook page, Trimble is shown with several Philipstown Democrats at a community meeting she organized. According to Burke's post, "Cindy had invited all concerned residents of Philipstown to come out, meet me and take part in a Q&A."
Gil called that "conduct unbecoming of a leader in our party." He said: "We should never be asking a person to vote a certain way. But as a leader of the party, you are supposed to support the endorsed and nominated candidates."
Asked about the remaining Philipstown Republican Committee members, Gil said that the county GOP has only received Trimble's resignation but is "looking into the matter, and we'll address the matter appropriately."
Burke said on Tuesday that Gil's call for Trimble to resign is "deeply disappointing" and that he was "extremely saddened" that her personal support for him became an issue. Attending a community event or fundraiser is a "fundamental right" that should not be subject to pressure or penalties, he said.
"Her resignation is a sad reflection of the state of local politics, where loyalty to individuals too often outweighs loyalty to principle," said Burke. "I hope her situation reminds everyone that integrity and
