Published: October 28, 2009 11:33 pm      

ELECTION 2009: Suspicions of racism cost Iannello support

Erie County Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Kenmore, has lost the support of a union less than a week before voters hit the polls to decide whether or not to give her another term.

Phil Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, called an emergency meeting of the union’s executive committee Tuesday with the goal of rescinding Iannello’s endorsement over a conflict during a Working Families Party canvassing effort in support of Iannello’s campaign.

“Ms. Iannello, upon learning that at least one of the canvassers was an African American (there are two) demanded that the African Americans be removed from the canvass,” Rumore wrote in his letter to members.

While Iannello wouldn’t go into great detail about the disagreement, she said her objection was to the Working Families volunteers asking voters to sign a pledge to vote for her, not to the race of the people working.

“It’s not true,” Iannello said of the racism accusation. “It’s just a misunderstanding.”

Rumore acknowledged the practice Iannello claimed was her issue with the canvass, adding that volunteers “usually identify themselves as working for the Working Families Party and sometimes ask for support for the Working Families Party.” But he maintains that the race of the volunteers, not the way they campaign, was the issue that caused Iannello’s discomfort.

Sam Williams, the Western New York Chair of the Working Families Party, didn’t return requests for comment via phone and e-mail. But Rumore told his union’s members that Williams, with concurrence from the leadership of the Working Families Party, refused Iannello’s demand. Rumore, through the BTF, has a spot on the party’s local steering committee and the state executive committee.

“The reason for said refusal to withdraw African Americans is obvious. It is against all that the Working Families Party stands for,” Rumore said.

The volunteers have since been reallocated to another campaign and the Working Families Party has cut its ties with Iannello, although she still appeared as the endorsed candidate on the party’s Web site when it was checked Wednesday night. Regardless, Iannello’s name will appear on the ballot on the Working Families line because it is far too late to have it taken off.

Rumore said he took it upon himself to call the meeting to cancel Iannello’s endorsement so close to the election because he “felt it would be wrong to send a letter to teachers supporting a candidate that in light of the above reports did not reflect our beliefs.” When asked about the timing of the move, Rumore said he acted on the information as quickly as he could once he found out.

“Yes, this is short notice. Yes, this is unusual. Yes, it is that important to our integrity,” Rumore wrote to the membership.

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.