Published: October 29, 2009 11:06 pm      

CITY OF TONAWANDA: City attorney upset over mayor’s use of his image

City of Tonawanda Mayor Ron Pilozzi is catching some heat for one of the photos used in his last round of political fliers.

The image in question shows the Republican mayor standing next to City Attorney Ron Trabucco. The problem is Trabucco is a Democrat who, up until this point, was working to keep clear of this year’s election politics.

Pilozzi said nowhere in the mailing does he imply that Trabucco supports his campaign, but Democrats are crying foul.

“Nothing in there said he was endorsing me,” Pilozzi said. “His name wasn’t even mentioned.”

Gale Syposs, chairwoman of the city Democratic party, said the obvious inference people would make from that piece of literature, especially those who recognize Trabucco’s face, is that the attorney supports the current mayor. She called the move a dirty trick and said she finds it impossible to believe the photo was chosen accidentally.

“You don’t put a picture on something like that without thinking it through,” Syposs said.

The mayor said he hired a marketing firm to design the mailer, and that when he reviewed the photo he saw it only as an action shot taken in routine working conditions. The picture proved to be one of many featured on Pilozzi’s personal Web site and has been there for many months. But looking at it now, Pilozzi admitted he understands Trabucco’s concerns that the public might misinterpret the photo and apologized to Trabucco in writing for “placing (him) in a difficult and unwanted position.”

“It’s a mistake on my part,” Pilozzi said.

It’s also an action that has put Democrats in a tailspin. Syposs said she’s working to arrange a photo to be taken with Trabucco and Democratic mayoral candidate Rick Davis to be used on literature sent out before Tuesday’s election. Putting together a new flier on such short notice won’t be easy — or cheap — Syposs said, but she doesn’t see another option.

“We’re left with no alternative but to clear this thing up as far as the voters go,” Syposs said.

Davis said he has taken the photo with Trabucco, but is talking his next move over with his campaign staff. Davis added that he worked to get the consent of everyone whose image he used in mailings.

“I think it’s a desperate attempt from a desperate mayor trying to align himself with a popular Democratic public figure,” Davis said.

Trabucco hadn’t returned phone messages as of press time to say whether this situation has led him to endorse either candidate.

How the flap affects the routine business conducted at City Hall and the relationship between the mayor and Trabucco remains to be seen. But Pilozzi said he’s hopeful the mistake is something the two men can put behind them.

“I hope, and expect, based on the fact you have always acted in a professional manner, that although we have different political philosophies, we can, and will continue to work together for the betterment of the city and those we serve,” Pilozzi wrote in the closing of his letter to Trabucco.

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