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GC Sheriff's Employees Association endorses Durin Rogers for full-time Batavia City Court judgeship

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

The association representing Genesee County’s Corrections officers and other Sheriff’s employees has enthusiastically endorsed Durin Rogers (inset photo right) to become Batavia’s next full-time city court judge.

Genesee County Sheriff’s Employees Association (GCSEA) President Kevin Wolff cited several reasons supporting the decision to endorse Rogers, who is currently a part-time Batavia City Court judge.

“Judge Rogers’ enthusiasm and dedication to the bench, his family and our community is evident,” Wolff said. “[He] has extensive experience on the bench handling thousands of cases as a Batavia City Court Judge and has a proven track record.

"Judge Rogers’ multifaceted experience and steadfast integrity make him the obvious choice to be the next full-time city court judge.

"...Our endorsement also acknowledges Judge Rogers’ …ready availability to law enforcement day and night, seven days a week for after-hours arraignments and warrants…Judge Rogers is a shining example of what all citizens of Batavia should strive to be.”

The endorsements Rogers’ has received have caught the attention of many local Republicans according to local attorney and City Republican Chair David Saleh.

“I’ve been contacted by many Republicans from Batavia and around the county who have been very impressed by the support Judge Rogers’ is receiving,” Saleh said.

“He’s been endorsed by an impressive group of people including our county sheriff, our commissioner of social services, the head of Genesee Justice, the Genesee County attorney, the president of our city council and now the association representing so many of the employees of our Sheriff’s (Office).

"This all shows that Judge Rogers has proven himself as a fantastic lawyer and judge and he is the only candidate who can complete the full 10-year term. He has definitely earned the support of Batavia’s Republicans as our endorsed Republican candidate for the upcoming June 25th primary.”

Randa Williams

Judge Rogers is the candidate chosen by the Republican Party as their candidate. He is who and what he says he is, unlike Mr, Bonarigo, who is a pretender. He is a Democrat, though he seems to choose to not mention that fact. He is backed by the Democratic Party as their candidate. This frivolity is costing the taxpayers, since this is not a necessary primary. Voters, do not be confused !!

Jun 19, 2019, 5:18am Permalink
Rich Richmond

The Republican Primary Election for Batavia City Court Judge is June 25th.
The keyword is Republican. Judge Rogers is the only genuine and registered Republican in the Republican Primary. Other keywords regarding Judge Rogers are full transparency and full disclosure. Judge Rogers is a man of impeccable integrity.

Why are we having a Republican primary on June 25th?

How did this happen?

Fact, we are having a primary because there is a loophole in election law regarding judges.

This fact is unknown to most people and allowed a registered Democrat, Bonarigo to circulate Republican petitions to force a Republican Primary.

Another fact, Registered Democrat Bonarigo is endorsed by the City of Batavia Democrat Party, and he will have the Democrat line in the November Election should he lose the Republican primary.

If he were to win the Republican primary, Bonarigo’s name would be the only name on the Republican line this November.

Fact, Democrat Bonarigo went to Republican homes to ask for votes in a Republican Primary, omitting the fact he is a Democrat.

He sent postcards and letters to Republicans, omitting the fact he is a Democrat. He and his campaign sent press releases to the news media, omitting the fact he is a Democrat.

Bonarigo’s campaign is that of omission, including lack of full disclosure and transparency for all these mentioned facts and especially the fact that he is a registered Democrat and not a Republican.

Jun 19, 2019, 4:37pm Permalink
Tim Miller

As stated previously - Mr. Bonarigo should have disclosed his past (and current) status to those he was speaking to. But then, those Republicans who signed his petition to be put on the GOP ballot without researching the candidate got what they deserved.

There have been many comments concerning the candidate discussing his political registration. That is good - more information makes for a more informed vote.

Of course, Ed Koch ran for mayor of NYC on both the Dem and GOP party lines in 1981. Maybe Mr. Bonarigo and those who signed his petition wanted it that way.

Know who you are voting for, folks!

Jun 19, 2019, 5:26pm Permalink
John Roach

I agree with Tim Miller. Mr. Bonarigo should have disclosed to people he was a Democrat when getting signatures. While some of course knew he was and were going to support him anyway, it's reasonable to believe many Republicans and Conservatives would have refused to sign for him. What he did was legal and politically clever, but sneaky.

Jun 19, 2019, 8:58pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

So far, that makes three of us, John, Tim, and I agree that Mr. Bonarigo should have disclosed he was a Democrat when getting signatures.

John, what an interesting turn of phrase, “politically clever, but sneaky?”

SNEAKY MEANS; sly, dishonest, devious, mean, low, base, nasty, slippery, unreliable, malicious, unscrupulous, furtive, disingenuous, snide, deceitful, contemptible, untrustworthy, double-dealing duplicitous, guileful, indirect, lubricious, shifty, underhanded; guileful, indirect, and lubricious.

Ironically, Erica O’Donnell Chair, City of Batavia Democratic Committee submitted a press release to WBTA on June 17, 2019, directed at Judge Rogers and his campaign, without any Corroborating evidence. When challenged on the WBTA Facebook page, that her statements were not true Ms. O’Donnell failed to respond. Below is Ms. O’Donnell’s words:

“Unlike that of other elected officials, the campaigns and elections of judges are required to be non-political. Judges can not and do not run on issues, but instead run on their resumes and records.

Recent statements by the Rogers campaign and his supporters regarding Mr. Rogers stance on gun laws are inappropriate at best and unethical at worst.
The judicial system only works when our judges are unbiased and held to the highest ethical standards and that is exactly what The City of Batavia deserves in it’s judges.”

Jun 20, 2019, 8:44am Permalink

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