Weird Doings in Niagara Falls

Hand it to Niagara Falls for making politics interesting, if nothing else. Hey Byron, How about helping Antoine?!

Former Byron Brown Senate staffer Gary Parenti is mounting a primary challenge for the 138th Assembly seat occupied by Francine DelMonte.

On Thursday, Byron Brown endorsed DelMonte, and Parenti loyalists stopped by to crash the party.

Both campaigns staged competing picnics in Centre Court, with the Parenti camp blasting music and staging a picket in front of DelMonte’s rally, while DelMonte supporters waited for Brown to arrive…

…Community activists Shirley Hamilton, Ron Cunningham and Niagara County Legislator Renae Kimble planned the Parenti event, and also each placed calls to Brown’s office Thursday morning, telling him not to show up.

When Brown emerged from his car Thursday evening, Kimble ran up to him and told him he was disrespecting her, because it’s her district in the Legislature and she’s supporting Parenti.

“I’m just here to lend support to assist Francine DelMonte, who has done a great job,” Brown said.

Brown said he’s worked with DelMonte and Parenti has worked for him.

“When I look, there is just no comparison in my mind,” Brown said. “The problems that face Niagara Falls need an experienced, talented, seasoned individual.”

In his endorsement speech, Brown, usually unflappable in public settings, became heated when he described how DelMonte works.

“I have seen the big heart Francine DelMonte has for the people,” he said.

With Assemblyman Paul Tokasz’s retirement, Brown said Western New York needs DelMonte and her seniority “to fill the gap.”

Parenti called Brown “irrelevant.”

Parenti worked in Brown’s Niagara Falls office when the mayor was a state senator in the 60th District, but resigned after Brown fired his ally, G. Steven Pigeon.

Did Kimble really say Brown was “disrespecting” her? What is this, high school?

“This is ridiculous,” said Mayor Vince Anello. “This is a classless act.”

If anyone knows “class”, it’s Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello.

The Parenti supporters carried signs that read, “Hey Byron, you did less for Niagara Falls than Francine. That’s not too hard to beat,” and “Boot Byron back to Buffalo.” They chanted “Go back to Buffalo” when Brown arrived.

“Francine hasn’t really done that much for the community,” said Parenti supporter Yvonne Taylor. “We need better housing in our neighborhoods.”

We’re talking about a city where you can buy a pretty serviceable house for under $50,000. This Renae Kimble, though, seems quite interesting. In an unhinged, shrill sort of way:

Kimble said Brown had no business being in Niagara Falls because he is mayor of another city.

“To come into our community, which he does not represent, did not properly represent, to endorse someone we do not support,” Kimble said, “the city of Niagara Falls was used as a stepping stone for him to become mayor. How dare he.”

Maybe Ms. Kimble can explain how, exactly, Niagara Falls has thrived under her representation?

You’ll note that the picketers shown in the photo above are all Antoine Thompson supporters. Byron Brown has been staunch Thompson backer – the scuttlebutt is that Brown almost single-handedly handed Thompson the myriad union endorsements he’s received in recent days.

Brown has bent over backwards to help Thompson’s campaign. Why would Thompson and his people embarass Brown at this Falls rally, complete with outrageous Renae Kimble comments, and bit the hand that feeds them in such a way?