If Republican insider Bill Smith becomes president of MCC, he'll have to do the bidding of Monroe County Republicans, or lose all the value he has to the office.
Smith's avowed qualifications for the presidency are that his long years in local governmental and business circles have given him experiences - read insider contacts and influence - of benefit to the presidency. In Monroe County, the biggest circle, and the source of MCC's funding, is in the Republican-led county government. Party chair Steven Minarik, the biggest dog in that circle, recently taught Mendon's Republican Committee what happens when people don't perform up to his expectations. He forced the entire committee to resign.
By crossing Minarik on the smallest issue, Smith could lose all influence in Republican circles.
On the other hand, those who've moved in lock step to Minarik's music have received plum jobs after leaving the Legislature. Smith appears to be headed to the juiciest plum of his long career of toeing the line. Why would he change his tune now?
MIKE COSTANZA, ROCHESTER