NORTH TONAWANDA: GOP probe sought over Walmart flap

Local News

November 1, 2009

Mayor wants state, county officials to look into allegations

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Sun Nov 01, 2009, 10:58 PM EST

North Tonawanda mayor Larry Soos has requested state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the Niagara County District Attorney to investigate alleged action on the part of the Republican Party to delay construction of the Walmart superstore in the city.

Soos, the Democratic incumbent running for re-election on Tuesday, wants the attorneys to determine if the GOP violated any criminal or civil statutes.

The allegation stems from an accusation made by Democratic common council candidate Dennis Barberio. At the Oct. 20 North Tonawanda common council meeting, Barberio said council member Brett Sommer indicated to him that he had been asked by party leaders to delay plans for the superstore at the Melody Fair site.

Sommer, who is not running for re-election, indicated some sort of meeting took place in 2008.

GOP leaders deny any conversation ever took place, and party chairman Henry Wojtaszek suggested in an Oct. 22 News story that Sommer is “bitter” that he wasn’t endorsed by the local committee to run as alderman.

Sommer disputes that statement, and added in the same Oct. 22 article that he fully supports North Tonawanda’s Republican candidates.

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