Barbara bolts

I was not exactly surprised when Barbara Blass called to say she'd officially left the Republican party. She's been estranged for some time. Supporting Rose Sanders in the 2005 primary was the end of the line for her with many of the committee people. Some of them were gunning for her. One of them told me a few months back that he couldn't wait to "do to Barbara" what they did to Rose. Would Barbara have gotten her committee's support for a third term in 2009? Who knows? But she says she feels "free" now that she's officially split with her party. She'll be able to concentrate on her work on the board, she says. And she's looking forward to it.

Rose made the switch too. They went to the Board of Elections together on Friday. Rose sounds like she's seriously contemplating another run for office. Will there be a Blass-Sanders ticket on the Independence line in 2009? I think that's a real possibility.

Read my news story about Barbara and Rose joining the Independence Party on the riverheadnewsreview.com Web site. Click here.