I’d like to respond to Andi Klausner’s recent letter [“Beware of Grudges,” Letters, April 24], in which she assumed the role of grifter Gordon Herr’s “henchwoman.” Andi, you’re not the henchwoman — you’re the patsy.
Andi’s letter got me thinking: Why would a well-respected activist, mother, wife, Housing Authority commissioner and vice chair of the Democratic Committee lie to Southampton voters about the existence of a cross-party endorsement deal admitted to and corroborated by both the Republicans and Conservatives? The answer? She wouldn’t — she isn’t a liar.
Then, the epiphany came: Like the rest of the committee, Andi didn’t know about the deal.
At a hastily called emergency meeting of the Democratic Committee over Zoom, the grifter announced that the party “had to” cross-endorse Charlie McArdle for highway superintendent. Andi’s husband got up and paced around while we all heard his unmuted mic pick up his audible frustration over this news. We all shared his genuine surprise and legitimate disgust over the announcement.
Why did Ron Klausner, also a local Democratic delegate, have such a reaction? Because Ron didn’t know about the bad deal orchestrated by the grifter, behind closed doors, without the committee’s knowledge. And if Ron didn’t know, its because his wife, Andi, didn’t know either.
Notably, Tom Neely and his wife quit the committee in disgust at that same meeting. Why would the back-up Town Council candidate quit the committee? Because he wasn’t in on the deal either.
Ultimately, the grifter got the rubber stamp from the committee that he needed. It just took some maneuvering, politicking and emphatically denying what was obvious to so many.
Andi, you’re not the henchwoman, you’re the patsy. You have given the grifter something that has always eluded him: credibility.
Your reputation is beyond reproach. You’re a good woman, but you’ve been duped by a snake oil salesman. That happens.
I know the grifter is your friend. I know it’s hard to see him for who he is and acknowledge that you’ve made a mistake. Take a step back and believe what’s right in front of your lying eyes. Your good character is being used to empower and enable a charlatan. Local democracy is suffering for it.
Jose Reyes
Southampton
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