During the 2003 election, Scalera swiped the independent party name, logo and ballot line of his mayoral opponent using an election law technicality. Even longtime Scalera loyalists were scandalized.
The Register Star’s normally 100% supportive editorial board wrote:
[Scalera’s] actions remind us of a notable American politician who so feared his opponents that he resorted to tricks: Richard M. Nixon.
The editor of the now-defunct Independent said that “Scalera’s move this week... fails to pass the smell test for spite,” calling it “just plain stupid” and “a cross between a prank and bullying.”
Scalera himself chortled to a Metroland reporter that his move “was meant to be devious” and that he fully intended to “hurt feelings.”
[NOTE: Of course, the candidate he stole the line from (and whose feelings he intended to hurt) was Linda Mussmann of TSL—who since has been exhibiting symptoms of some political strain of Stockholm Syndrome, empathizing with her former tormenters. Some of Mussmann’s past opinions of Rick Scalera will follow in Volume 5 of this series.]
