When you look throughout history, you see many elected officials who have changed their political party. These people had different often had different rationals from their choice, sometimes because of blind ambition and sometimes because the party they formally represented no longer shared their beliefs.

Some elected officials that come to mind are Mayor Bloomberg of New York City, former Mayor Lindsy of New York City in the 1960s, Senator Robach of Rochester, former Assemblyman Pat Manning of Fishkill, County Comptroller Mike Connors of Albany, and Berne Town Supervisor Kevin Crosier.

Where these people right to change their party identification, and eventually run for office in a different party then they were originally elected? That is a difficult question to answer, one that would largely be defined by how you judge the official's actions after he changed party. Did he or she remain true to his or her principles, or did the change just reflect a desire to seek higher office and obtain increased power?

Those judgements are not easy to make. If you are a member of the party that your beloved official has just quit then you clearly would not be happy with him. But is he better off switching parties? Will he or she be a more effective leader in the new party, representing the wishes of the district that he now is running in as a new leader?

Unlike some people, I don't believe an elected official must be absolutely loyal to his party for all of his or her lives. If somebody decides to change parties, then so be it. They should be clear and honest about their switch, and be willing to embrace the values and people that the new party represents.