the position of Town of Chatham Town Supervisor. At that time, Defendant Jason L. Shaw was appointed to Mr. Hallock's vacated Town Justice position.
Plaintiff often refers to former Chatham Town Justice Richard Hallock as her "father." *176 Although Plaintiff and Mr. Hallock are not related by blood, the two have a "father-daughter" relationship. Plaintiff moved into the Hallock household when she became an emancipated minor at age 16.
The parties sharply dispute the motivation for Plaintiffs termination. Plaintiff contends that she was terminated because of her support for her "father" during the November 2003 election, when Mr. Hallock ran on the Conservative Party ticket after failing to obtain the Republican nomination. Defendants contend that Plaintiff's termination had nothing to do with Plaintiff's political affiliations or job performance. Rather, Defendantscontend that Chatham's court needed a part-time court clerk who was willing and able to work during normal business hours. The Court will discuss both allegations separately.
Plaintiff's theory  Termination because of political support for Mr. Hallock
In 2003, political infighting developed in Chatham within the Republican Party over the position of town supervisor. Richard Hallock was the incumbent, having served as the Republican Town Supervisor of Chatham from 1999 to 2003. During the Summer of 2003, a bitter campaign for the Republican nomination for Town Supervisor was waged between Mr. Hallock and Brian Weiss, the challenger. Mr. Weiss had the support of the Town Republican Chairmain, Thomas Meyn.
Defendants Jason Shaw and Doris Appel were both aware of the infighting. Plaintiff contends that on July 21, 2003, while attending