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Former Conservative Party candidate, Franklin County Republican Committee Chair critical over new GOP candidates for 21st District

Posted 2/19/14

A former Conservative Party candidate for Congress and the Franklin County Republican Committee Chair are critical over new entries for the GOP nomination in the 21st Congressional District. …

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Former Conservative Party candidate, Franklin County Republican Committee Chair critical over new GOP candidates for 21st District

Posted

A former Conservative Party candidate for Congress and the Franklin County Republican Committee Chair are critical over new entries for the GOP nomination in the 21st Congressional District.

Meanwhile the anointed GOP candidate herself says she welcomes the chance for “robust discussion of the issues” as a Republican primary contest takes shape.

Elise Stefanik of Willsboro, who has the endorsement of the GOP leadership in the 12 North Country counties that make up the 21st District, released a statement this morning after the announcement by Watertown-area businessman Matt Doheny that he is up for a third try at the seat being vacated by Democrat Bill Owens of Plattsburgh, who beat Doheny in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

In the statement, Stefanik said, “I welcome the new candidates to this race.”

Lake Placid accountant and former Conservative Party congressional candidate Doug Hoffman is calling out the two new contenders who have come forward only after the incumbent took himself out of the race.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Hoffman was critical of Doheny for jumping into the congressional race, and for Tupper Lake Mayor Paul Maroun for announcing he’s considering a run as a Republican, only after Stefanik spent months campaigning for the spot on the ticket and won the endorsement of the party leadership.

“Where were all these brave men when the incumbent was running? It took a brave women [sic] to drive the incumbent out of the race,” Hoffman said, alluding to incumbent Owens’ decision not to seek re-election.

Hoffman ran unsuccessfully as the Conservative Party candidate in the special election in 2009 against Democrat Owens and Gouverneur Republican Dede Scozzafava in a contest to fill the seat vacated by Republican Rep. John McHugh when he accepted an appointment as Secretary of the Army. After the GOP first endorsed her and then largely turned away from her, accusing her of liberal leanings, and swung toward Hoffman as the Tea Party movement was ascendant, Scozzafava withdrew at the last minute and threw her support behind the Democrat.

Hoffman ran again in 2010 against Democrat Owens and Republican Doheny.

This year, since Owens announced he would not seek re-election, the names of many Republican and Democratic contenders have been mentioned. Elise Stefanik of Willsboro, recently endorsed by North Country Republican leaders, was the first to announce a run, before Owens’ announcement.

Doheny revealed on Wednesday he would try a third time for the seat. Tupper Lake Mayor Paul Maroun has said in recent days that he is thinking about it.

Hoffman said he has decided that Stefanik “is principled and has worked extremely hard to earn the Republican endorsement, not only from the County Chairs but from hundreds of committee men and woman [sic] throughout the district.

“Unlike 2009, the Republicans have endorsed a true Republican and we should all be getting behind her and supporting her. She knows Upstate and Northern New York and will be a great Congresswoman for the 21st District," Hoffman wrote.

And the chair of the Franklin County Republican Party says he is sticking with chosen candidate Stefanik in the face of a likely primary challenge from Doheny, who waited until Wednesday to announce his plans.

Ray Scollin said after a meeting Tuesday night that Stefanik, the district party leaders' choice to fill the seat Democrat Bill Owens will be leaving, has proved her worth by traveling the district, meeting with party leaders and potential voters, and that candidates like her "are few and far between."

"She has put in both the miles and the hours to prove to everyone interested that she deserves our endorsement, and we proudly confirmed that" at the county committee's monthly meeting, Scolling said.

"When incumbent Bill Owens was still in the race, Stefanik was doing the hard work of earning the support of grassroots Republicans, town and county committees, local business leaders and elected officials throughout the district. This is the hard work we expect from our future representatives in Washington."

Stefanik moved back to the North Country last year from the Washington, D.C. area, where she held jobs with the George W. Bush administration and with Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. She is listed as part of the “sales team” for her family’s plywood business in Albany County.

Scolling represents one county's GOP committee among the other counties in the district, Clinton, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Washington, and Warren Counties, and portions of Herkimer and Saratoga Counties.

Doheny, a lawyer and former investment banker, failed to unseat Democrat Owens when he ran under the Republican banner in 2010 and 2012.

And Paul Maroun, Tupper Lake mayor, is saying he's thinking a about a run on the GOP line too, according to the Plattsburgh Press-Republican.

"Political opportunists are unfortunately a dime a dozen, while principled, energetic representatives are few and far between," Scollin said. "I believe we could do with a little more earnest enthusiasm, and a little less ambulance chasing."

For her part, Stefanik indicates she is not perturbed by the challenges.

“I welcome the new candidates to this race and look forward to a robust discussion on the issues,” Stefanik said in today’s statement.

“I first entered this race when it was toughest -- against a third-term incumbent -- and while the opponents may have changed, my campaign remains focused on bringing fresh energy, new ideas and a new generation of leadership to the North Country,” she said.

“As the only candidate in this race with small business experience in upstate New York, I believe my background provides the experience and perspective needed to best advocate on behalf of the challenges of our struggling Main Street economy in the 21st District,” she said.

“I am honored by the support and momentum my campaign has earned from Republicans, Conservatives, and Independents,” the candidate said.

“Our campaign will continue to make the case that we have the best opportunity to win back this seat this Fall and provide new representation and new ideas to Congress on behalf of Upstate New York.”