By CRAIG FREILICH

The issue of candidates for public office disclosing their tax returns for public scrutiny has arisen in the North Country’s 21st Congressional District

The Elise for Congress campaign is asking why their Democratic challenger has not released his tax returns when the first-term congresswoman has.

But the Mike Derrick for Congress campaign says his returns are being reviewed before they are released.

And Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello of Glens Falls says his returns will be released soon, probably next week.

The campaign spokesman for 21st District Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, said that in 2015, the congresswoman’s marginal tax rate was 28 percent and effective tax rate was 23 percent.

"Congresswoman Stefanik believes in transparency for our public officials," said Elise for Congress Communications Director Lenny Alcivar. "That's why she released her tax returns when she ran for Congress, and has made her current tax returns publicly available online. Its now time for our opponents to do the same."

"We are currently reviewing his tax returns," said Drew Prestridge of Derrick for Congress, speaking for the Democrat from Peru.

Prestridge said they plan to release the candidate’s tax returns, “just not before we review them.”

“For the record, we never said we wouldn't release them or we're opposed to it,” Prestridge said.

Funiciello, meanwhile, said he is “planning to release my tax return over the next week. I had not filed last year's taxes as I had some issues that needed to be resolved first. My CPA is working to finalize them by early next week.”