9 GOP congressional candidates discuss open candidacy process

The nine Republican hopefuls for the 23rd Congressional District seat on Tuesday evening trekked to the southern end of the Adirondack Park for the first of four regional meetings with party faithful.

And the common theme among the candidates at Speculator, the lone village in Hamilton County, was appreciation for the open candidacy process.

“Here, at least, every candidate has the chance to make his case,” said Watertown businessman Bart S. Bonner following his individual interview with state and local GOP committee members at Zeiser’s Hotel and Restaurant, Route 30. “I had their absolute attention every single second.”

“I think the whole process is fantastic,” said Lake Placid accountant Douglas L. Hoffman. “Hopefully, by doing this, we’ll get a candidate the people can get behind.”

Following the four meet-and-greet sessions, the district’s 11 county chairmen will convene July 22 to pick a nominee in anticipation of a special election. U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, the current seat holder, is expected to resign if he is confirmed as Army secretary this summer.

Other candidates were state Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, Gouverneur; Alexandria Bay businessman Matthew A. Doheny; Waddington native Joshua A. Lynch; Oswego obstetrician/gynecologist Ronald V. Uva; Franklin County Legislator Paul A. Maroun, Tupper Lake; Essex County veterinarian Gary S. Cooke; and Andrew Bisselle, Westport, a director of Camp Dudley YMCA Inc.

Most of Tuesday’s three-hour session consisted of the candidates individually addressing about 25 Republican committee members, most of them from Hamilton and Fulton counties. Nancy K. Martin, St. Lawrence County’s Republican chairwoman, also attended.

Candidates were allowed to introduce themselves and make an opening statement, then were asked to respond to a couple of random questions submitted by committee members at the start of the meeting. Individual interviews were closed to the other candidates and the general public.

All nine candidates were then brought back into the meeting room, and committee members posed follow-up questions to them for about 15 minutes. Topics discussed included gun control, U.S. relations with China, tort reform and health care reform.