Nine 'apply' for post in 23rd
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," Watertown businessman Bart S. Bonner said, 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," Lake Placid accountant Douglas L. Hoffman said. "Hopefully, by doing this, we'll get a candidate the people can get behind."
"I think it's a terrific thing for the Republican Party," Alexandria Bay businessman Matthew A. Doheny said.
Following the four meet-and-greet sessions, the district's 11 county chairpersons will convene July 22 to pick a nominee in anticipation of a special election. U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, is expected to resign if he is confirmed as Army secretary this summer.
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 public.
All nine candidates then were brought back into the meeting room, and committee members were allowed to direct questions at any of them for about 15 minutes. Topics discussed included gun control, U.S. relations with China, tort reform and health care reform.
"I think the most important thing is that it's an open process," Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, said after her individual interview.
Ms. Scozzafava, the lone state-level official in the field, said she mentioned to committee members that within her Assembly district, votes garnered by her and Mr. McHugh have been similar.
"I think I'm going in there with a good base that knows me and voted for me," she said.
Ms. Scozzafava also touted her appointment earlier this year as the Assembly's first female minority leader pro tempore.
Waddington native Joshua A. Lynch, at 25 the youngest candidate, said he joked with committee members that although he has no gray hair yet, he probably will if Democratic President Barack Obama remains in the White House for eight years.
"I think that made them more comfortable," he said. "I could tell people were curious."
Mr. Lynch said his strategy was to show that he believes in core Republican values and is able to articulate them.
Other candidates at the session were 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.
The other meetings will be at 6:30 tonight at Schneibles Inn, 6226 Lakeshore Road, Verona Beach; 6 p.m. Tuesday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6338, 100 W. Main St., Gouverneur, and 6 p.m. July 16 at Plattsburgh Town Hall, 151 Banker Road.
"We've got nine candidates drawn from right across the work spectrum," James T. Ellis, the state Republican Party's regional vice chairman for nine of the 11 counties in the 23rd District, said after the Speculator meeting. "These people wouldn't get looked at in any other setting other than the one we arranged. I challenge the Democrats to do the same."
In other GOP 23rd Congressional District news:
■ Mr. Maroun has informed county chairpersons that he has set aside $150,000 from his personal funds toward a potential campaign. "I will commit more if the next step is mine," he said in a press release. "I have also contacted several money people who stand ready to support me in my quest for the 23rd Congressional nomination."
■ Mr. Doheny announced via press release that he has raised nearly $250,000 from individual donors to supplement the campaign fund he started with $500,000 of his own money. He also has set up a Web site at www.DohenyforCongress.com.
