Candidate blasts election mailing

POTSDAM — The business agent for International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 687 is accusing St. Lawrence County Legislator Laura J. Perry, D-Parishville, of violating federal law by using a bulk mail permit at the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce to aid her husband in an upcoming union election.

But Ms. Perry claims she did nothing wrong in asking the chamber to help defray the cost of mailing approximately 1,500 pieces of campaign literature for her husband, Stephen M. Perry, and a slate of other Teamsters running for open union seats Oct. 9, including that of Local 687 President Frederick J. Carter, who is retiring in January.

Mr. Perry, who is seeking the post of union trustee, declined comment when contacted Thursday. He is one of eight Teamsters calling themselves "Members for Change" who are challenging Business Agent Brian K. Hammond and his supporters.

Mr. Hammond, who is hoping to become the next Local 687 president, said he may file an official grievance with the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators charging Ms. Perry with violating the panel's Code of Ethics, as well as the Federal Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.

Also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act, the statute was enacted in 1959 and prohibits candidates for union office from using either union or employer funds when seeking election to a union post, according to Mr. Hammond.

He said Ms. Perry and Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brenda L. Thornton violated the law when they mailed Mr. Perry's campaign literature to union members using the chamber office's bulk mailing stamp to save money. Although the chamber did not spend any of its own money outright in the mailing, the bulk stamp rate is about half the price of a regular first-class stamp, according to Mr. Hammond.

He said that action is illegal.

"My charges are that they are using employer funds to do their mailing," Mr. Hammond said. "That's a direct violation of the Landrum-Griffin Act."

Ms. Perry denied the accusation on Thursday, saying she has a right to support her husband's union activities.

"This is nothing more than campaign mudslinging at its worst. Anybody can make irresponsible accusations," Ms. Perry said. "The fact is, Mr. Hammond is in the race of his career. It's the first time he's ever faced any real opposition and his actions indicate he is feeling a bit threatened. This is simply a cheesy attempt to take focus off the race, and hurt those who oppose him."

Ms. Perry admits using the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce bulk mailing system to send out her husband's campaign literature, but said she did so at the recommendation of the Potsdam post office. She said the Chamber of Commerce director was aware that union literature was being mailed.

"I was completely upfront and descriptive of who this effort was for and who was involved, which did not involve my role as a county legislator in any way," she said.

Ms. Thornton, who wrote a letter to Mr. Hammond Sept. 23 apologizing for her actions, said she knew the literature she was mailing for Ms. Perry was union-related, but she did not know it was material for an upcoming election.

"At the time that we granted permission for its use, we did not realize that it contained local union election materials. Had we known that it was for an election, we never would have granted permission," Ms. Thornton said. "This was an oversight on our part; we in no way intended to support a particular candidate or platform."

Potsdam Chamber of Commerce President Pamela J. Maurer said she stands behind Ms. Thornton despite the error.