Hoffman & Scozzafava: A brief encounter

Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, saw a familiar, yet unexpected, face walking the hallways of the Legislative Office Building today: Doug Hoffman, her Conservative Party opponent in 23rd Congressional District special election.

Today's encounter was much more cordial than the incessant mud-slinging that occurred between the two camps last fall.

"It was fine," said Ms. Scozzafava, a state assemblywoman. "We shook hands and exchanged hellos."

The entire encounter lasted about a minute, she said.

The Rev. Jason J. McGuire, executive director for New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, accompanied Mr. Hoffman. The group, according to their Web site, "exists to influence legislation and legislators for the Lord Jesus Christ."

Ms. Scozzafava said Mr. Hoffman did not visit her office, but made stops in the offices of Assemblywomen Teresa R. Sayward, R-Willsboro, and Janet L. Duprey, R-Peru.

Mrs. Duprey said Mr. Hoffman wanted to talk politics, but said she doesn't like to have that type of conversation in her office. Instead, the 10-minute conversation focused on Adirondack Park issues and the proposed development at Big Tupper Ski Area. The Rev. McGuire sat in, but did not speak about any of his priority issues, the assemblywoman said.

Mrs. Duprey said she offered to meet with the congressional candidate at a different time outside the building, and the two exchanged phone numbers.

The assemblywoman said she treated Mr. Hoffman the same as she did Watertown businessman Matthew A. Doheny, also an interested Republican congressional candidate, when he asked to meet with her two weeks ago.

Robert H. Ryan, Mr. Hoffman's spokesman, would not confirm any meetings, whether premediated or happenstance. He only said: