Posted on 08/30/2002 10:24:16 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
Boehlert loses ballot line
COOPERSTOWN - Congressman Sherwood Boehlert's petition to run for re-election as candidate of the Independence Party has been ruled inadequate by a state Supreme Court judge, according to a spokesman from a rival campaign.
Boehlert must win the Sept. 10 Republican primary to be on the ballot for the general election.
Boehlert, 65, of New Hartford filed a valid Republican petition, but faces a primary challenge from conservative Republican Dr. David Walrath of Auburn. In addition, Walrath has the Conservative Party's nomination and will be on the ballot in November as that party's candidate.
Also running are Right to Life party candidate Kathleen Peters of Waterloo and Green Party candidate Mark Dunau of Hancock.
Alexander Shields of Richfield Springs, who is working for Walrath, said Thursday that Boehlert filed an Independence Party petition containing 519 signatures with the state Board of Elections, but about 60 signatures were successfully challenged.
"You need 503 valid signatures and he had only 459," Shields said.
By losing this ballot line, Boehlert must win the Republican primary to stay in the race, Shields said, noting that two years ago, Boehlert won a much closer than expected race against conservative Republican David Vickers.
Lucinda Jarvis, Otsego County deputy elections commissioner, said the board of elections has received notice that Boehlert's name is not to appear as a candidate of the Independence Party during the primary election. A candidate ineligible for a party's nomination during a primary would not be eligible during an election, she said.
James Philipps, a spokesman for Boehlert, said the campaign "has moved on from that issue." Philipps said Boehlert has assembled a large team of workers who will call Republican voters on primary election day to get the vote out.
"He runs an aggressive campaign every two years, no matter whom he's running against — and he's doing that again this year," Philipps said. Boehlert is campaigning on the airwaves, and with his record of serving the public, looks forward to winning in September and November, said Philipps.
"He's been endorsed by President Bush and Gov. Pataki," said Philipps, who also listed several groups, including medical and environmental groups, that have announced their support of the incumbent.
Shields said he believes Philipps, a member of Boehlert's permanent staff, has acted improperly by "talking politics when he's supposed to be working for the taxpayers."
Philipps said that between Aug. 3 and Sept. 10, his salary is "being paid half and half" by the campaign to re-elect Boehlert and the congressman's public office.
"That's the normal, accepted practice of House staffers," he said. He said he spends part of his week on official business and part working for Boehlert's re-election, he said.
Shields said Philipps shouldn't field political questions for Boehlert and continue to issue official statements from the office.
Philipps said that even if he weren't employed by the re-election campaign, he could answer political questions if asked by a reporter.
"What I couldn't do is work the phones and call reporters," he said. "But it's all irrelevant because I am working for the campaign."
Shields said the Walrath camp hopes Boehlert's narrower-than-expected victory two years ago against Vickers foreshadows a Walrath victory this time.
Philipps said Boehlert is working hard to draw more voters to the polls this time and ensure a victory.
According to the state Board of Elections, the tally two years ago in the Republican primary for this seat was Vickers, 11,382; Boehlert, 15,269.
I do believe there is an e-mail address where he can be reached. I saw part of the Right Angle Show, however, I didn't write the "e" down. :O(
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