Free Republic

Although Sherwood Boehlert's (R-NY 24th district) name doesn't appear on the mailing, a glossy color mailing obviously sent to damage his primary opponent David Walrath arrived in the mail yesterday, courtesy of the "Main Street Fund" in DC. Leading off with "Some politicians need to review the definition of ethics in goverment", the mailing loudly proclaims Walrath's untrustworthiness, concluding with "call David Walrath today ... and tell him that as long as he is in public office he should tell the truth - for a change!" the mailing cites the two admitted mistakes by Walrath staffers -- discussed in the...

Liberal Sherwood Boehlert, a near-loser in the 2002 G.O.P. primary, faces rematch with underfunded conservative

The race between GOP primary candidates for the 24th Congressional District is heating up with charges of lying and fact twisting. On June 17, the office of Republican challenger David Walrath sent out a news release accusing incumbent Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, R-24 of New Hartford, of falsely portraying himself as a fiscal conservative. The release stated that Walrath had gained the endorsement of the influential tax cut advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform. In an interview with the Times last week, Walrath himself also said he had gained that endorsement. However, the Washington-based group, as policy, does not endorse candidates....

GENEVA NY- He is behind by more than 2,000 votes and there are only 132 left to be counted. Walrath will still be on the ballot Nov. 5, though, on the Conservative Party line. Incumbent Rep. Sherwood Boehlert of New Hartford led Walrath on primary night, Sept. 10, by a vote of 18,726 to 17,238, and picked up another 1,313 votes this week as election officials in the 11 counties in the district opened absentee, military and affidavit ballots. Officials were required to wait one week after the primary to begin opening the ballots. All ballots in 10 of those...

<p>"The lords in the back room treated me very well," Rep. Sherwood Boehlert said in summarizing how the New York Legislature protected him in its once-a-decade exercise in incumbent gerrymandering.</p> <p>Mr. Boehlert needed all the help he got. This week, the moderate Republican survived a GOP primary challenge from an unknown conservative by a margin of fewer than 1,500 votes. It is this type of backroom favoritism that explains why a smaller percentage of incumbents are defeated in the House than were expelled from the Soviet Politburo.</p>

Walrath hanging on until final vote One day after nearly wresting the Republican nomination for the 24th Congressional District seat from 20-year incumbent Sherwood Boehlert, Dr. David Walrath of Auburn did not concede the race. "To my knowledge, we don't have final results, and I think we should wait until all the votes are counted," Walrath said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Schoharie County Treasurer William Cherry said he was not ready to concede to fellow Republican Dan Hooker, who was declared the unofficial winner of the state 127th Assembly District primary Tuesday night. In the congressional race, Walrath, who trailed by 1,348...

Political groups often engage in elaborate dances between "establishment" and "challenger" factions. Today is primary day and only one race (in the Finger Lakes Region of NY) is interesting: David Walrath and Sherwood Boehlert in the 24th Congressional District. I agree real issues are sadly lacking in most campaigns, but if we don't like the soap they are selling, it's up to us to stop buying. Other races, such as Andrew Cuomo's and H. Carl McCall's fight for the Democrat nomination for governor, are over. Tom Golisano's independent bid to unseat Gov. George Pataki is interesting only because he follows...

Tuesday's primary in the 24th Congressional District, under normal circumstances, would be of interest only to Republicans because it is, after all, their ballot line that's in contention. Sherwood Boehlert of New Hartford, who represents the 23rd Congressional District now, had his lines re-drawn and is running in the new district against Dr. David Walrath of Sennett. Both are GOP members. But there is no Democrat running in the 24th. The Right-to-Life candidate in the race, Kathleen Peters, has already thrown her support to Walrath. The Green Party candidate, Mark Dunau, is an organic farmer from Delaware County, which isn't...

Boehlert, Walrath camps talk tough By Tom Grace Cooperstown News Bureau COOPERSTOWN - As 20-year incumbent Rep. Sherwood Boehlert and Dr. David Walrath prepare to square off in Tuesday's Republican primary, supporters on each side predict victory. "I think Sherry's going to win," said Brian Carso, chairman of Otsego County's Republican Party. "He's running a vigorous campaign with lots of TV and radio ads. He's getting his message out, and now — if he can turn the voters out — he should do very well." Boehlert, 65, of New Hartford has never lost a primary or election for Congress. Two...

Cayuga County would benefit from having one of its own represent it in Congress. A member from this county could bring to Washington the concerns of a region melding Finger Lakes charm with agricultural backbone. The representative could argue for this county on matters of land-use, water quality, a flagging economy and a lingering land-claim lawsuit. Unfortunately, Dr. David Walrath isn't the person for the job. In the midst of a campaign that plays to the lowest-common denominator, Walrath asks voters in Tuesday's Republican primary to exercise gut instincts, meaning his own gut instincts, about racial matters. He runs not...

Walrath For Congress vs. Sherry Boehlert It's Time For A Change in the GOP Dr. Walrath has long embraced the true Republican beliefs of individual freedoms as stated in the Bill of Rights, fewer taxes, smaller government, a strong military, and protecting the social security promise. As a small business owner for over 25 years with a successful general surgery practice in Auburn, NY, Dr. Walrath is gravely concerned with the maze of regulations that hurt small businesses. "I don't like what I see in our area's economy or how we're handling health care." Oneida County was 12th in the...

During the last two months, the campaign committee of incumbent U.S. Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert, R-New Hartford, has raised more than twice the money of his Sept. 10 GOP primary opponent, Dr. David L. Walrath of Sennett. Boehlert and Walrath are vying in the primary for the newly created 24th Congressional District, which includes Cayuga, Seneca, Tompkins and Oneida counties. The Friends of Sherwood Boehlert Committee received $51,563.93 in contributions from July 1 to Aug. 21, according to the pre-primary financial disclosure reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Boehlert, a 20-year incumbent, had $488,226.16 in his committee treasury before...

AUBURN NY - Rep. Sherwood Boehlert has done little on the federal level to intercede in Indian land claim issues because the 10-term Republican is receiving campaign contributions from the Oneida Nation, his opponent Dr. David Walrath is charging. "He says the state is (responsible)," Walrath said Wednesday during an Auburn Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Holiday Inn. "Perhaps his vision would be clearer if he wasn't receiving money from the Oneida Nation." Boehlert spokesman Jim Phillipps said the congressman has accepted contributions from the Oneida Nation, but not since 1998 when the Oneidas amended their land-claim case to...

AUBURN - Dr. David Walrath, who is campaigning for the Republican ballot line for the 24th Congressional District against 10-term Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford, was endorsed by David B. Vickers Friday. Vickers lost in his bid two years ago for the Republican line against Boehlert in the 23rd District. The districts were redrawn this year by the state legislature, as is done every 10 years with the new census figures. A Spanish teacher in Hamilton, Vickers made the race against Boehlert a close one, winning 44 percent of the vote. Boehlert won 15,269 to 11,382 over Vickers. "Although Boehlert...

ONEONTA - A conservative Republican businessman from New Hartford said Monday that he plans to challenge Rep. Sherwood Boehlert in November for the 23rd congressional seat. Republican Boehlert, 65, is likely to seek an 11th term in office, according to a spokesman in his Washington office. Rodger Potocki, 58, president of his own development consulting firm, is scheduled to formally announce his intentions at 4 p.m. today at the Holiday Inn in Oneonta. He plans to hold press conferences today in Oneida, Rome and Little Falls, he said. Potocki declined to outline his stances on specific issues in advance of ...

AUBURN NY- The Cayuga County Republican Committee has endorsed Dr. David Walrath, R-Sennett, over incumbent Congressman Sherwood Boehlert. The committee heard each candidate speak for about 10 minutes before voting here Sunday evening. Redistricting recently placed 20 of Cayuga County's 23 towns in the 24th Congressional District, represented by 10-term U.S. Rep. Boehlert, R-New Hartford. On Sunday, Boehlert and Walrath each spoke to more than 120 members of the county's GOP committee at the Ukrainian National Club, 113 Cottage St. After the committee caucused, Walrath, a surgeon at Auburn Memorial Hospital, came away with the endorsement. "Both men made excellent...