The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)

Tenney kicks off re-election

Republican Congresswo­man thanks supporters for standing with her ‘when all the chips were down’

- By Charles Pritchard cpritchard@oneidadisp­atch.com

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. » Almost 100 supporters packed into Cavallo’s Restaurant in New Hartford to join Congresswo­man Claudia Tenney’s kick-off campaign and bid for re-election.

Food, drinks and cake were offered and supporters mingled before Tenney arrived. Among them was World War II veteran John Pryor, 92, of New Hartford.

Pyror said he stood behind Tenney because of her stance on taxes and said as long as she kept talking about lower- ing them, he would stand behind her.

Tenney, R-22, took the podium to a chorus of applause and chanting by her constituen­ts and proceeded to lay out her platform, her goals and who she’s up against.

Tenney said she was frustrated because of out-of-touch politician­s who impose taxes that are the highest in the coun-

try, killing off small businesses and family farms while abusing their power.

“I went to Albany to challenge the status-quo, fight for tax payers and small business owners and fight the corruption head- on,” Tenney said. “I was the first to demand the resignatio­n of corrupt speaker Sheldon Silver when it was revealed that he was using taxpayerfu­nded payoffs to cover up sexual harassment­s by Albany politician­s.”

Tenney admitted she had challenges ahead of her, including funding. She was certain her campaign will be outspent once again.

“You, the people in this room, are the people who made this possible,” Tenney said. “You’re the ones who came out and supported me when all the chips were down and things didn’t look like they were going anywhere. I wanted to give a thank you to a hardcore group of people who have been maligned in the past that are now wearing their moniker with pride; the deplorable­s.”

Tenney warned that her opponent, Anthony Brindisi, claimed he was a moderate and supported President Donald Trump, but accused him of being just another politician in for his own gain and that he would rubber stamp the agendas of politician­s such as Minority House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“Brindsi said he supported Trump,” Tenney said. “He can’t win this district without Trump supporters.”

Tenney also emphasized the importance of the upcoming midterm elections and said that while progress has been made, all of it will be lost if Republican­s lose the House.

“Out-of-touch progressiv­es like Pelosi and Brindisi don’t understand us and what makes the heart of New York and America great,” Tenney said. “Hard working families who get up every day, who pay their taxes, who care about their neighbors and give generously to the community. We don’t like to be deceived by corrupt politician­s, we don’t like to be called idiots if we think our tax dollars are being misused. They fight with smear tactics, radical protests and resist movements to bully anyone who disagrees with them. But we will win.”

 ?? CHARLES PRITCHARD — ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH ?? Congresswo­man Claudia Tenney, R-22, at her kick-off campaign in New Hartford on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
CHARLES PRITCHARD — ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Congresswo­man Claudia Tenney, R-22, at her kick-off campaign in New Hartford on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
 ?? CHARLES PRITCHARD - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH ?? Congresswo­man Claudia Tenney, John Pryor, middle, and Bill Rankin at Tenney’s Kick-Off Campaign on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
CHARLES PRITCHARD - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Congresswo­man Claudia Tenney, John Pryor, middle, and Bill Rankin at Tenney’s Kick-Off Campaign on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

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