Candidate blasts GOP endorsement process
Finley says party kept him off primary ballot in bid to challenge Rep. Stefanik
Congressional hopeful Russell Finley, of St. Lawrence County, says Republican leaders kept him off the June 26 primary ballot by threatening his petition workers with GOP committee removal.
Finley, 53, a beef farmer and world record-holding boblsedder, also says 21st District county chairs shut him out of the endorsement process for challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro.
But party officials say Finley either never requested an audience, or did so too late, while also denying allegations of campaign worker influence.
“If people think the Democratic Party is corrupt, they don’t hold a candle to the Republican Party,” Finley said Monday. “The rules are, there are no rules.”
The North Country candidate says he had more than the 1,250 petition signatures required to get on the primary ballot, but came up 75 shy because some workers were afraid of party retribution if they submitted them. The deadline for fling was Thursday.
In addition, Washington County’s GOP committee is the only one -out of 12 in the district -- that granted him an audience, he said.
Washington County GOP Chairman Don Boucher said, “He was given an equal amount of time. We were very fair, as we are with all candidates.”
However, he said his committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of Stefanik, who is seeking re-election to a third term.
Her district, stretching from Canada to northern Saratoga County, is highly coveted by both parties and this year’s race could be closely contested as Republicans try to maintain control of the House in mid-term congressional elections. Seven Democrats are seeking their party’s endorsement to run against Stefanik.
Other party leaders denied Finley’s allegations.
Saratoga County Republican Committee Chairman Carl Zeil-
man said, “Russell Finley never approached me for an interview or to talk about his interest in serving as the next congressional representative for the 21str District.”
Finley said Zeilman wouldn’t shake his hand at a Wilton Republican Committee meeting and described him as “totally disrespectful” and “a bully.”
Zeilman said they were never introduced.
Warren County Republican Chairman Mike Grosso said Finely was “late to the dance.”
He said Finley contacted him, seeking an audience, in January — after Warren County endorsed Stefanik on Dec. 29. Grosso said his committee was the first to make an endorsement, and did so early because there are so many Democrats seeking their party’s nomination. The committee felt it was important to get behind a candidate sooner rather than later, he said.
Finley took part in a heavily attended, well-publicized candidates forum last Aug. 31 at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury.
But Grosso said, “I never got anything from him indicating he was even a candidate. It’s not our responsibility to reach out to a candidate. Had he reached out we would have let him speak. We’ve never refused a candidate.”
Grosso said Finley should have organized a campaign and begun contacting county chairs by November.
Stefanik has been endorsed by all 12 county GOP committees and obtained state Conservative Party backing on April 13.
Wilton Republican Committee invited Finley to make a presentation on Feb. 6, where he obtained about 35 percent backing in a preliminary vote, Chairman David Buchyn said.
“We’re very independent,” Buchyn said. “I think we’re the only town out of about 200 in the district that invited Mr. Finley to speak. On the issues, he’s much more conservative than Elise Stefanik. We like that. He was personable, well-spoken, well-versed on the issues, but he’s got to win that race.”
In a second vote, the town committee voted unanimously for Stefanik as a show of unity, believing her to be the more electable candidate.
“We felt that Russ was not as organized as he should have been and would have struggled putting together a viable campaign, and that Elise would be the better candidate in the general election,” Buchyn said. “We wish Elise was farther to the right, but she is very good and we will support her.”
Franklin County GOP Chairman Ray Scollin, the former North Country region party vice-chair, said he contacted Finley last July 19 after learning about his intentions to run for office. Scollin said he told Finley the party would likely back Stefanik, but wished him well with his campaign.
Scollin said he never heard from Finley again until Jan. 11, when he got a text, followed by an email the next day “asking to talk” to Scollin.
The county committee had already met Jan. 3 to discuss the process of making an endorsement, which they did on Jan. 24 when voting for Stefanik, Scollin said. He said Finley never asked for an endorsement.
But Finley said an endorsement should come from the committee, not Scollin, adding that he was denied a chance to address the full committee.
Scollin denied accusations that party leaders threatened GOP committee members with expulsion for helping Finley’s campaign.
“If he had signatures wouldn’t he have made copies?” Scollin said. “Who are the people who helped him? He can’t produce them because he didn’t get enough signatures.”
Finley said he believes Stefanik is using her position to eventually obtain a job with the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C.
“She does not care about this district, she does not care about the people,” he said.
Stefanik campaign spokesman Lenny Alcivar said, “Congresswoman Stefanik is running and has always run to serve and represent the hardworking families of New York’s 21st District in Congress. This accusation is baseless and factually inaccurate.”