Court: Party violated its rules
McLaughlin loses latest bid for Independence line in executive race
ALBANY, N.Y. » The Rensselaer County Independence Party has prevailed once again over its state overseer in the legal battle over the party’s endorsement for county executive.
The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, in a decision released Thursday, upheld a decision by acting state Supreme Court Judge Roger McDonough earlier this month that the county party’s endorsement of Deputy County Executive Christopher Meyer legally superceded the state party’s decision to endorse Meyer’s Republican opponent, Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin.
The appellate division also declined McLaughlin’s request that he at least be allowed to challenge Meyer in a Sept. 12 primary for the party’s line on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
The judges’ decision leaves McLaughlin with no so- called minor party lines on the ballot, though he will oppose Meyer in a primary for the Republican nomination to replace Meyer’s boss, Kathleen Jimino, a fellow Republican who decided not to run for a fifth four-year term. Both Democratic and GOP officials say such additional lines as that for the Independence Party can be valuable during a contentious general election, which Democrats expect with their candidate for county executive, Andrea Smyth.
In a prepared statement, McLaughlin accused
Meyer of “attempting to use the courts to try to prevent voters from having a say.”
“My opponent’s attorney has actually argued in court repeatedly against allowing voters in various parties from being allowed to participate in a primary. How arrogant,” McLaughlin said. “Thankfully, my opponent has not been successful, and there will be primaries for the Republican, Conservative and Reform parties.”
In his own prepared statement, Meyer looked at the decision as a victory and said he is happy to have the support from the party.
“This is a great victory for the local Independence committee members over the big city bosses who think they can act in any way they want disregard-
ing their own party rules. Personally, I am honored to have the support of the County’s Independence Party and proud to be their nominee for the general election held this November,” stated Meyer. “They are the ones who live here and have a vesting interest in the quality of life of our communities. I truly believe that Rensselaer County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I amproud of my record as Deputy County Executive working to ensure that the residents can count on us to deliver the services they rely upon in the lowest cost possible while we invest in our future whether it is the emergency communications projects I spearheaded or the energy savings programs I oversee. Support for my candidacy grows everyday and I am truly humbled and honored to be able to count on so many supporters,”
The court fight arose from a division within the leadership of the county party after its chairman, Thomas S. Connolly Jr., who is also vice- chairman of the state party, came out in support of McLaughlin shortly after the veteran state lawmaker announced his candidacy to replace Jimino. The county organization, however, subsequently voted to instead endorse Meyer, leading to a July 15 meeting at which state party officials voted to change their own rules and take pack the county leaders the authority to choose who the party endorses in the race.
After approving that change, those same officials then voted to endorse McLaughlin, whom the party had previously supported in Assembly campaigns.
However, McDonough found, and the appellate court affirmed, that the
party violated its own rules in scheduling those meetings, giving only half the 10 days of notice required in its own bylaws.
“The State Committee failed to comply with the provisions of the [state] Election Law and its own party rules in conducting the July 15, 2017, meeting,” the ruling reads, “and … the actions taken – which resulted in the resolution and certificate of authorization at issue – were invalid.”
The race between Meyer and McLaughlin has been a contentious one, with allegations that political retribution led to the firing of Richard Crist, an assistant to the Rensselaer County Legislature’s Republican majority and a McLaughlin supporter, and Meyer supporters producing radio ads portraying McLaughlin as being interested in the job only to advance himself politically and satisfy his ego.