PLATTSBURGH — Less than a day after Tuesday’s election for the 23rd Congressional District, the fallout is smoldering hot.
Angry with the way Republicans handled their candidate selection, a Franklin County legislator says he will strongly consider running for Congress or State Assembly next year.
“The supporters of Dede should be ashamed of themselves,” Paul Maroun, a Franklin County legislator from Tupper Lake, said in reference to Republican candidate Dierdre “Dede” Scozzafava.
THE CHOICE
Maroun was one of nine people Republicans were considering as a candidate when the race was set last summer.
The seat opened up after President Barack Obama named incumbent Congressman John McHugh, a Republican, as the new secretary of the Army.
Republicans chose Scozzafava, an assemblywoman from Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County, as their candidate.
Maroun finished second in the voting by the party chairs of the 11 counties in the district.
Scozzafava’s selection as the candidate drew heavy criticism from the outset, as many Republicans complained that with her support of gay marriage and abortion rights, she was far too liberal.
In the wake of that criticism, Douglas Hoffman, an accounting firm owner from Lake Placid, emerged as the Conservative Party candidate. Hoffman had sought the Republican nod but did not get any support from the county chairs.
Democrats chose Plattsburgh attorney William Owens, who won the race in a close vote over Hoffman.
Hoffman made great strides during the campaign; three days before the election, he was about even with Owens.
Hoffman’s campaign, bolstered by funding from Washington conservative-interest groups, battered Scozzafava throughout, repeatedly using the “liberal” tag.
It proved effective — Scozzafava dropped out of the race last Saturday after learning in a Siena poll that she had only about 20 percent of the support.
The next day, angry at the way the race played out, she threw her support behind Owens instead of Hoffman, further irritating party members.
‘POLITICAL PROBLEMS’
Maroun and others blame Clinton County Republican Party Chairwoman Janet Duprey, an assemblywoman from Peru, for orchestrating the selection of Scozzafava as the candidate.
“There are a lot of people upset at the way she (Duprey) handled herself,” Maroun said.
“You can’t support a liberal on everything, and then say you are not a liberal. She (Duprey) has got some political problems.”
Maroun said Wednesday that he would not rule out a run against Duprey in a primary for Assembly next year. He said he would also consider running for Congress against Owens.
“I’m a big boy, and she’s (Duprey) a big girl, and we’ll see what happens,” Maroun said.
DUPREY TO RUN
Duprey said she is not backing down from her support of Scozzafava.
“I’ve always been a supporter of equal rights and of women’s rights, and I am not going to change,” she said. “But to label me a liberal is not right.”
Duprey said that when she first ran for county legislator in 1975 she was harassed because she was a woman seeking office.
“I had to endure that back then, and now to have people say I shouldn’t have the right to have an opinion that is different ... I just find it offensive.”
Duprey said she fully plans to run for another term in 2010.
“I’ve heard a lot of Republicans say that we have a big tent and welcome different kinds under it; well, the tent got a lot smaller, it appears.
“I will still be a Republican, and I still believe in the party, and if they don’t want me anymore, then they will have to send their own message. And if it begins with Paul Maroun, so be it.”
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at:
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
Franklin County Legislator Paul Maroun and Clinton County Republican Party Chairwoman Janet Duprey (P-R File Photos)
Discussion
ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.
Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.
Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.
We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:
There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.
Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.
Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.
Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)
Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”
Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.
Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.
Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.
In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.
Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.
We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
Maroun may run for Assembly or Congress
- Breaking News
-
-
Surplus funds keep After-School Program alive
The Moriah and Willsboro sites run by Adirondack Community Action Programs is not closing after all.
-
Montreal woman dies in Westport crash
Angela Pierre, 69, was ejected from the vehicle when its driver lost control on Interstate 87 in Westport.
-
Burlington hospital makes interim chief permanent
Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today that Dr. John Brumsted will move from interim to permanent president and CEO.
-
Surplus funds keep After-School Program alive
- New Today
-
-
Recovery Center to hold open house
Smashing stereotypes and eliminating the stigma of mental-health issues has led to formation of a new place in Franklin County for clients to get wrap-around services to help them rejoin the community.
-
Recovery Center to hold open house
- Local News
-
-
Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts
The district is starting its new budget process almost $2 million in the hole. Officials are seeking public input on the problem.
-
One injured in Plattsburgh house fire
A female suffered second- and third-degree burns in a fire at her South Catherine Street home early Sunday.
-
Plattsburgh's Sweet Adelines sing music of the heart
Sweet Adelines spread message of love on Valentine's Day with yearly singing valentines.
-
Love between the lines
Dr. Nell Irvin Painter of New Russia and Plattsburgh State's Dr. J.W. Wiley share historical and current viewpoints on interracial loving, American-style. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
NCCS wins CVAC cheerleading competition
NCCS wins first place for the eighth time in nine years
-
Cheerleading photos (2/12/12)
-
Tentative contract reached with officers
The deal with New York state would cover the 2,800 members of the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association who typically work at specialized state centers such as the Sunmount Development Disabilities Services Office in Tupper Lake.
-
Lookback: Feb. 13-19
News stories from around the region from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago this week.
-
Of Interest: Feb. 13, 2012
Peru Central School Board to hold budget discussion; Dannemora to discuss highway post; Beekmantown School Board invites budget input; Willsboro School Board to discuss policies; Chazy School Board to discuss budget; SLCS Board to appoint clerk pro-tem; Keeseville Zoning Board cancels meeting; Elizabethtown-Lewis School Board to work on budget.
-
Gourds' shapes create interesting canvas
Georgette Bacon's gourd art is on display through March 10 at Foothills ARTSociety in Malone.
- February 12, 2012
-
NCCS wins CVAC cheerleading competition
NCCS wins first place for the eighth time in nine years
-
One injured in Plattsburgh house fire
A female suffered second- and third-degree burns in a fire at her South Catherine Street home early Sunday.
-
Plattsburgh's Sweet Adelines sing music of the heart
Sweet Adelines spread message of love on Valentine's Day with yearly singing valentines.
-
Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts
The district is starting its new budget process almost $2 million in the hole. Officials are seeking public input on the problem.
-
Tentative contract reached with officers
The deal with New York state would cover the 2,800 members of the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association who typically work at specialized state centers such as the Sunmount Development Disabilities Services Office in Tupper Lake.
-
Attempted-murder trial set
The case against Robert J. McCann, who is charged with trying to kill his former girlfriend at a secluded Westville site, begins Tuesday in Franklin County Court.
-
A historic battle for interracial marriage
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all remaining state bans on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia.
-
Fireworks to close weekend carnival
The final day of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is filled with activities and events. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
- Recent Article Comments
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
