Stefanik calls on Clinton County GOP chair to resign

Yahoo

2 days ago

PLATTSBURGH — North Country Congresswoman and House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has publicly called on Clinton County Republican Chair Jerika Manning to resign.
Manning, one of three county Republican chairs who will decide the party's candidate in the upcoming 115th assembly district special election, has been accused by Stefanik of 'threatening to tank the 115th Assembly District for Republicans.'
'Clinton County voters are deeply concerned about the incompetence and selfishness of the inexperienced Clinton County GOP Chair Jerika Manning,' Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said in a statement to the media Tuesday. 'It is clear she has lost the confidence of elected Republican officials, committee members, and most importantly, voters. I am not going to let her torpedo Republican candidates in the North Country.'
The 115th district assembly seat is being vacated by long-time Assemblyman Billy Jones, the lone North Country Democratic state lawmaker who recently announced his decision to resign from office at the end of August.
ENDORSEMENT
Stefanik, along with State Sen. Dan Stec, R,C-Schuylerville, came out in support of Republican Village of Malone Mayor and Franklin County Legislator Andrea Dumas for the assembly seat last week.
Dumas has not come forward with an official announcement she is running but wrote on her Facebook she is honored to receive their endorsements.
'Their support — along with the encouragement from friends and neighbors across Franklin, Clinton, and Essex Counties — means so much to me,' Dumas wrote. 'In the coming days, I will be working with local committee chairs and members to carefully explore this opportunity. As I do, I remain fully committed to my current responsibilities as Mayor of the Village of Malone and as a Franklin County Legislator.
'For the past 10 years, we have worked hard together for the Village of Malone and Franklin County, and I want to ensure that progress continues with the same dedication and support I've always brought to the table. I will continue working to see every initiative we've started through to success,' Dumas continued. 'If I am given the opportunity to serve in the State Assembly, I will bring that same commitment to championing these projects and delivering results for our communities. Thank you for your continued support as I thoughtfully navigate this process.'
NOMINATION PROCESS
As previously reported by the Press-Republican, there is no petition process for this election, according to David Souliere, Clinton County Republican commissioner.
Instead, it's a County Committee Chair nomination between the three chairs — Franklin, Clinton and Essex.
Each chair has a weighted vote based on how many Republicans voted in the last gubernatorial election, which was in 2022. Clinton County has over 50% of the weight. This nomination meeting cannot officially occur until Jones' vacancy, which is Aug. 31. The process is the same on the Democratic side.
'At this point in the process candidates would be seeking the nomination of their respective parties,' Souliere said Thursday evening via text message when contacted by the Press-Republican. 'Assuming resignation is effective end of August; the meetings would be held in early September as they have to be within 10 days after the vacancy and then filed with the NYS Board of Elections.
'Once the Governor officially proclaims the election date, we will be able to provide more info.'
The special election is expected, but not confirmed, to coincide with the Nov. 4 General Election.
CALL FOR RESIGNATION
Despite calls for Dumas to be the candidate, it appears there could be some hesitation from within the party to do so and may be the reason for Stefanik calling out Manning to resign.
'The New York GOP, the Conservative Party of New York State, Senator Dan Stec, Will Barclay, local Republican officials, and voters are behind Andrea Dumas for Assembly. This incompetent Clinton County GOP Chair must go,' Stefanik said. 'We need a steady hand and a proven Republican leader like Dave Souliere to step in and represent the Clinton County Republicans.'
Souliere is the current chair of the city of Plattsburgh Republican Committee and Republican Commissioner at the Clinton County Board of Elections. He did not respond to a request for comment on this story by press time.
'Elise Stefanik is RIGHT,' Stec wrote on his Facebook page. 'The current chair's persistent rejection of outstanding candidate Andrea Dumas is the last straw. The Clinton County Republican Committee needs new leadership!'
'We need to work as one team to flip this district from Democrat to Republican and then defeat Kathy Hochul next year. It's too important for the people of Clinton, Franklin, and Essex counties,' Stefanik continued. 'Over the past decade, we have worked tirelessly to swing Clinton County Republican, and we will not let a selfishly divisive Chair destroy those efforts and drag down Republican candidates, which hurts the voters foremost. Jerika Manning needs to immediately resign as Chair and focus on her County Clerk's race, where she is currently hemorrhaging Republican support.'
COUNTY CLERK RACE
In addition to being county chair, Manning is seeking to be elected as Clinton County clerk in November. If Manning is elected, Republicans would continue to maintain control of the clerk position that John Zurlo held from 1995 until his passing at 86 years old at the end of last year.
However, Manning is being challenged by Democrat Brandi Lloyd for county clerk. Lloyd ran a strong campaign for clerk against Zurlo in 2023 but eventually lost by less than 1,000 votes.
Stefanik continued her attack on Manning and said she would not win the election this November.
'All Republican candidates, including our Assembly candidate, will win in Clinton County except for the Clerk's race, unfortunately. We need a strong leader and a unifier with exceptional character like John Zurlo. Manning doesn't even come close to meeting this standard — and voters know it,' she wrote. 'Thank you to Clinton County Republican elected officials, committee members, and most importantly, voters and constituents who have contacted me on this important matter.'
MANNING RESPONSE
Manning responded via text message late Tuesday afternoon to Stefanik's news release, saying she will not be intimidated into 'abdicating my responsibilities.'
'The false and politically motivated statements circulating about my leadership and the 115th Assembly District special election are nothing more than an attempt at election interference,' Manning wrote to the Press-Republican. 'Our New York State Constitution and election law are clear: in a special election, it is the role and responsibility of the duly elected party chairs to select the nominees for their party. This process exists to ensure fairness, consistency, and the integrity of the ballot — not to allow personal agendas or political vendettas to dictate the outcome.
'As Clinton County Republican Chair, my duty is to uphold the law, protect the voice of our local Republican members, and ensure that every voter has a fair process they can trust. I will not be intimidated into abdicating my responsibilities because certain individuals would rather bypass the rules for their own political gain.
'Republicans win when we follow the law, respect the process, and unite around candidates chose in accordance with our Constitution — not when we allow outside interference to fracture our party. The voters of Clinton County, Franklin County, and Essex County deserve nothing less than a fair, lawful, and principled process.'