Clinton County Republicans push back against Stefanik's attacks on GOP chair

Yahoo

2 days ago

PLATTSBURGH — An anonymous mass text message went out to area Republicans' cell phones Tuesday evening making several accusations against Clinton County GOP Chairwoman Jerika Manning.
Manning, who is one of three county Republican chairs who will decide the party's candidate in the upcoming 115th assembly district special election, was accused in the message of trying to 'secretly' and 'illegally' rig the election and put herself up as the Republican candidate.
The anonymous sender also accused Manning of putting up a 'placeholder candidate' when she got 'caught red handed.' The message concluded by saying that is why Manning must resign as chair 'immediately' because 'she continues to lie to GOP committee members.'
The anonymous message was sent out just hours after NY-21 Congresswoman Elise Stefanik publicly called for Manning to resign as GOP chair Tuesday.
'NOT BE INTIMIDATED'
Manning denied the accusations made against her in the text message.
'An anonymous and false text message is being sent to voters in Clinton County, filled with blatant lies about me and my record,' Manning said in a statement Wednesday.
'Let me be crystal clear: I have never sought to run for the 115th Assembly seat. In fact, members of the Assembly approached me about running, and I declined. My focus has always been — and remains — on serving as your County Clerk, a position that holds deep personal meaning for me following the passing of my dear friend and predecessor.'
Manning is currently running for Clinton County Clerk and will be on the ballot for the Republican Party this November. Brandi Lloyd is running on the Democratic side. Both hope to be the successor to long-time Republican Clerk John Zurlo, who died one year into his four-year term in December 2024.
'These lies are being spread by those who want to undermine the lawful, constitutional process for filling a special election vacancy and replace it with insider deals. They know they cannot win on truth, so they are resorting to anonymous attacks and lies,' Manning continued. 'I will not be intimidated, and I will not abandon my responsibility to our voters. We must demand integrity in both our elections and our campaigns — and that starts with rejecting dirty tricks and holding accountable those who break the law to influence your vote.'
SURPRISE ENDORSEMENT
As previously reported by the Press-Republican, Stefanik endorsed village of Malone Mayor and Franklin County Legislator Andrea Dumas to be the Republican candidate last week. State Sen. Dan Stec, R-C, Queensbury, did so as well. When the county committee leadership did not follow suit, Stefanik and Stec called on Manning to resign.
'Elise Stefanik is RIGHT,' Stec wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. 'The current chair's persistent rejection of outstanding candidate Andrea Dumas is the last straw. The Clinton County Republican Committee needs new leadership!'
The endorsements came as a surprise to some in the Clinton County Republican Committee, especially because state election law dictates that a candidate for this special election cannot be officially nominated by Democratic or Republican chairs until after current Assemblyman Billy Jones's resignation is official Aug. 31.
Clinton County Republican Committee Vice-Chair Jeff Luck said the endorsements were done 'without warning' and without seeing if any other candidates were being considered by the committee first.
'Andrea Dumas is a very strong candidate, but they removed from the county committee members any other potential choices that were lined up in the process,' Luck said in a lengthy statement Wednesday. 'Worse, they began an immediate bullying campaign for us to concede the process and remove the freedom of Clinton County Republicans to express their voices. We declined.'
Luck said the committee is following the law by not endorsing a candidate right now.
'The Clinton County Republican Committee intends to fully complete the state requirement to offer a candidate for the 115th Assembly District special election without the interference of both Congresswoman Stefanik and State Senator Dan Stec,' he continued. 'This will happen in as timely a manner as possible, and an announcement will be made at that time.'
The special election is expected, but not confirmed, to coincide with the General Election on Nov. 4.
DOUBLING DOWN
In a statement Thursday morning, Stefanik continued her attack on Manning and echoed accusations similar to those in the anonymous text message.
'Today we ensured that every candidate including Andrea Dumas will now be fairly considered by all the Clinton County Town Chairs instead of the Clinton County GOP Chair and Vice Chair attempting to unilaterally disqualify candidates, float placeholders, float herself, and divide the committee,' Stefanik said. 'Previously the Clinton County GOP Chair had wrongly said to many that she would never consider certain candidates like Andrea Dumas. We stopped that in its tracks by exposing this.
'We successfully ensured that Clinton County would fairly consider Andrea and let town chairs decide rather than the County Chair who should focus on her flailing clerk's race. Other names that have expressed interest in pursuing this nomination are: Ted Blazer, Steve Chilton, and Nate Locke and all should be invited. Thank you Clinton County members for stopping your Chair from blocking Andrea Dumas, a proven vote getter and great Mayor and Legislator!'