A Monday, Aug. 4, decision by the state Board of Elections has effectively narrowed the contest in New York’s 20th Congressional District to a face-off between Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican challenger Alexander Sandy Treadwell, who will also appear on the Conservative and Independence Party lines.
Treadwell’s challenges to signatures on the GOP petitions of John Wallace and Michael Rocque were upheld by the board. Rocque’s Conservative Party petition was also thrown out.
Treadwell challenged the validity of many signatures on the petitions several weeks ago. Both of the removed candidates blamed the invalidation of their signatures on technicalities that, they say, were exploited by the Treadwell campaign.
To secure a spot in the Republican or Democratic primary, 1,250 valid signatures are required, and 412 are needed for the Conservative Party slot.
Those who sign a candidate’s petition must be registered with the party in question. In addition, they cannot sign the petitions of multiple candidates and must write their address exactly as it appears in the voter registration list.
`The people on the board, they were doing their job and they were fair,` said Wallace. `I do believe, however, that the issue of using minor technicalities to disenfranchise registered voters must be seriously reviewed.`
He cited an instance in which entire pages of his signatures were discarded after the person collecting signatures had changed the date on the form from July 7 to July 8 after realizing he recorded the incorrect date.
Wallace also conceded that there were a number of legitimate errors in his petition that his campaign did not catch. Rocque also said his campaign could have done better.
`I take full responsibility from my perspective for not having enough signatures to make myself bulletproof,` said the former Army officer.
However, he also spoke out against the petition system, saying: `The process allows the lawyers to have a greater say over who is on the ballot than the votersIt supports incumbents and parties.`
He objected to instances where the signatures of Hudson Falls residents were discarded because they technically reside in the Town of Kingsbury. `Of course, the person who lives there never writes Kingsbury,` he remarked.
Peter Constantakes, a Treadwell campaign spokesman, has said that the objection process is legitimate and necessary to ensure candidates are meeting the criteria set forth in election law.
Though there is a three day window after the decision in which to file an appeal; neither candidate is seriously considering fighting that battle.
`Mr. Treadwell has already shown a very strong propensity for using lawyers and money,` said Rocque. `[With an appeal] You could be embroiled until the second or third week in August and come into a situation where you have a campaign on ice.`
Rocque said he is looking forward to spending time with his family, and pledged to remain active in the Republican Party.
Wallace cited similar concerns in his decision to give up the race. He also said running a grassroots campaign can be time consuming and that it’s time to go back to work at his real estate business, though he also pledged to remain active in politics.
`As the old song goes, ‘You have to know when to hold ’em and you have to know when to fold ’em,’` said Wallace.
The board of elections also invalidated enough signatures to bring Saratoga County Supervisor Joanne Yepsen 32 signatures short of being on the Democratic primary for the 43rd State Senate seat, previously occupied by Joseph Bruno.“
