Senator Neil Breslin D-Delmar received the endorsement of the Albany County Democratic Committee for the 46th District State Senate seat at the committee’s executive committee meeting on Thursday, April 22.
Controversy preceded the nomination of Breslin when word leaked that the candidate review committee passed on recommending a candidate, and instead deferred to the executive committee.
In addition to Breslin, Luke Martland, a former prosecutor and assistant counsel to the governor, and Tim Carney, a former candidate for president of the Albany Common Council, are seeking the democratic nomination.
Shawn Morse, county legislator and chairman of the review committee, said the committee’s decision, or lack thereof, reflected Chairman Dan McCoy’s desire to have openness and honest in the process.
Some questions were asked and some people weren’t sure they got what they were looking for, said Morse. Morse would not go into specifics on what they questions were, however, he did say there were concerns with all of the candidates. `It wasn’t just the questions asked to Neil Breslin, it was the questions asked to all candidates,` he said.
`Dan McCoy, who is the new chairman, made it very clear that he wants openness and honesty,` said Morse. `Everybody gets a fair shake.`
McCoy, who would personally endorse Breslin one day before he was officially endorsed by the committee, said that review committee’s lack of recommendation should have never been discussed publicly. `It was an internal discussion,` he said.
Although McCoy did not mention specifics, he said the review committee’s decision was made public by members of the democratic committee. `Basically they used the media to advance other candidates,` he said.
McCoy noted that the review committee, which he appoints, makes a recommendation, and that he can overrule both the review committee and executive committee’s recommendation.
Like Morse, he said that this year’s process reflects an emphasis on fairness for all candidates seeking an endorsement. `It’s a balancing act to make sure everyone goes in the room and has a fair process,` he said. `If it was the old way the other candidates wouldn’t have even got an interview.`
Eventually the executive committee would endorse Breslin. `First of all he is a seven term incumbent,` said McCoy, adding that Breslin’s time in the Senate has allowed him to develop relationships with constituents and become a leader in the legislature’s upper house, a factor that is more important considering the Senate’s 2009 switch to democratic control.
`Neil has been a champion for Albany,` he said.
`I was very comfortable that I would get the nomination,` said Breslin. `I have been on of the strongest reformers in what was determined as a Senate that was dysfunctional,` he said.
Martland said he felt each candidate was treated equally when interviewing with the candidate review committee. `I thought it was a very fair process,` he said.
After the review committee’s decision not to recommend a candidate, Martland called on the executive committee to follow suit. `I was disappointed with the results, but that part is over, that was chapter one and now we are on to chapter two,` he said. He plans to continue his efforts to gain the democratic nomination from democratic voters in September.
`I expect a spirited primary, it’s a democracy,` said Breslin.
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