Amedore denies using unfair campaign practices
Not too long after Amedore lost his lawsuit against Santabarbara, the contention continues as Santabarbara alleges Amedore has violated principles of the Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region.
Angelo Santabarbara filed a complaint of unfair campaign practices against George Amedore Friday, Oct. 8, alleging Amedore violated fair campaign principles 2 and `4.`
`I filed this complaint, because I felt that some of their principles where violated,` said Santabarbara. `I would like the fair campaign practices to take a look at it and make a determination.`
Amedore doesn’t believe he violated any fair campaign principles and said Santabarbara has been sending out more negative campaign literature.
`I don’t send out any type of literature that has anything negative, or that is not true, regarding my opponent,` said Amedore. `He can’t say that, because he is putting out literature and information that is more negative towards me.`
The first allegation made by Santabarbara is Amedore violated the second principle by calling Santabarbara a `lawbreaker` in a newspaper report prior and after the Supreme Court’s decision finding Santabarbara not guilty of any fraudulent practices.
`When the candidate himself signs it and witnesses it or even his closet family members do the same without any objection to, well, we know this is against the rules or against the law, lets try to sneak it in there,` said Amedore. `All I did was bring to light the challenge from the signatures and get an explanation form the candidate.`
Santabarbara said the Court determined there wasn’t any fraud committed in his independent party line nomination for Change Albany Now.
`The courts determined there was no fraud committed and my opponent continues to say there was,` said Santabarbara. `I filed this complaint because people are sick and tired of politics as usual.`
The second allegation by Santabarbara is Amedore distributed a press release where he was quoted to have a `dissenting opinion of a court of appeals justice,` where he presented a separate case to use as precedent for making a decision in fraud allegations against Santabarbara.
Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region principle 2 states, `The candidate will not engage in, permit, or condone unfair or misleading attacks upon the character of an opponent.` Also, principle 4 states, `The candidate will not use, permit the use of, or condone the use of any campaign material or advertisement that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies a fact or the facts regarding either the candidate or an opponent.`
`I just felt that it was probably a desperate move for a candidate that is behind and I don’t know what they’re trying to get at here, whether it is just a headline,` said Amedore. `I have not spent one penny on any campaign material or ads to get the message out to the people that is negative on my opponents.`
Santabarbara said he filed the complaint to reach a determination, so voters would know if any principles had been violated.
`I filed the complaint as to what I think was violated, but it is up to the board to decide that,` said Santabarbara. `That is why they have a board and that is why they have these hearings for candidates.`
Amedore believes a fair determination of any principles being broken will be reach after the upcoming hearing on the issue. Amedore said he respects the fair campaign practices and was proud to sign the fair campaign pledge.
`I think that the Fair Campaign Board will handle, evaluate and assess what the complaints are and they will do what they see right,` said Amedore. `I’m confident that they will do the right thing, they have done it in the past.`
The hearing date for Santabarbara’s complaints against Amedore is on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 15 Ridge Place, Latham, at 7 p.m.
`I’m not crying about it, it is all part of the game,` said Amedore. `You got to have a thick skin in this business.“
