We’re still six months away from the November elections, but already, the heat is turning up on what is expected to be one of the most contested races: The Broome County executive seat.
It was a press conference to announce his new staff.
“I want to take this opportunity to use my 25 years experience,” Pat Brennan said last Friday.
At the end, Brennan confirmed he would indeed be running in November to finish Barbara Fiala’s term as county executive, a move county republicans say was illegal.
“You cannot do any political announcing like he did from a public building like the Broome County office building. That’s taboo,” said Dave Hamlin, acting chair of the Broome County republicans.
Hamlin is now calling for an ethics investigation. Brennan maintains if he did anything wrong, it was unintentional.
“I anticipated that question and the last sentence I said I would be a candidate this fall,” Brennan responded. “I think it’s silly to thinking that that’s a political announcement.”
The dispute is just the latest in what’s gearing up to be a tough race for the county executive seat.
A recently created a YouTube video takes a hit at Brennan’s competitor, republican Debbie Preston.
“There are people that don’t like me, I know that. So did any of it bother me? Absolutely not,” said Preston.
Preston herself has come under fire. She not only serves as Conklin’s Town Supervisor, she works in the county’s board of election office and is now fighting accusations that pose a conflict of interest.
“This is all legal and besides that, we’ve above and beyond what the law even says,” Preston said.
“Under election law 3200, the only person barred from running for office while working at the board of elections are the commissioners,” explained Eugene Faughnan, the republican commissioner for the county’s board of elections. “What’s important that we’ve restructured her job somewhat to put more emphasis on some of the things that don’t involve the handling of ballots.”
Both candidates say the recent headlines only detract from the issue.
Said Preston, “I really didn’t want to see a dirty campaign, I just don’t.”
“I think it’s silly and I think it’s the beginning of the silly season,” Brennan added.
With six months until November, they can be assured there will be plenty more mudslinging.
