Independence Party chairwoman blasts Dutchess Dems

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POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Independence Party Chairwoman Susan McGuire lashed out at the Dutchess Democrats and their attorney, Michael Treybich.  At issue, according to McGuire, are the challenges to the validity of certain candidates that received the Independence nomination for the upcoming elections.

The chairwoman contends that in three towns, Wappinger, Poughkeepsie, and Pleasant Valley, Republican candidates that also had the Independence nomination were taken to court to have them stripped of the Independence endorsement.  McGuire said that in towns where Democrats were also endorsed by the Independence party, no challenges were made.

“It is very frustrating to continually spend funds raised to support our candidates, wasted to defend frivolous lawsuits brought by disgruntled office seekers, and attorneys are the only winners in this new aggressive campaign, that only subverts the true democratic process.”  McGuire said. “If the candidate had the Democratic endorsement and the Independence Party endorsement, no lawsuits were filed, but if they had the Republican nod and the Independence nod, they tried to have the candidates removed from the Independence line.”

In a recent statement regarding election law court cases, Dutchess County Republican Committee Chairman Michael McCormack took issue with the Democratic attorney Michael Treybich.  The Independence Party has made a similar attack with McGuire saying “We were lucky this year since the attorney, Michael Treybich, was inept in his ability to correctly serve the lawsuit, but attempts to subvert voter choice through the courts will continue with unscrupulous party driven members.”

McGuire had also referenced two cases that occurred last year involving Independence Party endorsed candidates for Supreme Court who were challenged unsuccessfully.  When asked about the challenges and direct criticism, Treybich said, “If the figurehead of the so-called Independence Party was concerned about incurring legal expenses, she wouldn’t have slandered me – which exposes her – personally and her organization – to liability.”  As for the challenges, Treybich said, “I don’t know about any lawsuits from last year, but if the Dutchess County organization of the Independence Party stopped breaking the law and organized a legitimate county committee, maybe they would stop incurring legal expenses.”

Treybich contends that the Dutchess County Independence Party’s organization does not provide fair and equal access to candidates seeking the party’s endorsement.  “There is no process.  Many of our candidates [Democrats] were not interviewed and were even ignored when they asked for an application from the Dutchess County organization of the Independence Party.  For the figurehead of that organization to claim that they are in any way ‘independent’ is an outright lie and I think that the Dutchess County voters are too intelligent to fall for that fake news.”




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