SPECULATOR - A friendly and egalitarian atmosphere prevailed at a Tuesday meeting in the village, where nine prospective candidates for the 23rd Congressional District seat began to make their cases to the Republican Party's county chairmen, according to officials involved with the process.
The meeting at Zeiser's Restaurant was the first of four throughout the district at which candidates will be publicly interviewed by members of the 11 counties' Republican committees and will discuss their views on issues affecting the district and beyond.
Hamilton County Republican Committee Chairman William Farber said the candidates discussed how they could foster a more business-friendly climate in the district.
"I think that was one of the unifying themes," Farber said. "I think all of the candidates who answered questions along those lines were pretty much in lockstep."
The candidates also spent time discussing health care and Second Amendment rights. Those involved with the campaign said it was important to not anoint a frontrunner so early on.
"If they would have done this over in the 20th [congressional district], we would have, in my opinion, a Republican congressperson in office," said prospective candidate and Franklin County legislator Paul Maroun, referring to the recent failed congressional bid of Assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Glenville. Democrat Scott Murphy of Glens Falls won that election, which was conducted earlier this year to fill the House seat vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Because the 23rd District is heavily Republican, the outcome of the party's primary election likely will determine who ultimately claims the seat.
The party chairmen who conducted Tuesday's interviews declined to name specific candidates they thought were particularly impressive, though Fulton County Republican Committee Chairwoman Susan McNeil said there were "about five of them that really stood out."
"They really appreciated being a part of this process," McNeil said of the candidates. "That's the part that stands out the most-the grassroots being heard."
Fundraising already has become a key theme in the race. Alexandria Bay businessman Matthew Doheny has placed $500,000 of his own money into a campaign fund, and Maroun said Wednesday he has set aside $150,000 in personal funds for the race.
Assemblywoman Deirdre Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, has said she is close to hiring Howard Decker, who helped Tedisco raise $1.7 million in his campaign for Congress.
Still, Farber said the candidates presented themselves as "political purists" who see fundraising as a "necessary evil."
"The idea of big media campaigns flies in the face of the way most of these folks see campaigns," he said.
Other GOP?candidates include Oswego obstetrician/gynecologist Ronald Uva, Lake Placid accountant Douglas Hoffman, Port Henry veterinarian Gary Cooke, Waddington native Joshua Lynch, Westport camp director Andrew Bisselle and Watertown businessman Bart Bonner.
The candidates are vying to replace U.S. Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, who was nominated by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army in June.
Zach Subar covers rural Fulton County and southern Hamilton County news. He can be reached by e-mail at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.