SCHUYLER County Chapter

PRESS RELEASE:

Schuyler County S.C.O.P.E. “meet the candidates night” held October 14.  Candidates graded on Second Amendment.

Date/Time:    October 14, 2021 at 7:00 pm

Location:       Montour Falls Moose Lodge, 2096 State Rt 14, Montour Falls, NY

The Schuyler County Chapter of Shooters Committee on Political Education (S.C.O.P.E.) invited candidates for county and state office to attend its October 14 (Thursday) quarterly meeting as a “Meet the Candidates Night.” 

Candidates were given the opportunity to make a few brief remarks and answer questions from the membership.  The public was invited to attend as well.     Over fifty members of S.C.O.P.E. and the general public were in the audience.

Among the topics addressed were each candidate’s belief in the right to keep and bear arms, possible “Constitutional County” legislation for Schuyler County, pistol permit procedures, support for law enforcement and related issues.  Each candidate in attendance affirmed his or her strong support for the Second Amendment.

The following candidates attended and addressed the audience:

·      Kevin Rumsey, Republican Candidate for Sheriff

·      Breck Spaulding, Independent Candidate for Sheriff

·      Theresa Philbin, Republican Candidate for County Clerk

·      David Reed, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District I)

·      Laurence Jaynes, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District II)

·      James Howell, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District IV)

Following the meeting, the S.C.O.P.E. executive committee determined that each candidate who attended should receive an “A” rating from the group, based on their presentations and/or responses to a written S.C.O.P.E questionnaire.  An “A” grade means that S.C.O.P.E. believes these candidates will work to preserve, protect and defend the right to keep and bear arms, as enshrined in our Constitution.

The following candidates were invited but did not appear or send a representative in their place:

·      Joseph Fazzary, Republican Candidate for District Attorney

·      Howard Cabezas, Democrat Candidate for County Legislature (District I)

·      Michael Lausell, Democrat Candidate for County Legislature (District III)

·      Molly Fitzgerald, Democrat Candidate for Supreme Court Justice

·      Elizabeth Aherne, Republican Candidate for Supreme Court Justice

·      Patrick O’Sullivan, Republican Candidate for Supreme Court Justice

Because these candidates did not appear or submit responses to the written S.C.O.P.E. questionnaire, these candidates received a “No Grade-Incomplete” rating from the group. S.C.O.P.E. cannot say that these candidates will  or will not work to preserve, protect and defend the right to keep and bear arms.

S.C.O.P.E is a non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to preserving Second Amendment Civil Rights through public education and promoting voter participation.  Because of its non-partisan nature, S.C.O.P.E. does not endorse candidates, but does grade candidates, based on their perceived support for the right of the people to keep and bear arms as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

Final Grades:

·      Kevin Rumsey, Republican Candidate for Sheriff: Grade A

·      Breck Spaulding, Independent Candidate for Sheriff Grade A

·      Theresa Philbin, Republican Candidate for County Clerk: Grade A

·      David Reed, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District I): Grade A

·      Laurence Jaynes, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District II) :Grade A

·      James Howell, Republican Candidate for County Legislature (District IV): Grade A

·      Joseph Fazzary, Republican Candidate for District Attorney: No Grade/Incomplete

·      Howard Cabezas, Democrat Candidate for County Legislature (District I): No                                   Grade/Incomplete

·      Michael Lausell, Democrat Candidate for County Legislature (District III): No                                  Grade/Incomplete

·      Molly Fitzgerald, Democrat Candidate for Supreme Court Justice: No                                              Grade/Incomplete

·      Elizabeth Aherne, Republican Candidate for Supreme Court Justice: No                                         Grade/Incomplete

·      Patrick O’Sullivan, Republican Candidate for Supreme Court Justice: No                                       Grade/Incomplete

Republican County Clerk candidate Theresa Philbin addresses crowd and discusses role of the County Clerk in processing NYS Pistol Permits