Dear Wayne SCOPE members:

• This Tuesday, June 28, is Republican Primary Day.  Please vote in both this primary and also the August 23 Primary.  Polls are open from 6am to 9pm for both.

  The June 28 primary will contain primary races for NY State Governor, Lt. Governor and Assembly members.

  The June 28 primary will contain races for various other positions including those for local judges.  Our ratings presented below are for Wayne County Judge.

  The Tuesday, August 23 primary will contain races for NY State Senate and NY Congressional Districts.  

  The General Election Day is Tuesday, November 8.  Polls are open from 6am to 9pm. Early voting period is October 29 to November 6, 2022.

  Your WCS Political Action Contact Team (PACT) – is responsible for communicating and interacting with our local, state, and federal elected officials.

  Emails, phone calls and visits are used to educate them as to our positions on pertinent issues such as pending legislative bills.  The committee meets with candidates and/or other officials as the need arises.  It recently met with the Republican and Conservative candidates for Wayne County Judge on June 28 since it will be necessary to replace the retiring Judge Nesbitt, effective at the end of this calendar year.  

  The role of PACT was to meet separately with each candidate and attempt to establish a rating for each on a scale of A to F.  SCOPE has a 501[c] [4] designation which is granted to not-for-profit organizations that are operated for “social welfare”.  All non-profits engage in advocacy, which involves explaining our mission, discussing issues, and fundraising for our cause.   SCOPE’s designation as a non-profit organization exempts it from taxation yet prevents it from endorsing candidates.   

  But according to the IRS, “Seeking legislation relevant to the organization’s programs is a permissible means of attaining social welfare purposes.  Thus, a section 501[c][4] social welfare organization may further its exempt purpose through lobbying as its primary activity without jeopardizing its exempt status.”

  Lobbying for legislative change is treated liberally while advocating for a particular political candidate [i.e., endorsement] is more restricted.  We are allowed to rate candidates however and provide our members with the ratings.  Below is the PACT Committee’s rating of each candidate for Wayne County Judge along with the criteria considered by the committee:
  

  Consideration of the following has contributed to our confidence in the rating of this candidate:

              Strong evidence for protecting the Constitutional /civil rights of law-abiding citizens:

• Strongly supports the Second Amendment. 
•  Strongly supports the right to due process. 
• Strongly supports the right to legally use firearms for self defense. 
• Strongly objects to elected/bureaucratic entities having the right to infringe on possession of firearms.
•  Strongly supports the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. 

•             Strong evidence of opposition to gun control efforts such as:

• The NY SAFE Act
• Extreme Risk Protection Orders (“Red Flag” laws). 
•  Need for gun owners to purchase gun-owner or liability insurance.
•  Banning of semi-automatic firearms, including handguns.
•  Micro-stamping capability of semi-automatic firearms.
•  Background checks to purchase ammunition.
•  Registration of long guns. 
•  Mandatory storage of firearms within one’s home. 

The committee understands that a candidate for a judicial office may agree with the evidence listed above but is not committed to future conduct or decision making that compromises the faithful and impartial performance of judicial duties.

Candidate Michelle Villani was rated A+.  

Candidate Art Williams was rated A.  

The slight difference in rating is explained by the committee as due to a practical knowledge of the judiciary’s role and Second Amendment rights.

Please vote for the candidate of your choice on June 28.