The Press Republican: Placid Businessman Seeks Conservative Nod For Congress

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Doug Hoffman, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nod to run for the 23rd Congressional District seat, is aiming to stay in the race as the Conservative Party candidate.

"I have not left the Republican Party; the Republican Party has left me and has turned its back on the voters of the 23rd District and on the values that made our party strong," Hoffman said Wednesday at a news conference in Plattsburgh.

Hoffman, 59, lives in Lake Placid and is the managing partner of Dragon, Benware, Crowley & Co. P.C., an accounting firm with locations in five areas of the district.

He was one of nine candidates seeking the Republican endorsement last month in the race to fill the seat that will be vacated by Congressman John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor).

McHugh was tabbed by President Barack Obama to be the next secretary of the Army. His Senate confirmation is expected today.

Gov. David Paterson will call for a special election to fill McHugh's seat, which is expected to be held in September or November.

UPSET WITH CHOICE
Republicans chose Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava of Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County as their candidate.

But that choice has upset some in the party, who view Scozzafava, who is pro-choice and supports gay marriage, as too liberal.

Hoffman said Scozzafava's selection was a major reason he sought the Conservative Party nomination.

"The voters of this district deserve more than just a choice between a liberal Nancy Pelosi-Democrat or a liberal, career, big-spending Albany politician," Hoffman said.

"The New York State Legislature is the most dysfunctional legislative body in the United States, and sending an Albany politician to Washington would be like throwing gasoline on a fire."

Hoffman said he believes the base of the Republican Party shares his conservative approach and will support him.

"I am in this to win. I am not a sacrificial lamb," Hoffman said.

"From the backlash I am hearing, I believe totally that people will look for my name on the ballot and will pull the lever for me."

'SOUND BITES'
Scozzafava said Hoffman had every opportunity to deliver his message to the Republican Party bosses who chose her.

"He also said he would support whoever the candidate was, but I guess he didn't mean what he said," Scozzafava said.

She said she has worked tirelessly for reform in Albany and has made some progress despite being outnumbered by the Democratic majority in the Assembly.

Hoffman said that if he is elected, his top priority will be to create jobs in the district, which is not something that Scozzafava and the state have done well.

"That is first and foremost because you can't go anywhere unless people are working," he said.

Scozzafava said she has and will continue to support policies that help create jobs.

"I've heard these criticisms before, and they play well for sounds bites, but once you get beyond that, I'm not sure what he's done," Scozzafava said.

PARTY CHOICES
The Conservative Party leaders will meet near Syracuse on Friday to discuss who they want for their candidate.

James Kelly, a retired New York City detective who lives in Wilmington, was seeking the endorsement but said he now supports Hoffman.

"It's a done deal -- Doug Hoffman will be the Conservative Party candidate," Kelly said.

Jon Alvarez, an Army reservist serving in Iraq, was also seeking the Conservative nod.

Democrats are meeting Monday in Blue Mountain Lake to decide who their candidate will be from an 11-person field.

The 23rd District is the largest geographically east of the Mississippi River, covering 11 counties from Lake Ontario in the west to Lake Champlain in the east.

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