County Dem Chair Calls Out Reed Campaign for Creating Primary Day Confusion

Chautauqua County Democratic Election Commissioner and County Democratic Committee Chairman Norman Green.

MAYVILLE – The chair of the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee is blasting Congressman Tom Reed and his reelection campaign for taking advantage of state election and trying to run as a third-party candidate on the Women’s Equality Party (WEP) line.

According to a release sent out over the weekend by Norman Green, Reed is not on the ballot in Tuesday’s WEP Congressional primary, but he is requesting members of the party to pick a different candidate other than Tracy Mitrano of Penn Yan, who the party leadership has already endorsed and who will be the only name on the ballot.

Green said that over 200 registered WEP members across the New York 23^rd Congressional District received a mailing (PRINTED BELOW) on Friday paid for by and from the Tom Reed campaign, featuring a cigar smoking man the campaign claims is a party boss calling the shots for that party’s endorsement. The ad calls for voters to select any other candidate besides Mitrano – including Reed himself.

The ad comes after Reed’s campaign circulated and filed the Opportunity to Ballot (OTB) petition in April, forcing the WEP Primary that will allow the writing in of another name other than Mitrano.  Mitrano will be the only name that appears on the ballot. The WEP primary is only open to voters registered with that party.

Green said the mailing might be an absolute new low for Tom Reed’s silly political games and mocking of the process. Green said if Reed was serious and had a true goal to be the WEP candidate, the mailer for the write-in would say straight up vote for Tom Reed and not mention the other four candidates. Green said Reed is trying to create confusion and political chaos.

A Democratic Primary featuring the five candidates seeking the party’s nomination will also take place on Tuesday. The five Democratic Candidates besides Mitrano include Ian Golden and Linda Andrei from Ithaca, Max Della Pia from Owego, and Eddie  Sundquist of Jamestown.