MAYVILLE - It is disturbing to read this week's press release from the Tom Reed for Congress campaign complaining about his own campaign manager Nick Weinstein being "harassed", according to Chautauqua County Democratic Committee Chair Norman P. Green.
"Those of us involved in politics in the southern tier know Weinstein as the harasser-in-chief. Here in Chautauqua County Weinstein has arrogantly attempted to enter our own Democratic county dinner in Dunkirk and a Democratic straw poll we in the party sponsored earlier this year in nearby Randolph. With filming equipment, Weinstein and the Reed campaign did not identify themselves and attempted to sneak into private buildings where opposing candidates would be speaking in a lead up to the Democratic primary. Weinstein was asked to leave both times and verbally resisted, but eventually did leave. His sole purpose as the Reed man on the scene was to harass Democratic candidates on behalf of the incumbent Congressman," analyzed Green.
"One of Weinstein's most recent activities included circulating and filing an Opportunity to Ballot petition relating to the Women's Equality Party endorsement of Tracy Mitrano. The Reed campaign's silliness of filing the petition was followed up by a mailing to all Women's Equality Party voters in the NY23 asking those voters to write-in Tom Reed's name or any one of the Democratic candidates also not listed on the ballot. The silly filing cost taxpayers across the district thousands of dollars in county government election expenses and in the end Tracy Mitrano received all of the votes. The purpose of Weinstein and Reed? Harass the voters.
"It has to be a historic first for any candidate to send out a mailer that says vote for me or anyone else," said Green.
"Weinstein also spend much of the Democratic Primary running around placing signs next to the Democratic Primary candidate signs that said the candidates were 'Extreme Ithaca Liberals' and the signs included tracking devices in case any candidate or their supporters wanted their campaigns distanced from such Tom Reed foolishness.
"This past Saturday," continued Green, "Weinstein stood dead center in front of Mitrano silently filming her. It wasn't the filming that was the problem. Tracy Mitrano has nothing to hide. In fact her aim is to expose Reed and his take from the mouth of working families policies. But Nick Weinstein took that position dead center in front of Mitrano for one reason and one reason alone; to be the Reed harasser in chief. Abbey Daugherty, communication director for Reed was also at the rally respectfully filming from a side view. It should be no surprise that no one called her out.
"Tom Reed has one goal and that is to divide and inflame the voters. He does not want to engage on the issues. He instead prefers to call his opponents names and to send his harasser in chief to any and every event. I would urge Tom Reed to stop these antics and start talking the issues" concluded Green.
