On Saturday, Gossips received a press release from the Ryan Carty campaign announcing a debate between the two candidates for Columbia County district attorney, to take place tonight at the Ichabod Crane auditorium in Valatie. Since the debate is something that has been anticipated for several weeks, Gossips reported it.
As it turns out, although the candidates--Ryan Carty (Republican) and Christopher Liberati-Conant (Democrat)--agreed early on to have the debate, there has never been an agreement about who would host and moderate the debate. In an email to Carty yesterday, Liberati-Conant wrote:
As you know, our campaign teams have been trying for the past two weeks to iron out details for a debate between us. Despite an initial agreement on date, time, and location, the question of who should host and moderate has never been resolved.
I am surprised by your campaign's unilateral announcement of a debate tomorrow night, given that the important issue of moderator remains a point of active negotiation. . . .
The League of Women Voters, which has moderated debates in the past, initially seemed acceptable to both candidates. Unfortunately, the LWV of Mid-Hudson was unable to fit the debate into its schedule but recommended the LWV of Rensselaer County, which was willing to do it. According to Zech Cunningham, campaign manager for Liberati-Conant, the Carty campaign proposed instead Albany Law professor Michael J. Hutter, who taught Carty and who has a long history of Republican partisanship. The Liberati-Conant campaign found this proposal "unacceptably partisan." The announcement of the debate from the Carty campaign makes no mention of who will hosting or moderating the debate.
Presumably something will happen tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Ichabod Crane, but it will not be a debate between the two candidates for Columbia County district attorney. Gossips has learned that one of the candidates, Christopher Liberati-Conant, will not be there.
Update: At 6:04 this evening, while I was walking my dog, I received this email from the Carty campaign:
Although having been previously approved to hold a debate for Columbia County DA candidates at Ichabod Crane Central School, the debate scheduled for tonight has been canceled. It was brought to our attention at 5:30 p.m. that a complaint from an unidentified source resulted in the school rescinding the previously approved facilities request. We apologize for any inconvenience and will issue a more formal statement at a later time.
Gossips apologizes for not publishing this information sooner. (It's now well after 7:00 p.m.) After the dog walk, I had dinner, and I didn't bother to check my email in between.
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It's unfortunate there won't be a debate. Only one candidate has any criminal law experience. I think it would be very worthwhile to understand how Mr. Liberati-Conant believes he can be an effective advocate for crime victims and society given that he would have to learn everything on the job whereas his opponent, Mr. Carty, has nearly a decade in the DA's office.
ReplyDeleteI've been a lawyer for a long time (longer than both these follows put together I think). As I read his CV, the challenger has never prosecuted or defended a criminal case, and has spent his career litigating civil matters. Where's the on-point prosecutorial experience? The experience working with law enforcement agencies? The criminal courts? Why elect a wannabe when an experienced, career criminal prosecutor stands for the job?
Maybe that's why there won't be a debate?
Paul Czajka, the current Columbia County district attorney, submitted this comment in an email:
ReplyDeleteLike his numerous misrepresentations about, e.g., his service as a “public defender“ and his experience as a “trial attorney,” Mr. Liberati-Conant misrepresents nearly all he and his supporters claim about tonight’s debate. While his total lack of criminal and managerial experience disqualifies him from becoming the highest law enforcement official in the County, his less than honest claims disqualify him from ANY position of trust.
I invite all to search https://www.seethroughny.net/payrolls/state-government . In doing so, one will easily learn that, not only can’t he keep a job, he’s never tried any cases, much less any criminal cases. Moreover, like his false claim to have been a “trial attorney,” he’s never served as a “public defender,“ notwithstanding his unequivocal claims to the contrary.
Were I to speculate as to why he wants a “forum” as opposed to a debate, in the latter, the candidates would be permitted to confront one another about one’s alleged misstatements and misrepresentations. Mr. Liberati-Conant would obviously prefer to avoid having to defend the indefensible.
Paul Czajka