Albany, NY, Apr 04, 2011 — A member of the Republican leadership has had a change of heart about the Governor's plan for growing jobs. Emma Jacobs has more for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Dec 23, 2010 — State lawmakers face a daunting slate of challenges in next year's session, including a $10 billion deficit, soaring taxes, and a seemingly intractable environment of discord and partisan bickering.
It's into this dysfunctional world that the North Country's newest State Senator is preparing to go. Republican Patty Ritchie is leaving St. Lawrence County government today for the first time since she started work at the local DMV office almost 25 years ago.
Ritchie's been county clerk for 11 years. Her successes in that position were the foundation of a winning campaign to unseat Democratic Senator Darrel Aubertine.
David Sommerstein stopped by Ritchie's office to talk politics, issues, and what she's leaving behind. He has this profile.  Go to full article

Dec 10, 2010 — When New York's legislature convenes next session, Republicans will once again hold a razor-thin majority in the state Senate. That could give the North Country more influence at the capitol. All three North Country senators, Joe Griffo, Patty Ritchie, and Betty Little, are Republicans.

The stronger North Country voice comes as important decisions are being made, decisions that will have deep impact in the region: funding for healthcare and schools and the future of state facilities like prions and Sunmount.
Martha Foley spoke with Brian Mann about the coming shift in power.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 03, 2010 — Conservative Republican Doug Hoffman says he will continue his fight to win the 23rd district House seat, even if he loses the GOP primary later this month.

Hoffman will appear on the Conservative Party ballot line and says he's promised to continue campaigning against Republican Matt Doheny and Democrat Bill Owens.

As Brian Mann reports, the decision has infuriated many Republican leaders.

And it raises questions about the Republican Party's ability to take back a seat that had been a GOP stronghold since before the Civil War.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 02, 2010 — Matt Doheny and Doug Hoffman slugged it out last night in Plattsburgh, when the two Republicans met for their first debate.

They're fighting for the chance to face Democratic Representative Bill Owens in the November election.

With the primary just two weeks away, both men agreed on most of the issues.

But they spent ninety minutes questioning each other's integrity and arguing over who has the best shot to reclaim a House seat that was once a Republican stronghold.

As Brian Mann reports, more than 200 people turned out to hear what the two men had to say.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Aug 13, 2010 — Republican Matt Doheny is tapping into North Country GOP tradition in his campaign for Congress. Longtime Congressman David O'Brien Martin endorsed Doheny for the 23rd district Republican primary yesterday in Watertown. And he took some shots at Doheny's competition. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, May 20, 2010 — The North Country's strongest tea party organization, known as UNYTEA, has endorsed Conservative-Republican Doug Hoffman in the 23rd district congressional race. The announcement came yesterday at press conferences in Plattsburgh and Watertown.

A growing number of Republican leaders, meanwhile, are backing Watertown businessman Matt Doheny. Some conservatives worry that this growing rift between the Republican Party and tea party activists could benefit Democratic congressman Bill Owens in the fall.  Go to full article

Alexandria Bay, NY, May 06, 2010 — Alexandria Bay businessman Matt Doheny came into the race for the 23rd Congressional district with a liability. His main competition for the Republican primary, Douglas Hoffman, had massive name recognition after last year's special election. But Doheny has out-fundraised Hoffman. And he's secured more support from GOP county chairs. He sat down recently with David Sommerstein. In a moment, we'll hear his stance on immigration reform. He believes illegal immigrant farmworkers should have to go home before they can apply for a guest worker program. First, Doheny talks about his opposition to the federal stimulus package. In his stump speech, Doheny distinguishes between "good" and "bad" government spending. He supports federal spending at Fort Drum, and on roads and highways and bridges. And he's for spending on education.  Go to full article

Apr 13, 2010 — A political Web site, WNYmedia, has released politically incorrect e-mails forwarded by Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino. The Buffalo businessman, who announced his run for the Republican nomination last week, told reporters yesterday the e-mails were private, and said their release was politically motivated. He told reporters he's not a racist, but he's not perfect, either. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Kinderhook, NY, Apr 13, 2010 — Democrat Scott Murphy is stockpiling funds to defend his 20th district seat this November. According to the Daily Politics news blog, the freshman Congressman had his best-ever fundraising quarter to start this year, raising $475,000. The blog quotes chief of staff Todd Schulte as saying Murphy has more than a million dollars on hand now.

Murphy's challenge will come from retired Army Colonel Chris Gibson. Gibson is a Republican from Kinderhook in Columbia County. He left the Army in February after doing Haiti earthquake relief with the 82nd Airbourne Division. Over his 24-year military career, Gibson fought in the first Gulf War. He also did three tours of duty in Iraq since 2003. And he participated in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Gibson told David Sommerstein he believes the country needs new leadership, something his military background provides. He says the country is going in the wrong direction.  Go to full article