GOP group doesn’t endorse District 1 winners

YATES COUNTY—The Yates County Republican Party committee  (YCRC) decided to not endorse the candidates of Legislative District 1 in a 23-20 vote during their meeting Sept. 26. After endorsing all other county candidates who won the right to appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, the committee did not agree to endorse the four winning candidates from District 1, which includes Gary Montgomery, Elden Morrison, Margaret Dunn and Doug Paddock.
In the primary election, two longtime District 1 representatives in Taylor Fitch and Robert Multer lost by a wide margin, and will not appear as a Republican candidate in the general election. While Fitch and Multer are members of the YCRC, due to committee by-laws, neither were allowed to participate in the vote.
“The YCRC failed to endorse the slate of candidates in District 1 by a very close margin,” committee Chairperson Sandy King said. “I find it to be disturbing that the candidates the people of District 1 elected in the primary to be their choice to run on the Republican line was ignored by the committee. Two of the four candidates on that slate unseated longtime legislators in the primary election. I do not believe a small group of people, the YCRC, should be allowed to overrule the decision made by the people. I am disappointed in the vote made by the committee in their decision not to endorse the candidates of District 1.”
King said she was in contact with the District 1 candidates and informed them to continue forward in the general election. King said she did not know if the lack of endorsement would have an effect upon the candidates in the general election.
“The voters had a choice of six candidates for four positions and the voters expressed their opinions,” District 1 candidate Gary Montgomery said. Montgomery said the Republican committee votes consisted of some 43 people, while more than 2,270 voters made their decision in the election.
“My detractors apparently think they have, by divine right, the duty and obligation to select who is to represent District 1 on the Yates County Legislature,” District 1 candidate Elden Morrison said. “I’m not sure the voters of the district are ready to cede that authority.” For Morrison’s complete letter to the editor, see page 5.