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Pages 14-18
Page 8
September 12, 2009
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ESSEX COUNTY — A political advertisement that was published in the Valley News last week is generating increased discord between some Essex County Republicans. The half-page advertisement provides a list of “facts” as to why Essex County Republicans chose to endorse Clinton County Assistant District Attorney Kristy Sprague over current Essex County District Attorney Julie Garcia. Garcia, who is running against Sprague in the Sept. 15 Republican primary election, said the advertisement is rife with lies and misrepThis story was first resentations. posted online at 3 “I am disgusted that the p.m., September 9 on leadership would use money donated by Republicans to www.thevalleynews.org slander an elected official,” said Garcia. “The Essex County Republican Party leadership has a broken moral compass and will do anything to maintain power and control of our county. What little credibility they had left has been destroyed by this outrageous ad.” “The absence of a proven prosecutor has given Essex County one of the lowest conviction and highest dismissal rates in our history,” the ad states. “I have provided the Board of Supervisors and the media with the DCJS statistics with regard to this blatant lie,” said Garcia. The figures she references show that, in most cases, conviction rates from 2006-2008 are actually slightly higher than they were during the term of former DA Ronald Briggs. They also follow a similar pattern to conviction rates in Clinton County. The advertisement also claimed that Garcia has prosecuted very few cases personally at trial, and that the case of People v. Steven Baker was the only one where she “made more than a cameo appearance.” “This is another blatant lie,” said Garcia, claiming she has transcripts from at least two other cases showing her active participation throughout the trial. “I have appeared on over 300 cases in Essex County Court. I have the defendant's name and the date of the appearance if you would like to have this information.” “Of course there has been very little trial time; less than two percent of our cases go to trial,” Garcia added. “Sprague knows that between two to five percent of all cases go to trial, but she continues to mislead the public.” The advertisement said Garcia’s office has the largest attorney staff ever, which Garcia also said is not true, noting that she has one less ADA funded by taxpayer dollars than Briggs had. Garcia also took issue with claims she intentionally sent a convicted sex offender to serve papers at Sprague’s home and that her office has wasted taxpayer dollars. She noted that her budget has decreased 12 percent since 2004 when Briggs was in office. Essex County Republican Committee Chair Ronald Jackson purchased the advertisement using committee funds. He said that many of the statements in the advertisement were based on information he and others obtained from county court records.
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See POLITICAL AD, page 12
County borrows to repair road in Lewis $650,000 bond approved By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — The Essex County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of borrowing $650,000 at their regular meeting Sept 8. The money will be used towards repairs to County Route 12 between Lewis and Willsboro, also known as Stowersville Road. A section of the road has been slowly disappearing as the Boquet River has been washing away a bank more than 50 feet below. County Manager Dan Palmer presented photos of the road that showed it being claimed by the receding slope. “I think poses a liability that would probably cost this county a lot more than what it is going to cost us to
This section of Stowersville Road has been awaiting repairs of a receding slope for nearly two years. Now that proper permits have been secured for the repairs, the Essex County Board of Supervisors voted to borrow $650,000 toward fixing it.
See ROAD, page 12
Ironman benefits local nonprofits By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — Thanks to the Lake Placid Ironman triathlon and the Adirondack Community Trust, a few lucky nonprofits are getting a helping hand. High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care, Families First of Essex County, and the Town of Jay were all among the dozens of recipients of grants from the North America Sports Community Fund at Adirondack Community Trust. Also known as the Ironman Community Fund, the collection of donations goes to help the many nonprofit organizations who support Ironman events, with a heavy emphasis on providing sports opportunities for children. The fund has given away more than $1 million over the past seven years to nonprofit groups in the various communities throughout the U.S. and Canada that host Ironman events. In partnership with North America Sports, Inc., ACT manages the fund as it pertains to the Lake Placid region,
See IRONMAN, page 12
JoAnne Caswell, executive director of Families First of Essex County is presented with a $750 check from Bob Janowski, who served as a dive team captain at the 2009 Lake Placid Ironman triathlon. Each captain was allowed to choose a charity that would receive a donation from the North America Sports Community Fund. Families First will use the money to help provide a week-long summer day camp for youth with emotional or behavioral challenges.
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Republicans divided over political ad