Capital Region Scene

Republican town official backs Democrat Owens for Congress

In his quest to hold on to his heavily Republican Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, received a helpful endorsement on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Owens campaign.

Moriah Supervisor Tom Scozzafava, a Republican, is backing Owens in his re-election bid for the reshaped 21st Congressional District, which includes Fulton and the northern half of Saratoga counties. “I’m with Bill Owens 100 percent,” he said in a statement. “I’ve know Bill Owens for a number of years. Bill Owens has a done a great job since he has been in the House. He is responsive to my constituents' needs here in my community in Essex County.”

The Republican nominee in the 21st Congressional District will be decided today, following a primary election between Matt Doheny and Kellie Greene. Doheny has the Republican and Conservative Party nominations.

In 2009 in a special election, then-Assemblywoman Republican Dede Scozzafava, unrelated to the Moriah Supervisor, endorsed Owens for Congress.

Tom Scozzafava also extended his support to the Assembly campaign of Dan Stec, a Republican vying to replace the retiring Teresa Sayward in the 114th Assembly District. Stec is running aginst Democrat Dennis Tarantino.

“I don’t vote party line. Whether the Republicans want to hear that or not, I don’t,” Scozzafava added. “I support Bill Owens and I support Dan Stec.”

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