Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Richard Smith is back in the race
Now is the time to come together for change. Rich still stands for the same things; Integrity, morals, ethics and trustworthiness.
If you are not registered to vote, you must do so my October 9th. If you are registered to vote, remember the day, November 3rd, and make your vote count. Richard would like to extend his gratitude to each and everyone of you for welcoming him back into the race. His ambition and drive is stronger than ever to make this election count for the Town of Lee.
Now is the time...Richard is the Candidate!
Below is the article that ran in this evenings newspaper.
By DAVE GYMBURCH Staff writer
TOWN OF LEE — After an interruption of three-plus weeks, Richard Smith’s candidacy for town supervisor is on again.
Smith, the Republican- and Conservative-endorsed candidate, announced today he is back in the race after learning he is not subject after all to an act prohibiting public office candidacies by people whose employer receives federal funding.
The matter was further reviewed by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in Washington, D.C., Smith said.
Smith had announced July 31 that he was withdrawing from the race because he fell under the Hatch Act. The act places restrictions on political activities of federal employees, and also may apply to employees of private nonprofit organizations depending on statutes under which the organizations receive federal funds. Smith is a case manager for the local Neighborhood Center organization.
Smith explained in a statement that "I didn’t want to be campaigning if I was in violation of the act," and since the office of special counsel "thought I could be," he "pulled out until I received further guidance....I didn’t want there to be any integrity issues." A "special investigation" by an attorney with the Hatch Act Unit concluded that Smith "is not in violation of the Hatch Act’s political activities restriction," he added.
Smith is resuming his challenge of incumbent Lee Supervisor John Urtz, a Democrat who has held the position for 34 years.
Smith’s name "never got pulled off the ballot" for the November election, and "technically, his name is still on the ballot....Nothing has actually changed," county Republican Election Commissioner Pamela N. Mandryck said today.
Removing Smith’s name from the ballot due to the Hatch Act would have required a "formal letter" from the Special Counsel office in Washington, which was never issued, Mandryck explained. Smith’s July 31 withdrawal announcement indicated that he would no longer be "campaigning...actively participating" as a candidate, she said, which "relinquishes him from having the act filed against him" if the Hatch Act’s impact on him had been confirmed.
Mandryck said leaving Smith’s name on the ballot is covered under state election law.
Mandryck said leaving Smith’s name on the ballot is covered under state election law.
Smith said he is "extremely excited about re-entering the election." Echoing his earlier campaign statements, he said "I strongly believe the Town of Lee needs a change in leadership. I have heard the residents of this community speak, and they are ready for someone to listen to their needs."
A campaign fund raiser is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Inn restaurant, Turin Road, said Smith.
A campaign fund raiser is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Inn restaurant, Turin Road, said Smith.
The Lee supervisor job is for a four-year term, with a salary of $18,500.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Below is the article that ran in the Rome Sentinel on August 3rd. It is a great disappointment, however, Richard feels that he, or anyone else, does not need to hold a formal position to become actively involved in their community. We encourage everyone to get involved and make a difference. Richard is a man of integrity and strong ethics....we have not heard the last from him.
By DAVE GYMBURCH Staff writer
RICHARD Smith
TOWN OF LEE — Richard Smith, who was the Republican candidate for town supervisor, has withdrawn from the race because he is subject to an act prohibiting public office candidacies by people whose employer receives federal funding.
Smith, a case manager for the local Neighborhood Center, said in a statement Friday that "it has come to my attention that I fall under what is called the Hatch act."
The act, dating to 1939, places restrictions on political activities of federal employees. It also applies to employees of private nonprofit organizations "if the statute through which the organization receives its federal funds...states that the organization shall be considered" for purposes of the act, according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
Smith’s withdrawal leaves no declared candidate in the November election to challenge incumbent Lee Supervisor John Urtz, a Democrat who has held the position for 34 years.
Smith, a Wager Drive resident who had declared his candidacy in May, said an initial interpretation was that he was not affected by the Hatch Act, "with the understanding that it applied to federal employees." But he said that after conferring with the Office of Special Counsel and speaking with Michael Billard, majority analyst for the county Board of Legislators, "I learned that the Hatch Act did apply to me." He said he then spoke to David Pangbourne, chair of the town Republican committee, and "took steps to withdraw from the campaign."
Smith noted "a great disappointment that I cannot continue the race," adding that he appreciated the efforts of "everyone who supported me." A Rome native and former commander of the Rome Salvation Army, Smith had not previously held a publicly elected office.
Pangbourne, asked whether the Republicans would seek another candidate for supervisor, said "to my knowledge, it’s too late." He said he believed the paperwork filing deadline had passed for the party. County Democratic Election Commissioner Kathleen M. Perez said she was checking with state officials on whether the date for substituting a candidate had expired. County Republican Election Commissioner Pamela N. Mandryck could not be reached for comment.
A supervisor candidate from a non-established party still conceivably could come forward. The deadline to file independent petitions to run for an office is Aug. 11-18, Perez said.
Pangbourne said of Smith’s withdrawal that "we’re obviously disappointed, of course."
The town supervisor job in Lee is for a four-year term. The salary is $18,500. Urtz, a retiree of Revere Copper Products, took office in January 1976.
By DAVE GYMBURCH Staff writer
RICHARD Smith
TOWN OF LEE — Richard Smith, who was the Republican candidate for town supervisor, has withdrawn from the race because he is subject to an act prohibiting public office candidacies by people whose employer receives federal funding.
Smith, a case manager for the local Neighborhood Center, said in a statement Friday that "it has come to my attention that I fall under what is called the Hatch act."
The act, dating to 1939, places restrictions on political activities of federal employees. It also applies to employees of private nonprofit organizations "if the statute through which the organization receives its federal funds...states that the organization shall be considered" for purposes of the act, according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
Smith’s withdrawal leaves no declared candidate in the November election to challenge incumbent Lee Supervisor John Urtz, a Democrat who has held the position for 34 years.
Smith, a Wager Drive resident who had declared his candidacy in May, said an initial interpretation was that he was not affected by the Hatch Act, "with the understanding that it applied to federal employees." But he said that after conferring with the Office of Special Counsel and speaking with Michael Billard, majority analyst for the county Board of Legislators, "I learned that the Hatch Act did apply to me." He said he then spoke to David Pangbourne, chair of the town Republican committee, and "took steps to withdraw from the campaign."
Smith noted "a great disappointment that I cannot continue the race," adding that he appreciated the efforts of "everyone who supported me." A Rome native and former commander of the Rome Salvation Army, Smith had not previously held a publicly elected office.
Pangbourne, asked whether the Republicans would seek another candidate for supervisor, said "to my knowledge, it’s too late." He said he believed the paperwork filing deadline had passed for the party. County Democratic Election Commissioner Kathleen M. Perez said she was checking with state officials on whether the date for substituting a candidate had expired. County Republican Election Commissioner Pamela N. Mandryck could not be reached for comment.
A supervisor candidate from a non-established party still conceivably could come forward. The deadline to file independent petitions to run for an office is Aug. 11-18, Perez said.
Pangbourne said of Smith’s withdrawal that "we’re obviously disappointed, of course."
The town supervisor job in Lee is for a four-year term. The salary is $18,500. Urtz, a retiree of Revere Copper Products, took office in January 1976.
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