NYS Senators Criticize Babinec Campaign Material

Martin Babinec's campaign paid for this mailing. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

A campaign mailer suggesting independent Congressional candidate Martin Babinec is teaming up with Republican state senators is causing some controversy.

The mailer encourages people to vote for Martin Babinec and Fred Akshar on November 8. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

The advertisement notes Babinec's name will appear on the Reform Party line of the November 8 ballot.

Three versions of the mailers that indicate they are "Paid for By Friends of Martin Babinec" picture the candidate the state senators who represent various portions of the 22nd Congressional District. The Republican senators also will appear on the Reform Party line on ballots next week.

Senators Fred Akshar, James Seward and Joseph Griffo issued a joint statement Tuesday afternoon describing the Babinec mailer as "misleading."

The statement indicates the senators did not give approval for the use of their names or images in the campaign material.

According to the statement, the senators "disavow this kind of campaign tactic and method."

The Babinec campaign responded to the senators' complaint with a shrug. According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, the campaign described the material as "simply an educational mailer to let people know how to cast a vote for" Babinec.

Babinec is facing Democrat Kim Myers and Republican Claudia Tenney in the battle for the Congressional seat now held by Republican Richard Hanna.

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