Republicans challenge Martinez nominating petitions in Senate race

Republicans have filed specific objections to nominating petitions for Democratic State Senate candidate Monica Martinez, claiming that the bulk of the 1,497 signatures are improper and she should be removed from the ballot.

Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven GOP chairman, said the party is objecting to 948 of Martinez’s signatures, which would bring her far below the 1,000 she needs to qualify for the November ballot. He said that many of signatures came from people who are not voters, do not live in the district and, in some cases, may have been fraudulently taken.

Keith Davies, Martinez’s campaign manager, countered, ”We have far more signatures than needed and Monica will be on the ballot” after a board review.

The battle for the open Third District seat between Martinez, a Suffolk County legislator, and GOP Assemb. Dean Murray is part of the battle for control of the State Senate. The Senate is in a 31-31 tie in the absence of State Sen. Tom Croci, who decided to rejoin the Navy, not seek re-election and was absent from the final weeks of the Albany session, stalling most meaningful legislation.

Garcia said the GOP undertook the review in light of Martinez’s past issues in filing nominating petitions. In 2015, the lawmaker gave up the ballot line as a Democratic candidate for the county legislature after opponents filed a lawsuit claiming she personally witnessed improper signatures as legitimate. However, Martinez won anyway on the minor party Working Families and Independence lines.

“The ability to file legitimate petitions is Politics 101 and we want to insure the election process is followed properly in light of her checkered election history,” said Garcia. “We found a myriad of problems.” Garcia, however, said they have no instances of Martinez personally witnessing problem signatures.

Davies assailed the challenge as “a political stunt by Albany Republicans, who don’t want to talk about the issues — Legis. Martinez’s proven record of fighting for Suffolk families, versus the self-described tea party conservative Dean Murray’s record as an anti-choice and anti-environment Albany insider.”

Even though Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo appeared personally in Brentwood in June to help launch Martinez’s candidacy, her fundraising has lagged, raising $14,518. Murray has raised $97,800 and has $87,707 on hand. She also received $7,000 from Cuomo, but received it after the deadline for the July 15 campaign finance report. Davies said her fundraising will pick up now that the county legislature is in recess for the next month.

Republican and Democratic election commissioners must agree for a challenge to be successful, but those filing objections also can go to court.

Other petitions challenges include:

2nd Assembly District — Backers of both Republican candidates, incumbent Anthony Palumbo and primary challenger Michael Yacubich, a tax accountant, have challenged each other’s petition signatures.

6th Assembly District — Democratic Assemb. Phil Ramos is challenging the petitions of Democratic primary challenger Maxima Castro, a local activist, at the board of elections and in a lawsuit.

7th Assembly District — Backers of Republican Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick have filed a board of elections challenge to the petitions of Democrat challenger Thomas Murray.

12th Assembly District — Republican Assemb. Andrew Raia is challenging the residency of Democrat Michael Marcantonio, claiming he has not lived in the district for one year and the state for five years as required.