Lawmakers denounce 'smear campaign' in Assembly race

Republican Assemb. Dean Murray and Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop held a news conference Friday to denounce a "smear campaign" of what Murray said were false accusations of domestic violence.

"This is just too much. It is gutter politics at its worst," said Murray, a freshman lawmaker seeking his first full Assembly term Nov. 2.

Bishop, a four-term incumbent, said he wanted to "stand by Dean to denounce the deplorable allegations made about him and his family."

Murray (R-East Patchogue) said recent blog postings have accused him of domestic violence, changing his name and being estranged from his son.

Bishop, who is up for re-election, said an "unwitting" effort was made to use his office to contact Murray's reservist son.

Bishop (D-Southampton) said his office received a text message Monday from the aide of an elected official, whom he would not identify, asking for contact information for Anthony Murray in the 175th wing of the Air National Guard in Maryland. Bishop said his staff was unaware at the time that it was the assemblyman's son.

Bishop said his office thought the request had a governmental purpose and a staffer "unwittingly and innocently" made contact with the military asking the younger Murray to call the office. Bishop said when his office found out Tuesday that the request was "opposition research," it told the military it had no further need for the information.

Murray, who got a call from his son saying a congressman was trying to reach him, said he is satisfied Bishop's office was unaware of any political motives, even though Jon Schneider, the aide who got the message, is chairman of the Brookhaven Town Democrats.

Bishop did not identify the aide who sent the text message. But Murray's Democratic opponent in the 3rd Assembly District, Rob Calarco, who was outside the news conference, said the aide was Donna Lent, deputy to Brookhaven Town Clerk Patricia Eddington, who preceded Murray in the Assembly. Calarco is an aide to Eddington's husband, Suffolk Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford). Calarco said Lent is not involved in his campaign and that he had no knowledge of Lent's actions.

Murray blamed the opposition but did not name Calarco. After learning the aide was Lent, he said it was "an orchestrated attack by the Eddingtons." Murray has run against Jack Eddington.

"The Eddingtons had nothing to do with this whatsoever," said Patricia Eddington.

Reached later, Lent said she was not involved in any effort to smear Murray, but made the inquiry after seeing a photo of Murray's son in a campaign piece. She said it was something the lawmaker had not used in past races. "I wanted to see if he really existed," she said.