Would-be candidate criticizes 'robocall'

Mount Sinai lawyer Raymond Negron is planning a Republican primary run against Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner, and sparring with GOP leadership over an automated phone call he says unfairly disparaged his campaign.

Negron, a former Brookhaven Town attorney who now practices civil and criminal litigation, began collecting signatures earlier this month to appear on the primary ballot for Brookhaven's second district council seat.

If he collects at least 500 signatures, Negron would face Bonner, an incumbent and Conservative party member who the local Republicans endorse, Suffolk elections officials said.

Negron said his campaign was dealt a blow when Brookhaven Republican chairman Jesse Garcia issued an automated phone call -- often called a robocall -- in which Garcia endorsed Bonner and said "any other petitions for town council are ACORN-related dirty tricks by the Democrats."

The "ACORN" allegation is a reference to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a defunct community-based national advocacy group that had been criticized for some of its tactics. Negron said he has never been a member of any ACORN group. Negron said the call was an effort to derail his campaign, which he said has already amassed the necessary signatures.

Garcia made the call "to suppress the only Republican candidate in this race," Negron said.

Garcia acknowledged issuing the automated call, which went to the more than 19,000 registered Republicans in Brookhaven's second district. He said he made the ACORN reference because Negron is "using dirty tricks to influence and mis-characterize the local party."

Bonner, who was elected in 2007, declined to comment on Negron's campaign or the automated call.

The winner of a Republican primary would face Democratic candidate Marie Berkoski of Rocky Point in November.