Weprin challenging Friedrich's petitions

Within minutes of the midnight deadline on July 15th, in true “politics-as-usual” fashion, David Weprin filed a petition challenge with the Board of Elections in the NYS Democratic Primary Assembly race in the 24th Assembly District. Since Bob Friedrich is the only other candidate in that race, Bob said,

“I can only conclude that the sole purpose of Weprin’s petition challenge is to disenfranchise voters of the district by attempting to remove me from the ballot so that he can run unopposed in the Democratic Primary. Attempting to disenfranchise voters will only increase the already strong anti-incumbent sentiment that exists among the electorate.”

David Weprin knows that the Friedrich petitions are proper and performed in accordance with NYS Election Law. He is well-aware that his brother, Mark Weprin, chose not to challenge Friedrich’s designating petitions in the last election after carefully examining and inspecting them.

In June, BOB FRIEDRICH asked David Weprin to join him and take a “No-Challenge Petition Pledge” so that district voters would have a choice of candidates in the Democratic Primary for Assembly for the first time in a decade. WEPRIN refused. Bob commented,

“David Weprin likes to talk about “change” and being a different kind of politician, but his actions speak louder than words. Protecting the Weprin family dynasty is more important to David Weprin than the rights of district voters to have an election with a choice of candidates.”

Friedrich is confident that David Weprin won’t succeed in his challenge since the Friedrich campaign has submitted almost 3 times the necessary number of petition signatures required by law.

“I can assure the voters of the 24th Assembly District that we will be on the ballot in September and they will have a choice of candidates. Change is coming on September 14th.”

By filing a procedural challenge to the Friedrich campaign’s petition signatures, Mr. Weprin is alleging that Friedrich’s campaign volunteers, most of whom are middle aged adults or senior citizens, did something wrong, unethical or unlawful. This is a “slap-in-the-face” by Weprin to the more than 60 hardworking and enthusiastic volunteers, including many civic leaders who donated their time each evening ringing doorbells of neighborhood residents and gathering qualifying signatures in accordance with NYS Election Law.

It is shameful that David Weprin seeks to bring the North Korean example of elections to our Assembly District by robbing voters of choice in his attempt to knock his ONLY opponent off the ballot so that he can run unopposed as he has done in every primary election.

Bob Friedrich is confident that these types of political shenanigans will be rejected by the voters in the September Primary.