10:27 PM, Jun. 9, 2011
Written by Susan Campriello
FISHKILL — The race for Fishkill supervisor heated up again Thursday amid a dispute about who is the real GOP candidate.
The Fishkill Republican Committee endorsed Councilman Robert LaColla’s candidacy for supervisor in April, when he edged out Supervisor Joan Pagones in a 17-16 vote.
Pagones, however, said the party’s preferred candidate would emerge only after a primary.
“(LaColla) is the straw-poll winner, not the designated candidate of the Republican Party,” she said.
LaColla said he was surprised Pagones called the committee vote a “straw poll.”
He said the committee’s nominating process had been organized and orderly from its selection of voters to its endorsement of him as its candidate for supervisor. LaColla said he and Pagones addressed the committee in April for 40 minutes each before he won.
“It was a decision made in good conscience with the best intentions of the town in mind,” he said.
Fishkill Republican Committee Chairman Felix Lopez said an argument can be made that a candidate is not set until after a primary is held. But, he said, LaColla secured the committee’s endorsement.
“He is the designated nominee. He won in our committee,” Lopez said of LaColla. “He is the person we have designated as our nominee.”
Pagones said her candidacy has been endorsed by the Dutchess County Conservative Party, and she also has gathered enough signatures to face LaColla in a Republican primary Sept. 13.
The Conservative Party also recently endorsed Councilwoman Heather Malvarosa in her re-election bid and Frank Garnot as a candidate for Town Board, Malvarosa and Garnot said Thursday.
They both said they are seeking Republican support to run in primaries against Kurt Buck and Tony Curry, the board candidates endorsed by the town Republican committee.
Candidates who hope to run in primaries must file petitions by July 14, said Thomas Connolly, state Board of Elections spokesman. Republicans in Fishkill must collect 193 signatures to appear on the ballot, county Deputy Election Commissioner Christopher Baiano said.
Reach Susan Campriello at scampriell@poughkee.gannett.com or 845-451-4518.