Fair Campaign Practices of the Capital Region, Inc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  November 4, 2011

Contact:         November 4, 2011Rev. Maurice Drown   (518) 424-8787        email:  MauriceDrown@msn.com.

FINDINGS IN THE COMPLAINT OF 

  CAMILLE SIANO ENDERS 

        Vs.

SEYMOUR VANDERVEEN 

     COMPLAINT 2011-1 

 Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital  Region Inc. (FCP) held a hearing on November 3, 2011 to consider a complaint made by Camille Siano Enders against Seymour Vanderveen, candidates for Town Justice in the Town of Duanesburg in Schenectady County.  Present were: Chair Joan Elliott; Hearing Pool members: Jane Bouchard, Helen MacDonald, Steve Muller, and Aimee Allaud, coordinator.

Present also was Camille Siano Enders, the complainant.  A letter under the letterhead of James E. Walsh, attorney, was submitted to represent Mr. Vanderveen.  The letter was received after the FCP deadline for response to the complaint.  Although Ms. Enders agreed to waive the 24 hour rule for response, the Hearing Panel determined that there were no extenuating circumstances to waive the rule and consider it in its deliberations.

The findings of FCP are as follows:

 FINDING:  Unfair Campaign Practice

Campaign material featuring only the candidate’s name and office may  imply that the candidate holds the office and therefore is misleading.  Yard signs and other materials should contain language that makes the candidate’s status clear, such as “Elect Seymour Vanderveen Town Justice” or “Seymour Vanderveen for Town Justice”.

Mr. Vanderveen violated Principle 4  of FCP’s Statement of Principles:  The candidate will not use, permit the use of, or condone the use of any campaign material or advertisement that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies a fact or facts regarding either the candidate or an opponent..

2.    Camille Siano Enders complains that an undated letter signed by Seymour Vanderveen  states, among a number of  claims, that he is the only “conservative minded” candidate who can deliver “fair and unbiased justice” and the letter cites a “challenge” by a candidate who has been “cross endorsed”.

 FINDING:  While the FCP Hearing Panel believes some statements in the letter

         may conflict with Fair Campaign Practices principles, it could

        not consider the letter because it was circulated during the Primary

        Campaign Season.  Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region Inc.

        this year did not take Primary Season Campaign complaints but only

        those made during the General Election Season.

Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region Inc. promotes a climate in which candidates conduct honest and issue oriented campaigns, refraining from misleading attacks on the character of their opponents and avoiding using campaign materials that distort the facts.

 Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region Inc. was formed in 2000 by the Leagues of Women Voters of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties and the Interfaith Alliance of the Capital Region.  Past findings and information can be found on its website: http://www.faircampaignpractices.info.