The Cayuga County Conservative Party Committee has not yet endorsed any incumbent Republicans for Cayuga County Legislature amid unspecified concerns about some of the candidates.

Greg Rigby, chairman for the committee, said Wednesday, that pending endorsements for Republican legislators George Fearon, District 7, Steven Cuddeback, District 9, and Linda Murphy, District 11, were discussed at Tuesday's meeting, but will be re-addressed at a second meeting tentatively scheduled for June 23.

Rigby said he could not discuss the committee's concerns.

“My committee chose not to endorse anybody (from those districts) yet,” Rigby said. “We will go into further discussions and that means we could endorse all ... of the candidates, some of the candidates or none of the candidates.”

Endorsements for Republican legislators David Axton, District 3, and Christopher Palermo, District 1, were not discussed, Rigby said. Axton, who has submitted a request, was unable to attend the first meeting and Palermo has not submitted his request yet.

Of the reviewed Republican incumbents, Fearon, Cuddeback and Axton have received endorsements in previous elections.

Fearon was endorsed in 2005, but passed over in 2007 when he ran again in a special election after temporarily resigning from the Legislature in order retire with benefits from the Union Springs Central School District.

While an asbestos scandal was part of the reason for not endorsing Fearon in 2007, Rigby said there were financial concerns as well.

“We noticed that there had been a huge increase in the county budget,” Rigby said. “There was an increase in spending that he voted for and the committee decided that was not the fiscally responsible thing to do - and we still don't.”

Cuddeback was endorsed in his first bid for the Legislature, but was passed over in his 2005 campaign due to fiscal concerns and the nomination of a Conservative Party candidate running for the same position. Axton was endorsed when he won a special election in 2007, three months after Legislator Bernard Smith died.

It is unusual for the committee to delay endorsing so many Republican candidates running for a county seat, Rigby said, but the Conservative Party is in a position where it does not have to endorse anyone it believes does not meet its philosophy.

While county Republicans are struggling to get the committee's support, incumbent Democrat William Graney was endorsed for Auburn City Council based on his conservative fiscal stance.

“We liked his fiscal responsibility and voting record,” Rigby said. “He has taken a responsible approach to what is best for the city. He can examine a budget with detail to determine the city is getting the best value for its money.”

Graney was not endorsed by the committee when he was elected to the city council in 2005 because he never asked for the party's support, Rigby said.

Matthew Smith was also endorsed for city counsel and James Orman for county treasurer.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net

Conservative Party endorsements

Town Name Position

Aurelius Kent Walter Highway Superintendent

Aurelius James Bona Town Council

Aurelius Sharon Hayden Town Council

Aurelius Ed Ide Town Supervisor

Aurelius Debbie Pinckney Town Clerk and Treasurer

Aurelius Chad Hayden Town Justice

Aurelius Raymond Lockwood III Town Justice

Brutus Jeffery Hinman Town Council

Brutus James Hotaling Supervisor

Cato Gary Cole Highway Superintendent

Cato Gerald Hunter Town Council

Fleming Charleen Dygert Clerk and Collector

Fleming Paul Chipman Highway Superintendent

Genoa Peggy Bradley Town Supervisor

Ledyard Rose Belforti Clerk and Collector

Locke Peter Compton Highway Superintendent

Mentz Gene Dedrick Highway Superintendent

Niles Alberta Winters Town Council

Owasco Terry Lattimore Town Council

Owasco Edward Wagner Jr. Town Supervisor

Owasco Mary Jones Town Justice

Sennett Michael Quigley Assessor

Sennett Penelope Dennis Clerk and Collector

Sennett Susan Tanner Town Council

Sennett Jeff Herrick Town Supervisor

Sennett Howard Tanner Highway Superintendent*

Sennett Thomas Defurio Highway Superintendent*

Springport Richard Waldron Highway Superintendent

Sterling Paul Kelley Highway Superintendent

Sterling Joan Kelly Supervisor

Throop Allen McBride Highway Superintendent

Throop Mark Kubarek Town Justice

Victory James Nodine Highway Superintendent

Victory Robert Ingham Supervisor

* = primary election