By MIKE RUSSO
Browne, a Rockville Centre resident who has been endorsed by the county�s Republican Party, was interviewed by the Nassau County Conservative Party Executive Committee in late May in an effort to earn the party's endorsement. According to Browne, he has heard that some members of the committee actually prefer him to Scannell.
The 32-year-old Browne acknowledged that although he feels like he better represents the views of the Conservative party � believing in smaller government and opposing abortion and same-sex marriage � the party leaders have the right to endorse whomever they wish. But not all registered Conservatives in the 5th District agree with their party's choice, Browne said, and having a primary would enable them to nominate him � or anyone else of their choosing � as a write-in candidate.
Browne is not a registered Conservative, and would not appear on the Conservative party line in the primary because party leaders are not required to give non-party members that privilege. They have made an exception for Scannell, however, who is also not a registered Conservative. The only way a Conservative could vote for Browne at the primary would be to write in his name.
"The point is, the law gives [voters] the ability to have an election, to have a choice," Browne said. "They don't have to accept what their leaders designated. Give Conservative voters the chance to choose who they would like to see in the general election."
Roger Bogsted, the chairman of the county�s Conservative Party, defended its decision to endorse Scannell � made by the Executive Committee � describing the lawmaker's views as in line with those of the party. The party also endorsed Scannell in the 2007 election.
"He's the only Democratic legislator that stood with us on the civil unions issue, and he's also been with us on several other issues," Bogsted said. "The Executive Committee felt there was no reason to take the endorsement away from Joe Scannell. He has not done anything to change our very high opinion of him. Joe Scannell has served the Conservative party well. He can be trusted. He's a proven commodity, a proven legislator, and Chris Browne isn't."
In order to force a primary, a registered Conservative must have a petition signed by 5 percent of fellow Conservatives, which in the 5th District amounts to about 25 people � a process known as the Opportunity to Ballot. By law, such a petition cannot be filed until after June 30. Since Browne is not registered as a Conservative, someone must petition on his behalf.
Baldwin Republican Executive Leader Doug Diana, a self-described conservative Republican, said he feels that Browne is a better candidate to represent the Conservative Party, so providing registered Conservatives with the chance to vote for him in a primary would be an important part of the election process. Diana added that the write-in option would be well-publicized, so voters would know that such a choice exists in the event of a primary.
"I think Chris Browne is a conservative Republican," Diana said. "I don't think, and I've never thought, that Joe Scannell was a conservative Democrat. The Browne camp's position is, let the registered Conservative voters decide who they best think represents them. Let these guys have a primary."
Comments about this story? MRusso@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
