By MIKE RUSSO
The primary, slated for Sept. 15, will give conservative voters the chance to vote for Browne — who was denied the Nassau County Conservative Party's endorsement in May — as a write-in candidate in an effort to challenge and possibly displace Scannell on the Conservative line in the November election.
A number of local Conservatives described being disappointed and even betrayed by their party's decision to endorse Scannell, because, they said, they felt that Browne better represented their views. Even more contradictory, they claimed, was Scannell’s acceptance of endorsements from both the Conservative and Working Families parties — groups that many political observers describe as polar opposites.
Bob Pendleton, a registered Conservative from Merrick who started and submitted the petition after garnering 92 signatures, questioned how Scannell could portray himself as a conservative when he voted in favor of a Nassau home-heating tax, a pay raise for the county executive and a 4.9 percent property tax increase. Pendleton said he petitioned for a primary in order to give Conservatives a chance to vote for lower taxes, which he says equates to a vote for Browne.
Pendleton acknowledged that Browne would be at a disadvantage in the primary because as a non-registered conservative without special permission from the Conservative Party bosses, he will not even be on the primary ballot. "It will be an uphill battle, but I think we will win it," Pendleton said of Browne's chances as a write-in candidate. "I think we have an excellent chance, but we have to educate the conservative voters."
Browne, who first called for a primary in late June after losing the party's endorsement to Scannell, said he hoped the support he received on the petition would carry over to September, adding that he intends to campaign aggressively for the Conservative vote. "I'm pleased that so many registered Conservatives were willing to support my call for a primary," he said. "I think it shows that the grass-roots Conservatives welcome the chance to choose their nominee."
Browne added that he is well aware of the challenge facing him in the primary, but given the strong showing of support he has received from local Conservatives in the 5th District, he hopes that party members will realize that he is better suited to represent their goals and ideals. "I think that being a write-in candidate is a challenge," Browne said. "However, I am confident that I will prevail because I believe on the merits, my philosophy, my principles, and my goal in office are in sync with the principal ideals of Conservative voters — whereas Joe Scannell's are not."
Calling on Scannell to explain his endorsements of both the Conservative and Working Families parties, Browne challenged him to meet for an open discussion session with Conservative voters. "I would like to invite or challenge Scannell at a forum for Conservative Party voters a week before the primary where we could have an open exchange or debate," he said.
Scannell said on Monday that he and Browne have a debate scheduled for later this year, and that it will be the only one he will take part in. As for his stance on being endorsed by the Conservative Party, Scannell defended his position and said he was appreciative of all of his endorsements, which include the Democratic, Conservative, Independent and Working Families parties.
"I'm honored by the crossover appeal," Scannell said. “I consider myself a fiscal conservative who has held the line on taxes five out of the last six years. Our county work force is the lowest in 30 years. We've consolidated departments, and as a result of this, the county portion of the tax bill has decreased from 22 percent to 17 percent. Additionally, I'm strong on crime. I've spent 10 years as assistant district attorney, 10 years as chair of the Public Safety Committee and fought to save gang units in Nassau County and gang units in the jail."
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