Nothing of note in regards to courts and lawyers.
We did get some press from some young journalists at Metroland and the Register Star.
See this link for Sunday's Register Star.
Here's the text . . .
Hudson - By Bryan Yurcan Sept. 17
Libertarian Eric Sundwall may have lost his bid to be on the ballot in the race for the 20th Congressional District, but he's hoping his experiences running will shed some light on the difficulties third part candidates face in New York.
The Niverville resident was hoping to have a chance to debate the two front-runners in the race, incumbent Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, and Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.
"Voters need a viable third party choice," Sundwall said during an interview earlier in the week. "In New York state, third parties have been co-opted by the two major parties." He specifically referred to The Conservative Party being basically associated with the Republican Party and the Working Families Party with the Democrats.
Sundwall's petitions, which he said are legitimate, were challenged by people represented by an attorney, Thomas Spargo, who also represents Sweeney, he said.
"Sweeney shut me down like he shut Gore down in Florida (during the 2000 presidential election), " he said. Sweeney's campaign declined to comment.
Even though Sundwall said there's a small chance his ballot access could be revived - he had a court date on the matter scheduled for Friday - he's not counting on it.
Although he would have liked to have been on the ballot, Sundwall said being able to talk about his experiences may be more beneficial to third party ballot access in the long term.
"It's such an impossible task for anyone far less than the super-wealthy to do it," he said.
Sundwall is also dismayed by the current state of political debate, which he says focuses too much on mud-slinging and not enough on the issues.
"It's mean spirited and doesn't cut to the issues," he said.
Sundwall was hoping to be the "protest candidate" in the Congressional race, offering voters who were fed up with the status quo with a choice.
"I don't see the difference between ( Sweeney and Gillibrand) other than their supporters, " he said.
Sundwall, a Columbia County native, has operated Old Kinderhook Integrated for many years, although he shut down the physical operations.
"I'm a businessman, not an insider or a corporate lawyer," he said.
Although Sundwall concedes victory in the election would have been highly unlikely, he would have liked the chance to ask the two candidates some pointed questions.
"For Sweeney I would have asked: What is your Iraq Solution ? I would have asked Kirsten, would you invoke The War Powers Act to get us out of Iraq?" Sundwall was referring to a 1973 Congressional resolution limiting the power of the president to wage war without the approval of Congress.
Sundwall himself opposes the war in Iraq, partly because war was never declared before the invasion. Ultimately, Sundwall hopes his travails raise public awareness on the difficulties third party candidates face in New York.
"I don't want to be the poster child for ballot access, but I would like to talk about the problems I faced," he said.
Send comments to Bryan Yurcan byurcan@registerstar.com or call (518) 828-1616 ext. 2269