Grass Roots Effort Will Force an Open Conservative Primary

SUFFOLK B.O.E. CERTIFIES ‘OPPORTUNITY TO BALLOT’ PETITIONS

SMITHTOWN, NY — The Suffolk County Board of Elections (BOE) has upheld the Opportunity to Ballot (OTB) petitions collected and submitted by the Chris Cox for Congress campaign with the help of courageous Conservatives, dedicated Tea Party patriots, and supportive Republicans.  This OTB victory is an unprecedented achievement in the First Congressional District, and likely across New York State, forcing an open Conservative Congressional Primary over the no-holds-barred opposition of the Party’s leaders and its millionaire designee.
 
Under the Law’s “Opportunity to Ballot” (OTB) provisions, Team Cox filed 850 signatures with the Suffolk County BOE in Yaphank, although only 554 signatures were required.  Both the Republican and Democratic Commissioners certified the OTB petitions.
 
In a letter to the Committee to Receive Notice for the OTB effort, the commissioners wrote: “You are hereby notified that written objections and specifications to a designating petition, and/or supporting documents, for Opportunity to Ballot for the position of Representative in Congress, 1^st Congressional District of the Conservative Party filed here have been determined by the Board of Elections to be insufficient.  Therefore, your petition has been declared valid.”
 
Upon receiving the letter, Cox reiterated his thanks to the Conservatives who carried the petitions, as well as those who signed, to preserve the right of party members to have a say in their standard-bearer in November.  His opponents have already carried through on their threat to use the courts to deny the Opportunity to Ballot demanded by nearly eight percent of the enrolled Conservatives in the First CD.
 
“Our opponents are unhappy that we’ve put the choice back in the hands of the people, where it always belonged,” said Cox.  “I was honored to be able to work with so many people dedicated to ensuring a fair and open primary, and we will defend vigorously their right to vote.”
 
Chris Cox is the real conservative Republican in the First Congressional District contest to unseat a liberal Democratic incumbent.  Cox is now poised to win not only the Republican Primary, the party of which he has always been a member, but the Conservative Primary as well.