A campaign mail piece from the Inzerillo campaign has caused a stir amongst some Republicans. The campaign piece mailed to Republican women aligns Lisa Inzerillo, a challenger in the Republican primary for Smithtown Town Council, with Carly Fiorina and Lynn C. Nowick.
Carly Fiorina is in a Republican primary battle in a quest to become the party’s nominee for the office of President of the United States. Lynne C. Nowick is a councilwoman on the Smithtown Town Board who ran a successful primary challenge against Republican incumbents Kevin Malloy and Thomas McCarthy in 2013. Nowick was a Suffolk County legislator (13th LD) at the time and due to term limits was unable to run again for the legislature. Nowick and Thomas McCarthy won in the primary and in the general election in November of 2013.
The campaign piece includes photos of Fiorina and Nowick. In a phone conversation with Councilwoman Nowick she expressed her surprise at seeing her photo on the campaign mailer. “Imagine getting your mail and seeing your face on a piece of mail. I was stunned.” Said Nowick.
“I am not endorsing anyone in this primary, may the best person win.” Said Nowick. According to incumbents Robert Creighton and Edward Wehrheim, whom Ms. Inzerillo is challenging, Ms. Nowick approached them and told them about seeing her picture on the mailer and asserted that she was neutral in the primary. “I can’t speak for Carly Fiorina but I never gave my approval nor was I asked for my approval to put my photo on the campaign piece.” Said Nowick.
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There is nothing illegal about the mail piece but it does bring into question whether the piece was intended to mislead the public, said one experienced campaigner. Incumbents Creighton and Wehrheim agree and see this as misleading. Mr. Wehrheim questioned whether misleading the public is indicative of how Ms. Inzerillo will serve the public if elected. Mr. Creighton also expressed his concern that the mailer was misleading and questioned Ms. Inzerillo’s use of a person’s photo without approval. “Ms. Nowick was emphatic that she did not approve the use of her photo nor the implication that she is endorsing Ms. Inzerillo. Ms. Nowick said she is remaining neutral and I believe her.” said Mr. Creighton.
In a conversation with Ms.Inzerillo she seemed surprised that the mailer was controversial. In her response to a question about the mailer she neither attacked her opponents nor defended the mailer she simply stated, “I’m finding that in politics everything you do and say can be and too often will be twisted.”
One thing the three candidates agreed on was a wish that the political conversation would change to issues and their plan for Smithtown.