Byrnes Paid Conservative Party Chair $20k for Political Consultant Fee

Photo/Jason McGuire via Livingston County Conservative Party

“Sun

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by ReMax Plus - 1 year ago

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Marjorie Byrnes’s checkbook just bounced back a bit as the Livingston County Conservative Party Chair returned to her $20,000 in fees he charged her as a political consultant.

Byrnes is currently a candidate for the New York State Assembly 133rd district and running against incumbent Joe Errigo in a Republican Primary.

According to campaign filing records on June 21 she paid Jason McGuire, the Livingston County Conservative Party Chair $20k in political consultant fees prior to receiving the New York State Conservative Party Endorsement. On July 13 Byrnes was voted for unanimously by the New York State Conservative Party State Executive Committee. McGuire is one of over 25 voting members of the committee. The story was first broke by 1180WHAM’s Bob Lonsberry.

“Looking back I would have spelled things out differently when I informed the executive committee that I was working for Byrnes’s campaign,” said Mcguire. “I informed them I would be assuming campaign responsibilities but did not disclose the $20,000. No race and no amount of money is worth my integrity in this process.”

According to campaign finance records Marjorie Byrnes has spent $32, 215, including the payment to McGuire. McGuire stated to the Sun that they are prepared to spend $150k on the race.

“The $20,000 fee is beyond comprehension for a race for the Assembly. We are talking about a primary not a hugely contested general election… and even then it is more than twice what it should be,” said Arnie Rothschild, a Rochester Political Consultant who previously worked on Mayor Lovely Warren’s Campaign. “I have been in 150 or so elections around the state and would never ask for that kind of money.”

McGuire returned the money and sent in a letter of resignation for his position on the regional committee to the State Executive Committee which was denied by State Chairman Michael Long.

“It’s a distraction effort, ultimately whenever you challenge the establishment people are going to kick and thats what we are experiencing right now,” said McGuire. “We were fully transparent on our fillings.”

Byrnes Paid Conservative Party Chair $20k for Political Consultant Fee

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