Republican candidate in 15th LD angers party leadership as he campaigns against GOP Senator Owen Johnson

By Carolyn James

 

         Jordan Wilson is running on the Republican line in the 15^th legislative district, but don’t call Babylon Town Republican leader Anthony Pancella to talk about his candidate. He’s not taking the calls.

         “I guess you can say that we have had a parting of the ways,” said Pancella earlier today. “He has breached the trust with me and the party.”

         The political rift came after Pancella learned that Wilson was working on behalf of James McDonald, who is seeking the Democratic line to run against Republican Senator Owen Johnson in November.

         “He did this without me knowing anything about it and tried to keep it under his hat,” said an angry Pancella. “This party is out working for him and he is working to oppose our Senator who delivers for us and is the best lawmaker in the state? I was outraged to say the least.”

         So much so, admitted Pancella, that he didn’t give Wilson much of a chance to offer any response when he confronted his candidate on the telephone.

         Asked if the party  would continue to support Wilson, Pancella said that the party’s committee people are as angry with Wilson as he is. “It’s still incumbent upon every Republican to vote Republican,” said Pancella. “But we are not going to afford him any of the resources that we would have afforded him.”

         For his part, Wilson acknowledged he was out collecting signatures to get McDonald on the line, but added that he would not comment. “I have an election in ten days and I am not going to get involved in this political issue.”

         Wilson is running against Democrat DuWayne Gregory and independent candidate Ed White. Also on the line is Conservative candidate Lou Molinaro, but he has announced publicly that he is supporting White.

         “All of these major parties have no principles and no honor and as far as I am concerned, they got what they deserved,” said White on the Wilson issue. “And Jordan’s double dealing doesn’t surprise me a bit.”