Fundraising Controversy Continues in Broome County Executive Race

7/18/2012 (Updated 10:49:13 PM)

The race for Broome County Executive is heating up.

Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan had strong words when asked about a press release from County Executive Debbie Preston's campaign. The press release claimed her opponent Tarik Abdelazim was getting donations from people living in foreign countries.

Matt Ryan gave his opinion regarding the content of the press release, saying:

"What really made me mad is that there was some insinuation that foreign investment, that people living in foreign countries giving a little bit of money, $250 to a campaign somehow should be questioned. If Tarik Abdelazim had been Irish and got some relatives from Ireland who gave him some contributions, would they have said this?"

Ryan continued,

"I think it also has something to do with his name and I think that's disgusting. It should be about the future of the county, not this petty bull and I was very disappointed in Bijoy Datta, who I've had some respect for, who put out this press release."

Abdelazim didn't want to comment on the fundraising issue, but he did call a news conference to speak about another issue in the race, the Independence Party Nomination. He says the three person panel that handed out the party's endorsement was slanted in favor of incumbent republican Debbie Preston

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