(02-08-2010) Thoden Campaign refuses to pull “false” ads

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY – The race to fill the 3^rd Assembly District seat on February 9 is heating up.

New commercials from Democrat Assembly candidate Lauren Thoden of Medford have come under fire for “lying” to Suffolk voters about local businessman and Republican candidate Dean Murray’s record. 

Thoden’s television and radio advertisements claim Murray of East Patchogue ran for Assembly in 2006 and is a “career politician.” 

The problem is Murray never ran for Assembly before this year’s special election and has never served in elected office or even been a paid political staffer.

“I never ran. I never filed petitions and was never a candidate for Assembly before this year,” said Murray.

Murray, noted his campaign has contacted the Thoden Campaign to “do the right thing” and pull the “deceptive and patently false” advertisements from the airwaves. 

So far, Thoden has ignored the request and continued to air “the lie,” said Murray.

Meanwhile, Thoden has drawn fire for being too cozy with Albany political insiders and the “Albany politicians” who have voted for higher taxes, said a Suffolk County political operative.

According to Thoden’s bio, her only professional work experience was two years as a paid employee of the New York State Assembly in Albany.

“It’s ironic that for the first few weeks of the campaign, Ms. Thoden attacked my business experience,” said Murray, who is the is the President of D & S Advertising Inc, which publishes the Long Island Job Finder, Long Island Apartment & Rental Finder, Long Island Real Estate Finder, and the Long Island Fugitive Finder magazines and websites. 

“Now, she’s done a complete 180 and falsely accused me of being a ‘career politician.’ These lies are the desperate actions of a desperate campaign,” said Murray.

Murray said he was disappointed that Thoden has engaged in “mean-spirited” personal negative campaigning.

“This campaign shouldn’t sink to this level. It should be about issues, issues, issues. Our state is in a crisis and people are hurting. Enough with the false name calling,” said Murray.

“We will continue running an upbeat, positive campaign focused on the real issues that matter. As a successful businessman, I’m the only candidate in this race with the real world experience to cap property taxes, repeal the MTA tax, create jobs and make Long Island affordable again,” said Murray.

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