Aubertine decision leaves Dems in air

The Democrats' process for selecting a candidate in the 23rd Congressional District was thrown into disarray when their top choice punted, leaving leaders uncertain on how to proceed — except for making a unanimous agreement to be secretive about it.

Sean M. Hennessey, Jefferson County chairman, said he and the 10 other county leaders in the district have talked every Tuesday night for weeks, but have yet to decide how to pare down the list of interested candidates.

Democratic leaders appeared to put the nominating talk aside as they waited in vain for state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, the party's front-runner, to enter the fray.

"I think there was a general assumption that Darrel's candidacy was a foregone conclusion," said John T. Sullivan, one of the Democratic hopefuls for the congressional seat. Once Mr. Aubertine declined to run, "the shock settled in. And it's: 'OK, what is Plan B?'"

The alternative plan is unknown. Mr. Hennessey said the leaders will discuss nominating processes Tuesday, but did not suggest there would be an announcement.

"The 11 chairs are currently reviewing the applications we received and will disclose specifics when we are ready and at the appropriate time," he said.

Republicans picked Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, Gouverneur, as their candidate after a two-week process involving nine candidates.

Mr. Hennessey refused to say how many resumes the leaders received from prospective candidates. He is the only one authorized to speak to the media on the collective's behalf.

"We received, prior to the extension, in the range of 12," Mr. Hennessey said. "Since the deadline, we've received upwards of a half dozen more."

Mr. Hennessey said leaders also would not disclose names of prospective candidates, at least not now.

"We felt strongly that we keep this somewhat confidential," he said. "It's better for the candidates to feel they have the ability to talk privately with us about their situations, but not be hounded by various media groups."

Of the 18 or more candidates, five confirmed Friday they had submitted resumes: Stuart Brody, an Essex County attorney and former Democratic Rural Conference chairman; Keith B. Caughlin, a Watertown attorney and chairman of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization; Danny M. Francis, a Watertown resident who was the party's nominee for this seat in 1994; Michael P. Oot, a Madison County attorney who was the party's nominee for this seat last year, and Mr. Sullivan, an assistant inspector general in the state Medicaid Office.

Brian S. McGrath, a Lowville native and New York City attorney, said Tuesday he also had submitted "the appropriate materials" to be considered. William L. Owens, a Plattsburgh attorney, told the Plattsburgh Press-Republican on Thursday that he had submitted a resume.

That leaves about 11 candidates still unknown. Robert J. Johnson, a Sackets Harbor thoracic surgeon who was the party's nominee in 2004 and 2006, won't say whether he submitted a letter of interest. Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday.

Daniel J. French, a LaFargeville native and former U.S. attorney, said Friday that he did not submit a resume because "it didn't seem appropriate" to do so before Mr. Aubertine made up his mind. Mr. French declined further comment, so it's unknown whether he wants to be considered now.

Mr. Caughlin said Friday he was withdrawing his name from consideration. The attorney said he thought he could be a good congressman, but added: "I don't think I'd enjoy campaigning, raising money — all that's really required to make it happen."

Democrats were once thought to be picking a nominee by Aug. 10. But hopefuls said Friday they are being kept in the dark about the timeline.

"I just don't know. I've been told to stand by — 'We'll tell you where and when,'" said Mr. Francis, a former Marine.

"There's a lot of unanswered questions," said Mr. Sullivan, a former Oswego mayor and assistant state attorney general. "I would suspect in the next week or 10 days this will become clear."

Mr. Oot said the judging process won't be a one-way street. He's already run a race without the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's financial support and has no plans to do so again.

"The level of support that will come back from the national party will have an impact on my decision," he said.

Mr. Sullivan concurred. The federal Hatch Act, he said, requires him to resign his current job before running a campaign. If the Watertown resident is going to forgo being employed, he said, he wants to be certain Democrats are going to make a "serious effort" to get him elected.

"If X resources are not available to me as the potential choice, that would rule me out," he said, without offering an exact figure.

The candidates are all vying to replace Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, who was nominated June 2 to be the nation's next Army secretary. Mr. McHugh is expected to resign his seat if he is confirmed this summer by the Senate.