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The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee met on November 3, 2018 to hear the complaint of Democratic Challenger Peter Harckham against incumbent Republican candidate Terrence Murphy in the race for New York State Senate, District 40. Mr. Harckham was represented by TJ Rogers. Mr. Murphy was represented by Chris Arnold.

COMPLAINT:
Peter Harckham complains that Terrence Murphy has falsely alleged that Peter Harckham was accused of a “shakedown” by prosecutors in the press release issued on October 29, 2018 with the headline “Prosecutors: Harckham Shook-Down School Districts in Percoco Case.” This is accompanied by a picture of a participant holding a sign that reads, “Harckham = Corruption.”

FINDING: UNFAIR
The statement that alleges that prosecutors accused Peter Harckham of a “shakedown” is false. The statement is in violation of two of the Committee's principles: “The candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public” and "The candidate will neither engage in nor be involved with false or misleading attacks upon the character of an opponent…”

Committee Members: Susan P. Guma, [Chair], Jennifer Mebes Flagg [Coordinator], Elizabeth Bermel, Gisele Castro, Miriam Cohen, Victor J. Goldberg, LaRuth Gray, Joan Grangenois-Thomas, Kyle-Beth Hilfer, Lee Kinnally, Robert C. Kirkwood, Peter Larr, Carole Princer Levy, Don Marra, Paul Bennett Marrow, Harry Phillips III, Joy Rosenzweig, Susan Schwarz, John Stern, Evelyn M. Stock

Party representatives (ex officio): Republican Party, Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Working Families Party, Independence Party, Green Party, Reform Party                                    

The purpose of the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee is to help set an acceptable standard for political discussion by offering a forum for identifying unfair campaign practices and promoting a climate in which candidates conduct honest and fair campaigns. The Committee encourages candidates to conduct campaigns openly and fairly, to focus on issues and qualifications, to refrain from dishonest and defamatory attacks, and to avoid the use of campaign materials that distort the facts.

The Committee accepts written complaints from candidates about alleged unfair campaign practices. The Committee may then hold hearings to determine whether the action complained about is indeed unfair or whether it falls within acceptable political discourse. Among other things that the Committee will consider to be an unfair campaign practice is a misstatement of a material fact or any communication that misleads the public.

The Committee has no power to compel anyone or any group to stop doing what it has found to be unfair, nor does it have the authority or power to enforce election or other laws.

If the Committee acts on a complaint, it will release its findings to inform the public. The Committee may choose not to consider a complaint; in that case, a hearing is not held and the parties to the complaint are notified.

Statement of Principles of the Committee, as stated in its Manual, is available at www.faircampaignpractices.org. The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee believes that candidates should conduct their campaigns in accordance with the following principles:

• The Candidate will conduct a campaign for public office openly and fairly, focusing on issues and qualifications.

• The Candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public. The Candidate will neither engage in nor be involved with false or misleading attacks upon the character of an opponent, nor in invasions of privacy unrelated to fitness for office.

• The Candidate will not participate in nor condone any appeal to prejudice.

• The Candidate will clearly identify by name the funding source of all advertisements and campaign literature published and distributed.

• The Candidate will not abuse the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee process in order to obtain political advantage. This includes, but is not limited to, announcing that he/she has filed a complaint, or quoting the Committee’s Findings unless the individual Finding cited is quoted in its entirety.

• The Candidate will publicly repudiate materials or actions from any individual or group that violates this Statement of Principles.