By Alex Robinson
Under attack from his opponent’s campaign, S.J. Jung is calling for civility.
The Democratic candidate, who is challenging state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) in a primary, held a news conference Thursday morning to brush off allegations a mailer from the incumbent’s campaign made about Jung’s 2009 City Council run.
“This is exactly the type of gutter politics that I am rejecting. Our district is fed up with dirty politics and smear campaigns,” Jung said. “By resorting to these below-the-belt tactics, Sen. Stavisky’s campaign proves that it cannot otherwise win re-election on the issues and vision.”
The mailer at issue claimed Jung did not properly report more than $20,000 in campaign expenditures during his 2009 campaign.
“He’s not even in Albany and S.J. Jung is already violating campaign finance rules,” the mailer said of the challenger, who has branded himself as a reformer working to clean up corruption in Albany.
Jung’s campaign said the claim was ridiculous and pointed out that a Campaign Finance Board report showed his campaign had clarified the issue to the Board’s satisfaction.
“Despite the facts being against them, the Stavisky campaign is deliberately and dishonestly attempting to mislead voters by conveniently taking details out of context and spinning them to smear me and my character. This reeks of desperation,” Jung said.
Throughout the campaign, Jung has refused to criticize Stavisky, saying he has respect for the work she has done for the community, but that it is time for new leadership.
“I refuse to stoop to the level of our incumbent senator despite her desperate attacks,” Jung said. “We will continue to run an uplifting and unifying campaign.”
Stavisky has refused to comment on Jung’s campaign other than to say he should be more vocal on women’s issues.
The incumbent’s campaign released a statement Friday responding to Jung’s news conference.
“The problem isn’t that we told people that SJ failed to disclose his campaign spending, it’s that he failed to disclose,” said Joe Reubens, Stavisky’s campaign spokesman. “SJ can’t support campaign finance reform for everyone but himself – and while I am sure SJ regrets getting caught by the Campaign Finance Board, his frustration is misdirected.”
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
