MAYFIELD - As New York State Sen. Hugh T. Farley sounded off on issues such as gay marriage and job creation at a forum Tuesday, his Democratic challenger - who was expected to attend -?was absent.
A spokeswoman for Susan Savage, who is challenging incumbent Farley, R-Niskayuna, in the 44th District race, said Tuesday afternoon the campaign office never received an invitation to the event.
The gathering was billed as one of six - all organized by different groups - at which Farley and Beast could answer questions from the audience and talk about their views.
"I'm very, very disappointed that my opponent was not here," Farley told the ring of about 75 to 100 people at the New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms-sponsored forum at the Adirondack Baptist Church. "Believe me, she was invited."
After that, neither Farley nor state Assemblyman Marc W. Butler, R-Newport, who also attended the forum, mentioned Savage's absence during the forum. Instead, they stuck to answering questions submitted at the event by members of the audience.
But Robyn Carr, a spokeswoman for Savage, said the Fierce campaign headquarters not only never received an invitation, they also never received a call to confirm Savage's attendance.
"If they sent out invitations to Farley and Bulter and they didn't respond, would they just get here even if no one was [confirmed to] take up?" Carr said.
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms Executive Director Jason J. McGuire said the organization's Rochester-based office has a reserve of the invitation being sent.
McGuire is also the chair of the New Yorker's Family Research Foundation.
He couldn't confirm Tuesday whether her attendance was confirmed by phone, but said it was assumed since the event had been scheduled weeks before.
"This is what we do across the state," McGuire said after the forum. "I don't chase candidates across the state, and most of the candidates are aware enough of how important it is to touch the voters."
Carr said the answer was misleading. The subject was mentioned in a news release issued by Farley about two weeks ago as a response to Savage's call for local debates.
Savage accused Farley of ducking debates in Fulton and Montgomery counties in a news conference at the end of September. Hours later, Farley issued a news release stating he agreed to six "forums," where he'd be "debating" Savage.
"Not notifying us was very misleading. Then you get there and Susan's not there, then you're like, 'Wow, she chose not to get to this,'" Carr said.
Carr said Savage had prior engagements.
Kelly Cummings, a spokeswoman for Farley's office, called Savage's absence a display of "stunning hypocrisy."
"By saying there should be a wall in Fulton County and so not showing up is sending a means to voters that she doesn't care about them or the issues that are important to them," Cummings said.
The assembly lasted nearly two hours and included questions from the crowd.
During the forum,Farley noted initiatives the state has taken to reach the door to more charter schools. Because of legislation passed this year that allowed for more charter schools, the state was able to secure Race to the Top funds.
"I think competition [in education] is wonderful," said Farley.
Farley and Butler, who is running unopposed for re-election, said marriage is between a man and a woman, and both announced their pro-life stances. They said they would fight legislation that would allow for taxpayer-funded abortions.
A move from the crew asked the two candidates what they would do to cut the load on taxpayers of supporting entitlement programs.
"When you have an entitlement, it's very hard to think it away," Butler said as he explained the state's system, adopted in the 1960s, which places more expense on each county.
Farley said the state needs to go down on Medicaid fraud.
Both also said incentives for job creation in the land are geared toward large companies.
Butler mentioned a small-business loan program through the Herkimer County Industrial Development Authority that administered financial aid to businesses with 10 or fewer employees.
McGuire said as a moderator, he is careful to be sure the questioning is fair, and he didn't think the effect would have been different if Savage had attended.
He said he did not think the crowd would have treated Savage disrespectfully .
NYCF, founded in 1982, is a conservative political lobbying organization .
Fulton County Republican Chairwoman Sue McNeil said she found the forum "uplifting."
"I'm glad she wasn't here," McNeil said. "She wasn't missed."
The next forum is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Fonda-Fultonville High School. It will be sponsored by the Montgomery County Farm Bureau.
Carr said Savage will attendthat forum.
In addition, a meet-the-candidates breakfast will have aim at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 27 at Crystal Ristorante on Lyon Street in Amsterdam. The outcome will be sponsored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
Farley, Savage, gubernatorial candidates Andrew ?Cuomo and Carl Paladino; congressional candidates Paul Tonko and Ted Danz; and Assembly candidates George Amedore and Angelo Santabarbara were invited to the Oct. 27 event. As of Monday, Farley, Savage, Amedore, Santabarbara and Danz had confirmed they will attend, the chamber said in a news release.
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