Will this come back to haunt him?

From the Albany Times Union

Section: CAPITAL REGION
Page: B5
Date: Friday, October 20, 1995
CONNERS ATTACKS KNAPEK FOR SWITCHING TO GOP
SARAH METZGAR Staff writer

ALBANY Democrat Michael Conners, the county comptroller candidate, blasted his opponent Thursday for switching party enrollment right before the campaign. At a Democratic Octoberfest Wednesday, Conners told the crowd his opponent, Republican Lawrence Knapek, was a Democrat until June 6.

``It's unfortunate that my opponent cannot be with us tonight, because until June 6th of this year Mr. Knapek was a lifelong, card-carrying enrolled Democrat,'' Conners said.

Knapek countered on Thursday: ``I was a Democrat at one time. I'm not denying that. It was leaders like Mike Conners and Jim Coyne who turned me off to the party. Swinging a sledgehammer and carrying a chain saw is not typical behavior of a leader.''

Knapek was referring to some of Conners' antics when he served as the city's public works commissioner. The two men are battling for the $71,716-a-year county comptroller's job, both wanting to prepare county financial statements and handle county bill-paying. The race has been nasty, Knapek releasing details of Conner's personal financial troubles, and the Democrats pounding Knapek for a legal dispute with a Delmar widow over payments he is supposed to make to purchase a portion of her late husband's accounting practice.

Knapek, again on Thursday, called on Conners to release his tax returns and credit report. Knapek released his earlier in the week.

``It would be fiscal suicide for Albany County if Mike Conners was elected comptroller,'' Knapek said. ``Where are his tax returns and credit report? What is he hiding?'' Conners so far has avoided the challenge. ``He can come over and go through my laundry anytime he likes as long as he makes an appointment,'' he said Thursday.

We don't know what the financial accusations were.