Oh No, Massa! N.Y. Democrat Candidate Faced with Foley-Style Problem

Via the Sixers blog on NRO, we learn that the George Stephanopoulos pledge that the Mark Foley scandal would resonate in every congressional race sometimes comes true. Consider that in upstate New York, the shoe is on other foot, the Democratic foot, embarrassing the challenger to first-term Congressman Randy Kuhl. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports:

(November 2, 2006) — CORNING — Democratic congressional candidate Eric Massa fired his campaign manager in June and has accused him of providing alcohol to underage boys and inviting a teenage boy to spend the night with him.

Massa accused Sanford Dickert of New York City of luring three underage boys into his apartment in Corning and illegally providing them with beer and hard liquor. The ensuing party resulted in water damage to the apartment and to merchandise in an antique store under it. The store was forced to close for two days.

The Massa campaign paid more than $3,000 for the damage to the apartment and the store, according to court documents.

The allegations are contained in a document filed Oct. 19 in state Supreme Court in Steuben County. Dickert went to court to seek arbitration after his dismissal. Massa responded by filing for a stay of arbitration.

"It's an ongoing labor dispute," Massa said Wednesday. "Our attorneys are working out the details."

Massa, who's trying to unseat Rep. John Randy Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport, Steuben County, in the 29th Congressional District, said he did not learn until after he fired Dickert that the campaign manager had asked a 16-year-old boy to spend the night with him…