For the Record

10/21/2025

Over the past 24 hours, what appears to be a coordinated smear effort has circulated online, attempting to link the Messa Campaign to a social media post made under the name “Rob Scott.” The post contained a copy of a publicly available document from the New Hartford School District’s website; an RP-554 form containing public information, requesting a correction to a school tax roll.

The post made no mention of any political candidate or campaign, nor is there any evidence that the individual behind it had any connection to ours. Yet almost immediately, Supervisor Paul Miscione publicly alleged that Jim Messa and his campaign were responsible. Within minutes, the Miscione camp had mobilized around that accusation, a reaction so swift and coordinated that it raises serious questions about how and why those conclusions were reached.

LET'S BE CLEAR:

1) The accusations are false.

The Messa Campaign had absolutely no involvement in creating, posting, or distributing this material. We neither manage nor coordinate the “Rob Scott” account, and we categorically reject the false accusations suggesting otherwise.

2) No laws were broken.

The document was posted on a public government website as part of the school board’s published materials. Any citizen could access it without restriction. Claiming otherwise is either a misunderstanding of the law or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

3) This is political theater.

The timing, tone, and coordination of this controversy is familiar to many of us. It is reminiscent of the patterns and tactics observed during the June Town Clerk Primary - and it stops here. We will not be intimidated. We will not be bullied. And most importantly, we refuse to engage in these political games.

4) The Messa Campaign takes false public accusations very seriously.

These recent statements made online - stating that our campaign created a fake social media account or engaged in criminal behavior - are completely false. These claims were made publicly, without evidence, and with the clear intent to damage the reputation of both Jim Messa and our campaign team.

Such statements are defamatory. Under New York law, publicly accusing a person or campaign of committing a crime without proof constitutes libel per se, meaning harm is presumed, regardless of intent. These accusations have caused real reputational harm, spread misinformation, and distracted from the issues that matter to the people of New Hartford.

We have already documented, archived, and preserved all relevant posts, screenshots, and communications, including the phone calls that accompanied these accusations. We are consulting with the authorities and legal counsel to determine the appropriate course of action to protect the integrity of our campaign, our volunteers, and the public’s right to truthful information.

5) Our campaign remains focused on restoring truth, trust, and transparency in New Hartford’s government.

We hope the voters can see what’s happening and recognize this for what it is.

The people of New Hartford deserve better than this.

—

Jim Messa, and the Jim Messa Campaign Team

For truth, for trust, for transparency.

 Supervisor Paul Miscione has recently issued a public “challenge” and posted a list of supposed accomplishments. In the spirit of transparency, and so residents can see the full picture for themselves, here is a point-by-point response to his claims — based entirely on public record, financial filings, and meeting documentation. This is not politics. It’s accountability.

FACT-CHECK: MISCIONE’S CLAIMS
 

• CLAIM: “Record Infrastructure Improvements”

Most of the so-called “record improvements” were financed through record debt. Projects that were once planned and funded responsibly are now being paid for with borrowed money that future taxpayers will have to absorb. Currently our town is nearly $25 MILLION DOLLARS in debt. The Town’s 2023 financial statements still haven’t been filed, its credit rating was withdrawn by S&P. You can’t call that an accomplishment — it’s a warning sign.  CLICK HERE FOR THE MEETING MINUTES (and skip to page 9-13)

• CLAIM: “A Brand-New Town Hall Built Efficiently and Transparently”

The Town Hall project was neither efficient nor transparent. Residents never saw a complete cost breakdown or final financial report, and costs far exceeded early projections. Bids were amended, timelines shifted, and residents were left with no clear accounting. Even today, the Town has not released final reconciliations or year-end filings for the period in which this project was bonded — a direct contradiction of “transparency.”

• CLAIM: “Revitalized Parks and Recreational Spaces for Families”

While Town resources have gone toward million-dollar playgrounds and recreation centers, our roads continue to deteriorate and our seniors who are still without a senior center, are being ignored. Even our dog park has fallen into disrepair. Parks are being maintained, not revitalized — and few of the projects being promoted have been completed from start to finish.

• CLAIM: “All Achieved While Keeping Taxes Under 2% Year After Year”

In other words, a 28.5% cumulative increase.  The “2% cap” claim is misleading. While annual increases stayed under the cap individually, the cumulative increase in the Town Outside-Village rate is approximately 28.5% since Paul took office. Staying under 2% each year doesn’t mean costs were contained — it means taxpayers have absorbed nearly one-third more in total property taxes, while debt and interest obligations have grown dramatically.  So, if you were paying $3,500/year in 2017, you would be paying roughly $4,498/year today.   

• CLAIM: “Every Action Approved in Open Meetings, Nothing Hidden”

Approval in a public meeting does not equal transparency. Residents, and in some cases councilmen, cannot meaningfully weigh in when financials, reconciliations, and supporting documentation aren’t available. The Town has gone years without filing required audits, and meeting packets often omit backup detail. Key votes are presented last-minute without proper public review. Agendas are posted late with intentionally ambiguous language making it impossible for the public to know what is being presented. That’s not “nothing hidden” — that’s information withheld.

Paul: “Why Now?”

Because silence is no longer an option. Jim Messa has served faithfully and quietly for years, choosing cooperation over confrontation, relying on the assurances from the CFO (Paul Miscione) that the finances are in order. But when transparency collapses, when audits go missing, and when residents are misled — stepping forward becomes a responsibility, not a choice. The Town deserves accountability, not loyalty to dysfunction.

Paul: “We Shook Hands and Promised a Fair Race”

Jim has kept that promise. His campaign has remained professional, fact-based, and focused on issues that matter to residents. The only “negativity” comes from the facts themselves — the same facts pulled directly from public records, budgets, and minutes.
If those numbers are uncomfortable, that’s not campaign spin. That’s reality.

Paul: “Control the Negativity Coming from Your Campaign”

Sharing the truth isn’t an attack; it’s informing the public. And in an open, healthy democracy, the public has every right to see the facts and form their own opinions. Residents have a right to see how their tax dollars are being spent and how their Town is being managed. That’s not negative — that’s accountability.

Paul: “Let’s Have a Real Debate”

Debates don’t fix broken budgets, missing audits, or restore public trust. Leadership does.

The facts are already public. The record already speaks. What residents need now isn’t more talk — it’s leadership that will finally clean up the mess.

THE BOTTOM LINE

New Hartford doesn’t need another show.
It needs solutions, accountability, and honesty in leadership.

That’s what this campaign is about — and that’s what Jim Messa represents.