Doheny fined for two drunk boating incidents in 2004
Republican congressional candidate Matt Doheny, who is locked in a tight primary race with Lake Placid accountant Doug Hoffman, paid stiff fines for boating while intoxicated twice in 2004.
According to reporting by WNBZ and the Watertown Daily Times, the incidents occurred while Mr. Doheny was traveling to his private island near Alexandria Bay.
This from WNBZ’s account:
According to U.S. Coast Guard documents, Doheny was twice charged with boating while intoxicated in 2004. The two incidents occurred over a period of two weeks.
In both instances, Doheny was traveling back to his private island from Alexandria Bay. He paid two fines totaling $2,500 to resolve the charges.
The Watertown Daily Times reports that Coast Guard Officer Ryan Chatland described Doheny as – quote –“uncooperative, very angry and combative.”
Here’s the statement that Mr. Doheny gave to the Watertown Daily Times:
“I’m deeply embarrassed that it happened,” he said. “I’m disappointed in my actions and disappointed as to what happened.”
Tags: election10
Got caught. Paid his fines. Six years ago. Is this really important?
Who cares? I’m more concerned about the issues that face this district than the fact that he boated while intoxicated twice six years ago. Rather than concentrating on his bad choices, perhaps we can ask him about specific things he would do if elected? And that goes for Hoffman as well. Tell me some specifics, gentleman, and not the same old tired talking points.
I care….driving a boat on the St. Lawrence intoxicated threatens the safety of this community. Bad judgement to start boozing and get in a boat…..not the kind of sound decision making I want in a congressaman. And…twice in a year. Great…..
This type of behavior doesnt really reflect this sqeeky clean parochial boy he is trying to project, does it? And a threat to public safety….
Why doesnt he just come clean with the public that he’s an overpaid investment banker and a lawyer…..two occuplations that are really part of the reason that the north country has been declining econmically for the past 50 years.
Of course it’s bad judgment. But isn’t it about time we stop putting elected officials on pedestals and pretending they should be of superior character than the rest of us mere mortals? One of the biggest problems with politics in America in my opinion is the ridiculous amount of time and effort we waste on things that don’t effect the electorate directly. Yes, he was stupid to have done this twice. But people make mistakes. And politicians are people. Meanwhile the real issues most people care about get lost in the shuffle of politicians jockeying to look more “electable,” for lack of a better word.
That’s why I don’t care about two stupid decisions he made six years ago. Instead, I want to hear how he would vote on yet another defense appropriation for Afghanistan, or how he would vote on extending unemployment benefits, or what programs he deems expendable within the federal budget, or his suggestions on how we can improve the federal agriculture bill to better benefit the family farm dairy and not agribusiness, or on alternative energy legislation that creates a “feed in tariff” system, or federal legislation regulating medical marijuana, or taxing hedge fund profits, or a national sales tax, or if he’d vote for Elizabeth Warren to head the new Consumer Protection agency. You know, specific viewpoints and ideas? And I’m not excusing his past behavior, just recognizing them for the mistakes that they were.
If he didn’t bwi or dwi again in the six years since, it would seem he learned his lesson… but twice in 2 weeks!? I would think he would want to be super/ultra/extra careful after the first one… but apparently not. Embarrassed?… I’ll bet he is!
Although the first two comments have value, this experience does say something about his character.
No one is perfect so anyone that runs for office at this level should get everything out up front. It’s probably going to come to light at some point anyway and coming from the candidate before anyone else puts it out there would come across as being more honest.
It’s worth noting that Doheny was forthcoming with the information. Here’s what he told me after I reached out for comment:
“My hometown newspaper – the Watertown Daily Times – has been working on a profile of me. In the course of that process I decided it was the appropriate time to share with the newspaper the facts and official documents associated with two BUI incidents I was involved in six years ago.”
That may not make a difference to some — but for those looking for honesty and forthrightness from their politicians, I guess it works.
“Mr. Doheny was sued twice, in 2000 and 2005, for failing to pay rent on time for separate New York City apartments.”
Sounds like he is going to be really up on issues surrounding the North Country . TWO NYC apartments? A private Island?
This isn’t Westchester we need real people representing us not these second home/NYC apartment type people.
I’m a kayaker whose live is routinely put at risk by drive drivers in big boats. I’ve confronted a few on shore and have found them, without exceptions, to be big jerks. They were not guilty of a lapse of judgment. They were guilty of being big jerks (I could use another word, but don’t want to offend anyone). Almost by definition, these are people with a sense of entitlement who put their own pleasure above the interests (even the lives) of others. We have to put up with such people — it’s not possible to live on the planet without them. However, do we have to elect them? Do we really want people who demonstrate a disregard for the welfare of others representing us and making decisions that affect our lives?
I don’t know the drunk boating happened 6 years ago and no problems since. The twice in two weeks things is odd probably was on a little bender for a vacation, but who knows. I am still more bothered by the NYC apartments and Islands. I just don’t think that style of person can realistically understand or represent some of the poorest counties in the state. I am not against wealth or think that wealthy people are inherently bad people at all, they probably should not represent districts that they have nothing in common with though.
A paddler lecturing about entitlement?
JR – are you ‘squeaky clean’? Your safety is at risk every day by sober people – texting and driving, rolling through ( if they even attempt to slow at all ) stop signs, driving unsafe vehicles – just individuals making bad decisions in general.
Mr. Doheny’s events were six years ago.
I doubt every politician or wanna-be politician is completely ‘squeaky clean’. I’m sure everyone has done something in their past they aren’t proud of but they shouldn’t be condemned for the rest of their life … of course, yes they should be if they do bodily harm or worse but this was a traffic violation and he paid his fines. The amounts he tested at were low.
My son got a dwi years ago .. just over the ‘limit’. That doesn’t make him a shmuck. He’s a hard working young man who made a bad decision, paid his dues and learned a hard lesson.
I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt.
After reading the replies here I’m even more inclined to want someone to ask him for specifics. Not about his past mistakes, but about real issues. Perhaps these specifics will be found in the piece being written by Mr. Morris ( I assume he’s the author of the Watertown Times piece referenced above). If not, please get specifics on his viewpoints, opinions, and most importantly IDEAS on how to improve things in the North Country. A fluff piece on his upbringing, past professions, where he was educated, his membership in the Young Republican club, etc. makes for nice Sunday morning reading, but I suspect most people want more details on what his proposals are.
And some of the ideas he notes in his latest campaign commercial make for nice sound bites, but I hope our local media will inquire as to how a potential first term junior Congressman proposes to push for term limits, removal of health care and retirement benefits, and cutting legislative pay in half. Please ask for details on these ideas and don’t let him talk around his own sound bites. It’d be nice to hear the “meat and potato” details of these proposals. Thanks in advance Mr. Morris.
Bob, well said. About time the kayak crowd started paying for the use of the water like the rest of us.
Yeah I want to know how is going to make sure Fort Drum is secure, the agricultural industry in the NC is supported and HEAP and food support systems are maintained for low income working people? I wonder if his pad in NYC is a co-op or if he has to pay utilities?
Hey Bret,
We agree again… I’m a paddler, but I also have no problem with power boats, ATVs, float planes or anything else as long as it’s done in a lawful fashion. We don’t need to ban, we need to enforce.
BTW, I would have no problem paying to paddle, we should all support the sports we love!
CJ, count yourself among the very tiniest of minorities! Most paddlers, hikers, etc. think it should all be “free” despite the costs associated with their sports and the damage they do. But that’s not really germane to this subject.
Why should we worry about a couple BWI’s? The Lion of the Senate killed someone while driving drunk and he was widely respected…..
Disreguard for the law is disreguard. Twice in 2 weeks, sued for non-payment of rent in New York City apartments etc etc. These are the ones we know of. How many other offenses has he committed and gotten away with? ” I regret my actions” so that makes it alright? What about Chris Ortlof. If he said the same should it be forgotten?
Two Manhattan apartments, an island on Alex Bay, and income exceeding 500K……and skirting the issue of his BWIs and the related incident with authorities…
Do tell how his fortune (made elsewhere) and his drinking will help the North Country. He has a lot of posters and a lot of generatities and a lot of sidestepping from the BWI….slick Marty McGillicuddy logic.
Investing in bankrupt companies…isnt that called investment banking.
Part of the bunch that has thrown our country into a fiscal mess at the misfortune of most outside of the wealthy?
Lets find out who he is investing in….lol.
Go back to NYC….you just want a government paycheck and tell everyone your a congressman. Hoffman i have issues with, but the guy at least is genuinely part of the community…not a carpetbagger.