The special election race in New York’s 20th Congressional District is heating up, with both campaigns releasing their first media ad buys in what is shaping up to be a well funded, hotly contested fight. The media spots come out just as more news breaks where the candidates are taking some serious swings at each other. Opponents of Republican State Assemblyman Jim Tedisco are questioning his past votes on taxes, such as the 2003 Warren County hotel occupancy tax.

State Assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Glenville, voted in favor of the 2003 legislation that allowed Warren County to impose the tax.

On Monday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee criticized Tedisco, the Republican and Conservative candidate in the 20th Congressional District special election, for that vote and others they suggested were examples of “double speak” on fiscal matters.

His Democratic Party opponent, Scott Murphy, has never held elected office but his critics are raising questions about his voting record (or lack thereof) in another area.

“Murphy registered to vote in New York City in 1996, but from March 2000 until March 2004 he didn’t vote in as many as eight different elections.”

This apparently included the controversial 2000 presidential election.

As previously stated, each candidate is fielding campaign ads this week. First, Scott Murphy’s debut on television.

And second, Jim Tedisco’s new campaign advertisement.

So far it looks like neither candidate is going negative, preferring to introduce themselves to the constituents they hope to woo on March 31. Time will tell of both of these campaigns continue to take the high road. Stay tuned.