MADAGEN, Mar. -- The leading Conservative candidate for Marchenay's governorship has previously donated money to -- and voted for -- candidates from the opposition party, new documents show.
The Madagen Royal Tidings newspaper investigated Burke Azurjean's prior political donations and uncovered the candidate's past political support for the Nationalist party.
Records show Azurjean donated more than $50,000 to NAT candidates since 1999, and as recently as 2015.
The Bankcorp executive from suburban Madagen is the frontrunner for the Conservative nomination.
When asked about his conflicting political allegiance over the years, Azurjean said he has identified as a Conservative since college, but has "occasionally" supported "sensible" NAT candidates.
"Neither party has all the answers. I vote based on which candidate is the best candidate, regardless of their political party," he told the Royal Tidings.
Many of the candidates he endorsed and donated to were for local offices.
In 2015, he donated the maximum individual contribution of $2,700 to Nationalist state senate candidate Jared Balser.
Balser went on to win against Conservative Cynthia DuPayne.
In 2013, Azurjean gave $1,300 to John Chadwick, an NAT-affiliated candidate who ran for mayor of Emerald Lake, the affluent Madagen suburb where Azurjean owns a 8,200 square foot lakefront home.
The mayor's job is technically a nonpartisan position, but Chadwick had pre-existing ties with the local NAT party, and has since ran for the National Assembly as an NAT candidate. He won the mayor's race but lost the race for Assembly.
And from 1999 to 2001, Azurjean donated over $4,000 to various centrist NAT candidates for governor, attorney general, and state controller.
In response to the newspaper's investigation, Azurjean pointed out that most of the NAT candidates he supported were "centrist moderates."
"The people I supported were not hardcore, left-wing people. They're moderate, centrist, middle-of-the-road candidates who were running against more extreme, ideological people," said Azurjean.
His explanations weren't enough to assuage his Conservative opponents in the governor's race at Thursday night's televised debate in Newmarket.
"I get really nervous when I hear Conservative candidates endorsing radical, liberal Nationalists for mayor, state senator, governor, for the water and sewer board...for anything," said state Sen. Mike Shannon, who is polling closely behind Azurjean in recent surveys.
"It's unthinkable that a Conservative candidate for governor is asking Conservative voters to give him the nod to lead our party, when he has repeatedly -- repeatedly -- donated money to left-wing politicians from the Nationalist party," said Bruce McGruen, another Conservative running for governor.
Bill Kindle, who is viewed as a moderate, said he agreed with Azurjean that people should vote for the best person, not necessarily by party line.
"I've been a Conservative all my life. And I have always supported our party. But I agree with Burke on this one. We should vote for the right person for the job, not just straight party ticket. It's our responsibility as voters to choose the right leader, irrespective of their party identification," said Kindle.
Hardline candidate David LaSaria said there are "no circumstances" where he would consider voting for a Nationalist candidate in Marchenay.
"The only Nationalist politician I would vote for is Federal Senator Vic Chambers, who is a moderate, sensible-minded Nationalist from South Ceona. He's the only Nationalist in this country I could ever conceivably support. Because he votes with Conservatives more than his own NAT colleagues," said LaSaria. "But I can't think of a single Nationalist in this state that would earn my support."
Businessman Tom Marino acknowledged, when pressed by the debate moderator, that he also has donated to Nationalist candidates in the past.
"You've donated more than $10,000 to Nationalist candidates as recently as 2018," said moderator David Jenkins to Marino, who heads a large hedge fund and real estate company.
"I have. I have donated to politicians from both parties. Because it was in the best interest of my company and my business. I've donated to whoever will support my business priorities and lower taxes and less regulation," said Marino.
"But most of my donations have gone to Conservatives, because Conservatives are the pro-business party. There are a few Nationalists who have common sense and are pro-business, but most of the NAT is so far gone on taxes and government regulation. By far most of my contributions have gone to Conservatives."
The revelations about Azurjean's past political endorsements and financial backings have given his more right-wing opponents plenty of ammunition for new attack ads and criticisms.
"Why vote for a Nationalist for governor when you could vote for a real, authentic conservative?" reads a digital advertisement on Facebook for the Mike Shannon campaign.
Meanwhile, leading Conservatives who are backing Azurjean are rushing to his defense.
"I've donated to candidates from both parties before too," said Ansleigha Gov. Sam Baskingwood, also a moderate like Azurjean. "Sometimes the candidate from your party isn't a team player. Or sometimes they are involved in a scandal. Or sometimes they're just bat-shit crazy. Sometimes the right thing to do is to support the sensible or less extreme candidate from the opposition party," Baskingwood told a reporter with the Royal Tidings.
It's unclear how much Azurjean's and Marino's conflicting party loyalties will hurt them with voters.
Stanley Hickam, a political science professor from Queens University in Madagen, said some Conservative voters will be turned off by candidates who have previous ties to the NAT.
"But Donald Trump had donated previously to Democrats" in US politics, Hickam added. "So there is room for forgiveness for some of these voters. Maybe even a majority."
The Azurjean campaign posted a lengthy video on its official Facebook and Instagram pages. In the video, the candidate speaks directly into the camera, reassuring viewers he is a "committed Conservative."
"I've been a Conservative since my college days as a young man who was inspired by leaders like Tracey Edinough and American President Ronald Reagan. I believe in Conservative ideals, I believe in lower taxes, less government regulation, in individual freedom, and personal responsibility. Those ideals will never change."
So far, Azurjean has raised the most money for his campaign, almost although Mike Shannon and Tom Marino have also raised significant sums of money.
The winner of the May 31 primary election will advance to take on Nationalist incumbent Gov. Dan Rattner in December.
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