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Democrat Perry Gershon is seeking to challenge Rep. Lee Zeldin...

Democrat Perry Gershon is seeking to challenge Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in the First Congressional District. Credit: /

Barry McCoy, a state Democratic Committee member experienced in gathering primary petitions, has signed on to help first-time candidate Perry Gershon gather signatures for the Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District.

McCoy, a Stony Brook University physics professor, confirmed he has volunteered to help Gershon, a Democrat seeking to challenge Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), organize his petition-gathering effort.

“He’s by far the most winnable candidate,” McCoy said of Gershon. “I’ve been involved with my share of campaigns working out of candidates’ houses where we had no chance of winning, just to make a point. But I’m not interested in that any longer.”

Gershon, a partner in a private equity firm, has raised more than $1 million, $405,000 of it self-funded.

Candidates in the crowded six-way primary have to collect valid signatures from at least 1,250 voters to qualify for the ballot for the June 26 primary. The first day to begin circulating petitions was March 6, and the final deadline is April 12.

McCoy was a prime mover in helping the late Regina Seltzer get on the 2000 congressional primary ballot when she upset Rep. Michael Forbes after he switched to Democrat from Republican.

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