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"Boehlert is clearly enduring the status of sovereignty for the Oneida Indian Nation," Potocki said. "I'm completely opposed to that."
Potocki said that the Oneida Indian Nation should not allowed to be sovereign and have a nation within a nation.
"Not only is that unconstitutional, but it's wrong," Potocki said.
On WMCR, Boehlert also said there was nothing he could do about the situation involving the eviction of Danielle Patterson from her home on the Nation territory. Potocki said that American laws should be extended to the Patterson family.
"None of the American laws of justice, and due process, are being extended to the residents," Potocki said. "This is an indignity being done to them. It's terrible, because they are all basically American citizens."
Boehlert on the radio said that the country is an economic recession because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Potocki said that Boehlert's 23rd congressional district has been in a recession since 1995, and he used the Sept. 11 attacks to "get off the hook."
"To say all of the recession started on Sept. 11 is a terrible misuse of the tragedy," Potocki said. "The recession started well in advance of the attacks. To say the attacks made a worse impact on the recession would have been an accurate comment."
Boehlert was unavailable for comment as of press time. His spokesperson, Jim Philipps, said that Boehlert's position on the Oneida Indian Nation has always been clear.
"Boehlert supports and is working towards the settlement of the Oneida Indian Nation land claim to resolve the issues that everyone is concerned about, including taxes," Philipps said.
Philipps declined comment on the Patterson eviction.
Potocki, of New Hartford, is currently the president of the Potocki Group, a business development consulting group in New Hartford. He was also the executive director of the Oneida County Industrial Development Corporation. He has never ran for public office.
Another UCE member, UCE secretary David Vickers, was unsuccessful in his attempt to defeat Boehlert in the last congressional election.
Potocki said he is considering running because he thinks the district needs a change.
"Central New York needs a fresh approach to develop what is best described as a supply-side economy," Potocki said. "If we lower the taxes, we can move toward the path of recovery."
Potocki said that the district needs significant progress in changing the economy.
"Boehlert believes in government first," Potocki said. "I believe in government last."
