Submitted by Jude Seymour

(Oct. 2011) The Watertown businessman and registered Republican filed paperwork last week with the Federal Elections Commission to become a candidate for Congress, where he will represent northern and Central New York’s interests in Washington.

“While my campaign may technically start today, I’ve been out listening to residents all over northern and Central New York since last November,” Matt Doheny said. “People continue to worry about our country’s lack of forward progress. We need well-paying jobs, but President Barack Obama and his allies continue to stifle growth by pushing an agenda that leads to higher taxes and bigger deficits. That just creates more burdens for both average Americans and for our future generations.”

Doheny is an investor who managed the distressed assets division at a Fortune 500 company for eight years. He had an up-close look at why American businesses failed and gained an expertise in finding ways to turn those troubled companies around.

He’s now formed his own investment firm, North Country Capital, to help start-ups create jobs locally.

Doheny also helps companies by using his expertise in turnarounds and restructurings, either by sitting on their boards of directors or through consulting.

The candidate believes Congress needs more businessmen who understand how our economy works and how we can reverse the current crisis of confidence that Americans feel. He will put the knowledge gained from his private sector career into a pro-growth plan that will create incentives for businesses to get back in the game. That plan will get our economy – and this great nation – moving in the right direction.

Like many Americans, Doheny also understands Washington does not have a revenue problem.

“It has a spending problem,” Doheny said.

Doheny will be proposing reforms that ensure Washington will continue to provide a social safety net, but one that is within the country’s means and does not simply defer problems and put the burdens on generations to come.

The candidate expects his ideas to resonate with New Yorkers looking for real leadership.

While the state Legislature works on redrawing the congressional district boundaries for the 2012 election, Doheny will continue reaching out to local leaders, Republican officials and residents of the many counties who may be part of the eventual district.

About the Candidate

Doheny, 41, was raised in Alexandria Bay. He is a graduate of Allegheny College and earned his law degree at Cornell University. After practicing law in Syracuse, he jumped into the business world.

At Deutsche Bank, he managed more than 130 individuals while helping purchase and restructuring large troubled companies. In 2008, Doheny joined Fintech Advisory, a money-management firm. He left Fintech in 2010 and started his own business, North Country Capital, LLC, which is based in Watertown and primarily serves northern and Central New York.

He also teaches a finance class at Clarkson University, after having previously taught a business course at Jefferson Community College.

Doheny was the Republican and Independence Parties’ candidate in the 23rd Congressional District race in 2010. With just 1,990 votes separating Doheny from incumbent Democrat Bill Owens, the House race was one of the 10 closest in the nation last year.

Jude Seymour, 31, is Doheny’s deputy campaign manager and spokesman.