RHINEBECK – Temperatures were not the only thing heating up outside Rhinebeck Town Hall Wednesday morning. Standing in the sweltering summer solstice sun, and surrounded by core supporters, visibly angry Joel Tyner spoke about his former campaign treasurer.

The Dutchess legislator, currently running a Democratic primary for the new 19th Congressional District, has fired treasurer Misha Fredricks, for allegedly mismanaging receipts and launching an attack Facebook page which disparaged Tyner.

Fredricks was replaced with another staffer and could not be reached for comment.

The revelations come on the heels of reports from Tyner's Democratic opponent, Kingston attorney Julian Schreibman, who has been endorsed by retiring Congressman Maurice Hinchey.

Tyner responded that if true, Hinchey broke his promise to remain neutral before the primary. Citing issues such as single payer Medicaid and a ban on fracking, Hinchey would be undermining his own legacy to support Schreibman, Tyner declared.

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” Tyner joked.

Tyner attributed the developments to dirty tricks by his opponent. “The only reason this is happening is because I kicked Julian Schreibman's buttocks six ways to Sunday in the debate,” he said.

“Where's the fire in Julian's belly? Why is it, with a fraction of Julian's money, we are set to pull through the upset of the decade, and send shock waves through the political establishment, all through the Hudson Valley and Catskills?”

The primary will be held next Tuesday, June 26.