Donald Hassig, the Green Party candidate in the north country's congressional race, was arrested outside City Hall in Watertown yesterday on charges that he was screaming, waving his arms and playing loud music on a portable stereo.

“I have to be loud to get people to listen,” Mr. Hassig allegedly told the officers, making particular reference to the Watertown Daily Times. He has said he feels the Watertown media market doesn't give him the attention he deserves. The officers charged him with disorderly conduct.

(Side note: Arresting Don Hassig for disorderly conduct would be like arresting the Cookie Monster for mashing sweets into his face. I haven't witnessed any of his activity. A reader points out that he's been arrested on harassment charges — one time allegedly grabbing a home-health care worker, another time on gun charges. But videos of him at the state Capitol, for example, show nothing more extreme than trance-like dancing. Is it the man or the medium?)

He's on the ballot in the race against Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and Republican Matt Doheny.

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