News Copy, New York

Congressional Candidate Honors Duty Over Politics: Rosen Bows Out Of 18th

At the end of the day, it came down to duty for Lt. Colonel Mark Rosen.

The Journal News reported on Rosen departing the 18th Congressional race in deference to his military obligation.

The former West Point instructor announced his withdrawal today to prepare for potential deployment overseas.

"Should my unit be confirmed for mobilization, full time training for deployment could begin at the end of this year with likely deployment early next year." Mr. Rosen said. "I view service in the Active Army in the current wartime missions as honorable.  I want to serve, and I want to serve with the unit and troops with whom I have trained."

York Kleinhandler, a Chief Warrant Officer out of Rockland County vying to challenge Eliot Engel in the 17th Congressional District, presently denies being held to the same military obligation.  Sources have explained to News Copy that Kleinhandler's obligation as a Green Beret would depend on how he is classified as an officer, since an officer apparently has no limit on enlistment time.  Kleinhandler has insisted that his term of duty had ended.

Mr. Rosen, 48, an Executive Officer (XO) of a Military Police (MP) Brigade recently learned that his unit is subject to deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.  He is a West Point graduate and a former airborne ranger, jumpmaster, and infantryman.

Rosen had been actively campaigning for Congress against 22-year incumbent Nita Lowey (D).

"... The voters deserve active representation in Congress and, were I to win this seat and be called to active duty, I could not fulfill that obligation to the voters.  So, with great regret, I am withdrawing my candidacy from the Congressional race for the NY 18th District."

Rosen is a father of five, a Senior Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement at Adecco Group North America, the largest staffing and recruiting company in the world.

Rosen served for 15 years in various Army command and staff positions, including at the Pentagon as part of the Army's Strategic Planning cell.  He earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University and served as an Assistant Professor at West Point.  Mr. Rosen lives in Larchmont, NY with his wife, Margaret, and their children.

Rosen's departure now leaves Republican Paul Wasserman as the likely frontrunner to challenge 11-term incumbent Democrat Nita Lowey.

Engel And Lowey Draw More Challengers: New York's Suburban Liberals Get No Free Ride

Republicans have three challengers lining up against Eliot Engel, six challengers against Nita Lowey and five candidates against John Hall.

Crowded.  Apparently, crowded everywhere. Whether this is due to "low hanging fruit" or a new patriotism sweeping the country, the Republican brand has drawn more candidates than usual eager to challenge the Democrats.

18th Congressional District (Nita Lowey)

Paul Wasserman, Mark Rosen, Patrick Whalen, Patrick Gillespie, Alexander Block and Jim Russell addressed Westchester's town/city and district leaders last night in Greenburgh.  A number of high-ranking Conservatives from that county's embattled Conservative Party were also on hand.

Block is a Russian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, a Scarsdale resident whose plain-speaking opposition to liberal Democrats reminded everyone what has changed in 2010.

"The concept of politics has always appalled me, so I have stayed away from it," said Block. "... The significant over-reach of liberal Democrats has awakened many people from a slumber."

Block's problem is that he is a registered independent.  But he is a welcome new face on Westchester's political scene and is expected to further bolster what has already been a Republican resurgence in the usually politically-correct Scarsdale.

Jim Russell's conservative views resonated with many Republicans but his campaign is stubbornly unwilling to raise money.  Having already run five times for Congress, sometimes ending up as a spoiler against Republican candidates, it seems impractical for the Mount Pleasant native to again chase this windmill.

But 2010 is the year of windmills, and conservative stands on issues, the unfunded Russell probably will force a divisive Republican primary.

Paul Wasserman is showing up with money, apparently over $200,000, but News Copy learned last night that the Ossining native only changed his registration from to Republican from Democrat in 2009.

News Copy made the mistake yesterday of posting that Wasserman was still a Democrat.  Wasserman did not change his registration before October 7, New York State's arcane deadline for changing party.  The Ossining Republican will need permission from party leaders (a Wilson-Pakula) to run in a Republican primary.

Wasserman clearly has a campaign organization, very strong on the ground and personalizing well with leaders.  However, it is highly unlikely that he will be allowed to run in a Republican primary (Maybe he should challenge Nita Lowey in a Democratic primary?)

Patrick Gillespie of New Rochelle drew spontaneous applause from Republicans when he aggressively stated that he was pro-life.  Gillespie is a latecomer to this race, with no campaign operation in place and no money.

Highly regarded Patrick Whalen of New Castle had the crowd on the edge of their seats but then suddenly announced he would not be running.

Mark Rosen of Mamaroneck continued to draw support and has formed a strong grass-roots operation.  Rosen's problem is the same of every candidate in this race (except Wasserman): Money.  Rosen has retained fundraising staff and formed a sophistical press/media operation.  The challenge in the coming weeks will be implementation of the ground game and raising money.

Handicapping this race, Wasserman would have been the capable sleeper -- if not for his registration as a Democrat -- and Whalen could have split the Republican base against Rosen.  The mystery candidate now is Gillespie, who demonstrated last night just how much of a political punch a pro-life stand can deliver with Republicans.  Russell will remain in the race, claiming that 30-35% of the general election vote without money is the best bang for the buck.

The problem for Russell and all the other candidates is that the remaining 15-25% against Nita Lowey can cost as much as $2 million dollars in television media and direct mail.

17th Congressional District (Eliot Engel)

With less than $200,000 on hand, Engel is in no position to be challenged by a Bronx Latino.  But that's precisely who he will have running against him if Tony Mele survives the minefields being set for him by Republican insiders in Rockland.

Mele was not invited to a candidates forum in Clarkstown last week.  He has been pressured to withdraw from the race and run for the Assembly.  Mele continues to draw the attention of tea party members throughout the Hudson Valley and he resonates extremely well with Conservatives in Westchester and the Bronx.

York Kleinhandler of West Nyack, a Green Beret and local business who is also Chief Warrant Officer is being aggressively touted as the frontrunner by Republicans to secure the GOP nomination in the 17th Congressional district.

The third name mentioned as a challenger to Engel is Brigadier General John Cornelius. Cornelius has lived in Suffern since 1983 but has not announced a formal candidacy.  The Rockland Times noted that all three men are not just veterans, but career military men.

The Rockland Times noted the split-personality of Engel's fiefdom,

"It’s a district that’s been under Eliot Engel’s control for 9 terms, and some would argue a district gerrymandered beyond recognition, composing portions of the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland.  As Engel celebrates his party’s victory on the health reform, the GOP is strategizing how to run a strong race against a man who commonly defeats his opponents by more than three to one. Even Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, barely mustered 33% against Engel when he ran against him in 2004."

Republicans fail against Engel due to some of the machinations presently working against Tony Mele.

What's wrong with a Bronx-born Latino running for Congress in both Rockland and the Bronx?

Cornelius, Kleinhandler and Mele have to raise money.

19th Congressional District (John Hall)

Putnam resident and Yorktown businessman Tom DeChiaro is showing up for the candidates forum for the 19th this evening in Putnam County at Villa Barone on Route 6 in Mahopac. DeChiaro's problems with the Yorktown political machine in recent years has turned him into a voice for reform.  His message is sure to resonate with those fighting political manipulations from Bedford to Brewster. 

Orange County native David McFadden has to show a strong FEC filing and make a compelling argument as an independent against John Hall.  McFadden has personalized his stands on the issues effectively.  He's brought the issues home, as they say.  McFadden is not likely to disappoint.

Fellow Orange County native Kristia Cavere will find herself head-to-head against Westchester resident Nan Hayworth.  Hayworth could spend the entire evening fending off questions on abortion.  Cavere could find herself tagged as inexperienced and unprepared, except it is ironic that Hayworth has a harder time fielding questions at times than the former Pentagon analyst.  Cavere needs a breakout moment this evening.

Neil Di Carlo claims God told him to run -- and is expected to over-talk as a political rainmaker to the point of surreality.  Di Carlo's enthusiasm for democracy is welcomed but his over-the-top religious zeal is starting to make some uncomfortable.  Though he brings an everyman's "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" perspective to the interviews, his presence in the race will be marginalized by his overtly-religious approach.

Tonight could be make or break for Nan Hayworth, who must do two things:  (1) She must address the abortion clinic controversy, and (2) the Mount Kisco moderate needs her own breakout moment.

With DeChiaro as an intriguing wildcard, anything is possible this evening -- and either Hayworth or Cavere could finally take the gloves off in front of Republican leaders.

Nita Lowey's Congressional Challengers Lining Up: New York's 18th In Play For Republicans?

The White Plains Tea Party covering much of Westchester County in suburban New York held a candidates forum for candidates in the 18th Congressional District.

Three Republicans were there but 11-term incumbent Nita Lowey didn't show up.

Taking questions from tea party members were Republicans Jim Russell from Mount Pleasant, Paul Wasserman from Ossining and Mark Rosen from Mamaroneck.

"We don't need Nita Lowey anymore," said Paul Wasserman. "It turns out that taxation with representation is not any better than taxation without representation."

Only three days after the House of Representatives passed the health care bill, one irony is that they didn't talk much at all about health care.

But the skepticism about Congress was in the air.

"They don't get it.  They're career politicians," said Mark Rosen. "Nita Lowey's been there 22 years.  It's time to retire Congress."

Most of the answers from all three questions were safe -- and the answers played to the audience of tea party members.

"A group of five or ten people can make a big difference across the county," said Jim Russell. "Together we can retire Nita Lowey."

Self-described as a fiscal conservative, Rosen roused the audience with this response on education.

"We need to privatize our secondary education system," noted Rosen. "It's called competition.  It gets rid of the bad teachers. It rewards the good teachers."

Up to that point all three candidates had portrayed themselves as fiscal conservatives, dancing away from social issues.  They also openly agreed with each other a bit too often for this observer's taste.

On abortion, the three began to disagree.

Previously viewed as a social conservative, Russell supported abortion rights in the first trimester.

Wasserman also described abortion as a choice and supported abortion rights, though gave no specifics on exceptions or time frame.

Rosen called himself pro-choice and pro-life, backing all the exceptions supported by the pro-life movement -- including a firm stance against partial birth abortion.

Finally, on the prospect of a primary or a third party candidacy -- all three candidates didn't seem to answer the question.

After being re-questioned, only Jim Russell hedged on whether he would primary the GOP's choice or run as a third party candidate.

Wasserman was slow and cautious to agree that all three candidates needed to pull together behind one challenger to Nita Lowey.

Only Rosen was direct in supporting his party's nominee.

"I will get behind the GOP candidate," said Rosen.  He added that a divisive third-party candidacy would hand the election to Nita Lowey

First Impressions

Jim Russell

Russell's the maverick.  That works good with Tea Party regulars - but his right-wing have never worked in the liberal to moderate sections of this district.  Perhaps his Ron Paul approach to the issues will do better in 2010.  The audience took to Russell's intellectual bantor and fiscal conservative sense.

He has never resonated as a candidate against Nita Lowey but had the guts to run when few would show up for the fight (he also as found himself in a few divisive primaries).  Russell knows the grass-roots on the issues in Westchester.

Paul Wasserman

Wasserman held his ground as a fiscal conservative.  The Ossining native shouldn't be taken for granted -- but he had no break out moment at this gathering.

Wasserman has a sense of humor, a candor that could come in handy as he meets voters.  Wasserman has also stepped out of the gate by reaching out to local party and district leaders,  What he lacks in media presence, he makes up for in personable networking.

Mark Rosen

Rosen wasn't afraid to call himself a libertarian.  He also wasn't afraid to say take a tough stand on education reform. 

Rosen also had a determined edge at moments but some Tea Party activists were expecting more. 

Already establishing media presence with the same consultants used last year by Rob Astorino, this fiscal conservative appears poised to put forth a far more substantive campaign than the other two candidates.

Money, Money, Money

Nita Lowey had nearly a million dollars on hand at the start of 2010.  One of these three candidates will need to raise nearly double that amount to win back thre 18th.  It's as hard a financial and demographic climb as any Congressional seat in the nation.

All three candidates came across as strong fiscal conservatives, so expect one of them to sharpen their pencil against Lowey.  Ideally, that should mean a flow of money from the New York City financial services industry to the Republican candidate -- particularly since much of that business sector lives in Westchester.  The problem is that skepticism about Wall Street and the Federal Reserve will be an issue in the 18th -- something pointed out throughout the forum (and about Lowey).

Start raising money, gentlemen.

New York's 19th Congressional Getting More Crowded: Pro-life Movement Flexing Muscles

Since Barack Obama only won New York's 19th Congressional District 52-48%, two-term incumbent 
Democrat John Hall has to be feeling the heat.  News Copy has learned that the names of at least eight Republicans and one Conservative are being floated for this House seat, including four each from Orange and Westchester counties.

The consistent word from all sources, from most partly leaders and particularly from people "on the ground" is that Nan Hayworth is still not resonating, despite confirmed stories that she is pressuring committee by committee for early endorsements.  Also, Conservatives and Republicans alike understand that the 19th is one of those rare districts in New York tailor made for a true conservative Republican.

And pro-life candidates are stepping forward, partly in protest but also somewhat curious that they can be the next Scott Brown.  It won't be that simple or easy in New York.

Last week, a story broke about a Yorktown (and D.C.) native named Tom DeChiaro "mulling" a run against Democrat Nan Hall in New York's 19th Congressional District.  The North County News quoted DeChiaro taking an openly pro-life stance.

DeChiaro, who is Catholic, said his beliefs will guide him when it comes to making decisions about policy.

“If you are a candidate who believes in the sanctity of life, you have to vote based on your belief, or you have no integrity. When it comes to core values, you can’t have a give and take.”

DeChiaro join Di Carlo in taking an open stance against abortion.  It is speculated that other pro-life candidates are lining up, possibly Conservative Avery Leidner out of Orange County and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, who lives less than a mile outside the district in Ossining (though News Copy can confirm DioGuardi's interest could be either statewide or again challenging eleven term incumbent Democrat Nita Lowey in the 18th Congressional in lower Westchester).

Orange County Republicans are expected to make their presence known in this race, especially since it is the largest and more dominant Republican portion of the 19th.  Former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden has declared with $100,000 on hand but the Times Herald-Record reported that he is already catching criticism from Nan Hayworth's campaign -- for his party registration (or lack thereof).

Jay Townsend, a consultant for Republican rival Nan Hayworth's campaign, responded to the announcement by revealing that McFadden isn't registered as a Republican – he has no party affiliation – and that he recently had a $21,441 tax lien filed against him, in addition to past tax problems.

McFadden “hasn't cared enough to register in the Conservative or Republican parties,” Townsend said. “Nor has he cared enough about our community to even pay his taxes and honor his obligations.”

This already has the feel of a competitive primary shaping up.

The North County News blog argued that a primary in the 19th would not help Republicans.

"... The lesson has not been lost on the state Republican party regarding the Democrats winning the Republican stronghold of upstate New York District 23 last November, another humiliating defeat for the old-guard GOP."

It was a liberal Republican endorsing the Democrat that cost Conservative Douglas Hoffman the primary, not the actual primary.

The other possible candidates in the race remain under the political radar or have not formally declared, though numerous sources comfirm that another wealthy candidate is weighing the option of a run and at least another "true conservative" is being courted by Republicans.