GOP Primary Certain In New York's 19th: Nan Hayworth Continues Attacking McFadden

A five candidate Republican primary is forming in New York's 19th Congressional District.

It's not too different from the four candidate candidate in Long Island's 1st and and the two man wrestling match in Brooklyn-Staten Island's 13th.

Congressional candidate Nan Hayworth has a lot of company in this race.

The Mount Kisco native also has a lot to say about one of her opponents, Republican David McFadden from Orange County.

"Mr. McFadden has never voted in a Republican primary, and according to the
New York State Board of Elections, is not a registered Republican.  New York
State law requires that candidates be a member of the party in order to vote
for themselves in a primary.

Mr. McFadden anouncement today leaves me wondering if he is aware of New
York State Election law, and I am also curious if Mr. McFadden has paid the
most recent of several tax liens filed against him by the State of New
York."

-Jay Townsend, spokesperson for Dr. Nan Hayworth

So it looks as if Nan Hayworth isn't angling for the independent vote in this election.

Jay Townsend is her man behind the curtain.  He's an able and successful political consultant.  I have worked with him, for him and he has shown up to help my friends put out a few fires over the years.  Townsend's also good at starting them, both when he worked for Democrats and Republicans, so the body politic here is fascinating.

McFadden's campaign has been patient and so are the other candidates who have felt stung by Hayworth supporters in recent days.  It also seems more than apparent that Hayworth, Inc. is taking aim at taking down News Copy -- killing the messenger -- but we're sorry to report that Bob Fois is not running for Congress.

And I am not working for any candidate in this race, at least not yet (and will disclose if that happens).

It wouldn't make a difference anyway.  This is a free country and I'm free to help or support or ponder or criticize or comment on any candidate I want ... within reason.  No fires being set here though.  Gosh ... I just finished criticizing my friend Rob Astorino in the prior column.  News Copy will never be a mutual admiration society.

News Copy finally caught up with Tom DeChiaro yesterday and enjoyed his candor.  DeChiaro an articulate and civic-minded type who could surprise the Hudson Valley this summer.  Also, Kristia Cavere has begun to aggressively campaign (and raise money) -- and Neil Di Carlo struck most of our counterparts as a gentleman.  All appear ready with access to money.  All appear articulate and willing to put forth a campaign.

I guess the point I am making is that the 19th is steeped in quality candidates.  May the best man or woman win.  There's no need to rush the timetable and voters should be given an adequate chance to meet and hear all of them.  Perhaps it is Hayworth's anxiety to slam the political barn door shut so early that has so many observers nervous.

It would be a shame if negative energy turned what otherwise would be a rousing triumph for Republicans into a gutter battle in the 19th.  But the same scenario is being repeated all over New York, and undoubtedly all over the United States.

Five well-funded Republicans, four pro-life, two from Orange County, two from Putnam County and one from Westchester all want to challenge two-term incumbent Democrat John Hall.

Frankly, it all has started to resemble the pile-on in New York's 20th last year -- that weakened Jim Tedisco's candidacy against Scott Murphy.  It won't be too different from the three-way shooting match in 23rd last year that found a liberal Republican endorsing a Democrat over a Conservative.

Putnam County Tony Scannapieco acknowledged that all political committee chairs have never seen so many eager Republicans stepping to the plate as candidates.  Scannapieco is a wise and weathered chair who knows all about competition in his home county, one of the fastest growing places in New York.

The Putnam chair reminded a crowded in Putnam Valley at that GOP committee's St. Patrick's celebration what happened last year in the 20th and the 23rd.  Scannapieco wasn't shooting down the idea of a primary but he cautioned how critically important it would be for all Republicans to pull behind the nominated and/or eventual candidate in any election -- whether it be for State Senate, Assembly or Congress.

I am paraphrasing but Scannapieco basically said it would be a good idea if GOP candidates played well with others and worked as team players when all was said and done.

Primaries are good and primaries are bad, if handled the wrong way.

The warnings of the 20th and 23rd are still with us -- and must be heeded.

Comments

[KB]

Chairman Tony Scannapieco put it out very well, as I was at that event you referenced.

I am also an open supporter of Nan Hayworth, and do not see any wrong doing pointing out problems with a candidates voter registration and voting records. That information can be obtained by the public and would be exposed eventually. It's best to get it out of the way now while it's still early.

That being said, I hope this primary doesn't get too dirty as stated before, because the Chairman is right. One of the reasons I believe John Hall was successfull against Sue Kelly was his successfull primary that he came through virtually unscathed. We need a similar situation to be successfull in the 19th.

I still believe the best, most qualified, most consistant candidate to be Dr. Nan Hayworth; thus, I am giving her my full support.

[Riled Up]

Sue Kelly was a snore. Wonderful woman one on one and great at the inside stuff. I just think one of the things that weakened Kelly against Hall was all this abortion stuff. It's not even our party's issue.

Nan's nicer, gentler, more a coffee talker but I want to see all the candidates before I make a decision. I like Tom DeChiaro. He's not a "bar owner" and you'd be amazed how articulate a man he is. The man's a professor, for crissake. I also like Neil DeCarlo's sense of humor. There's a "Meet John Doe" quality about both these fellows.

Anyway, if Nan can go after Mr. McFadden's business, anyone can go after her livelihood. Her husband makes money in healthcare, right? I don't want a doctor's advocate telling me what to do, the same way I don't want some socialist in D.C. telling me what to do either.

So does this mean the gloves are off and the socks too? Should I get some popcorn and start a betting pool?

Maybe owning a bar might come in handy, especially if this becomes a brawl.

[Robert Hornak]

Bob, get a grip. Is there something negative about pointing out that McFadden in INELIGIBLE to run in the Republican party? Isn't there a law to that effect?

And you tell me that if Nan Hayworth, or her husband, had tax leins for failure to pay, that you wouldn't be trumpeting that in your headlines.

These two things are "politics for dummies" stuff. If you're gonna spin this as some imagined sign of desperation on the part of the Hayworth campaign, you have proven that you've lost all objectivity.

[Doug R]

This is a great column from an informed observer. I know and support Nan, and she's all that everyone says she is. Amazing person, that just so happens to be running for Congress.
.
So far, so good for her as she's picking up endorsements right and, umm, center. Seems to be pretty effective at gaining the respect of long-time Republican town caucuses while also capturing the energy and excitement from Tea Partiers (crucial group in '10). Meanwhile, supporters of Hall, like St. Obama seem to be fading back into the woodwork. Hopefully a good November for fiscal responsibility.
.
But these upcoming 6 months of internal discussion and argument aren't bad either. It's actually great that so many folks want to replace John Hall; it's part of our democratic process. And I would bet that Nan is excited to be part of it, because it will make her (I hope) a better candidate this Fall.
.
And I would bet that John Hall's crowd is unhappy being "tossed up"