News Copy, New York

Ann Marie Buerkle Nominated By Republicans In NY-25: 49th State Senate Too Close To Call

Central New York Republican Commitees met last night to endorse their congressional and state legislative candidates.

Ann Marie Buerkle, highly touted by Conservatives, secured the nomination for the 25th Congressional over well-funded Mark Bitz.  Conservatives came away disappointed in the 49th State Senate District, where Republican leaders remained undecided between Andrew Russo and Dan Liedka in at least two counties.

Syracuse News 9 reported on former Syracuse Common Councilor Ann Marie Buerkle being endorsed by the Republican Party to run in the 25th district congressional race. Buerkle, an Auburn Native, currently works as an assistant state Attorney General.

News 10 Now reported on the deadlock in the 49th State Senate District between Russo, who has been endorsed by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, and Liedka.

The Syracuse Post-Standard reported on what is starting to look like a primary.

"I fully expect to be (the) Republican nominee for the state Senate this November," Fayetteville pianist Andrew Russo said in a statement.

But John DeSpirito III, chairman of the Onondaga County Republican Committee, said initial tallies appear to favor East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.

"As it stands now, it's probably Dan Liedka," DeSpirito said today.

Two days later, it still isn't settled.

Liedka only took Madison County.   Russo won Onondaga and Cayuaga county GOP committees.  Oneida County hasn't voted yet.

As it stands now, it is Russo -- especially with Conservative committee support and an endorsement of Mike Long where he made it clear that Russo would be run as a candidate in November by his party.

“It’s become very apparent to me that all four counties involved in this in the Conservative Party have closed ranks about Andrew Russo,” state Chairman Michael Long said in a telephone interview this morning. “All three (Republican) candidates are all very good candidates. But I take my signals very clearly: Andrew will be the Conservative Party candidate for the 49th Senate District.”

State Senate insiders and some county chairs have at times seemed liked they were trying to shoe a square into a circle with some races.  It partly explains why Republicans lost control of the State Senate and have lost races like last year's 23rd Congressional race.

Ironically, some GOP leaders roused Doug Hoffman's populist rise -- simply by rejecting him -- and News Copy is being told that they are the same characters rejecting Russo.

Republicans aren't learning their lesson.  They are due to get spanked again, somewhere in New York State.

Other coverage by the Syracuse Post-Standard noted that Mark Bitz may have been well-funded but Onondaga and Madison County Republicans endorsed the Conservative-backed Buerkle in the 25th.  Bitz, who had won Cayuga County, is mulling a primary.

This scenario is being repeated all over the state, a tug-of-war between Republicans over conservative and liberal candidates -- with the Conservative Party often being the tipping point in most of the races.

Given the feelings of tea party activists throughout the state, the breaking point will be conservative issues -- whether moderate and liberal Republicans like this grass-roots movement or not.

Republican Andrew Russo Building Support In 49th State Senate District: Central New York District One That Got Away

State Senate Republicans have endured a few election cycles where little seemed to align correctly in upstate New York's 49th district.  With Andrew Russo gaining support from Conservatives and key Republicans in Central New York, the GOP might finally have someone who can beat Democratic Sen. David Valesky.

Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro has endorsed Russo, reported the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Pirro characterized Russo positively as a political outsider.

"Andrew has pledged to fight for lower taxes, work to eliminate wasteful Albany spending and reform our government so it works better for taxpayers. And, he will be an outspoken advocate for Central New York. In my opinion, our Party would be well served to nominate a political outsider for the Senate this year."

With three of four county Conservative committees already endorsing Russo, the hope is that all four Republican commitees will back him too.

The fear is another split, this time caused by Republicans backing Village of East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.  Also in the race is Syracuse businesswoman Jessica Crawford. 

Conservatives aren't supporting Liedka and there is every indication that a primary would leave Republicans bruised again in the 49th.  The back story here goes back to a 2006 when State Senate insiders (on then State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's watch) beat up Republican Tom Dadey -- dividing the vote -- and handing the race to Valesky. 

There's still bad blood and the warnings out of the district are that Liedka is carrying some financial baggage, both in terms of his own financial troubles and the taxes in East Syracuse.  It's the highest village tax rate in the 49th State Senate District.

Liedka also put his name on a letter defending Valesky last year.

Russo getting Pirro's endorsement and the overwhelming support of Conservative Party support should help Republicans reclaim the 49th, if they all play well together.  Russo has secured Conservatives endorsements from Onondaga, Madison and Cayuga counties (and is expected to get Oneida).

Conservative chairs have indicated that a major endorsement of Russo by New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long is also forthcoming.

Republicans are meeting Wednesday, 3/2, to make their own minds up.

Old Republican/Conservative Battle Lines In 49th SD: Russo Backed By Tom Dadey

Another conversation with the NRCC did reveal what sounded like some level of exasperation with the county chairs over how they forced Dede Scozzafava upon the 23rd Congressional race -- without a thought to the consequences.

County chairs are at it again in the 49th State Senate District, a race against Democrat David Valesky that is probably for more important than any Congressional or statewide race in New York this year.

The Albany Times Union reported the Onondaga County Conservatives giving the edge to Andrew Russo, who is backed by Tom Dadey (who News Copy's readers will recall could have won this seat in 2006, had the rocket scientists in Joe Bruno's State Senate Campaign Committee not shanghai'd him).

County leaders are pushing East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.  Also in the race is Jessica Crawford.

Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog naturally paid close attention to the jockeying back and forth in this all-important upstate senate district, particularly concerns by Conservatives and State Chairman Mike Long that Republicans will find a way to self-sabotage another race.

Benjamin explained that the final endorsement decision will be up to Long and his state committee. As per party rules, when a district crosses county lines, the state leaders get to make the final call.

"If all the counties are in line with each other, it will make my job much easier," Long told me this afternoon. "If there's a division, I met with all three candidates and I will probably meet with them again."

"...I won't try to override the county leaders," the chairman continued. "If it's unanimous, I'll announce my support for that candidate right away. But I've been at war with this district before. I'm not averse to making a decision. I have to make it if I feel strongly one way or the other."

"Personally, I would prefer to have a unified ticket with the Conservatives and the Republicans. I think we have a shot to take back the seat. It will be difficult, but we have a shot."

Long might dare such an override in a handful of Congressional and State Senate races, including the 19th Congressional District and again the 23th.

In Westchester County, for example. County Conservative chair Gail Burns is at war with almost all Conservative leaders over endorsing a Democrat over pro-life conservative Republican Rob Astorino in last year's county executive race (Astorino would win 57-43%).

A repeat of such contrarian politics by Burns (she is expected to endorse Democrat Assemblyman Mike Spano) would almost guarantee State Committee's involvement in a jigsaw of districts overlapping from the Bronx to the farthest reachest of Dutchess and Orange.

The 49th includes all of Madison County and parts of Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga

Mike Long could be very busy this year playing referee all over New York State.