News Copy, New York

Former New York Congressman Joe DioGuardi To Declare For U.S. Senate: Another Gillibrand Challenger

Joe DioGuardi's in, not formally declared, but the tea party community has been told that he is running for U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.

The former two-term Congressman revealed his intentions to a crowd of nearly 300 people in Nanuet at the Regency Hotel.

Gillibrand also faces possible challenges from publisher Mort Zuckerman, Republican Bruce Blakeman and Democrat Harold Ford.

DioGuardi spoke at the tea party conference in Rockland County today, where the "first practicing CPA elected to Congress" was welcomed for his expertise on fiscal reform.

Usually, the tea party movement can be a bit reticent to promote a candidate.  But DioGuardi has been "walking the walk" on reforming the budget process longer than most elected officials throughout the nation, particularly through his work with the good government organization Truth In Government.

Daily Kos did a quick overview on the race two weeks ago:

"Undecided is the big winner in a contest with Ford and Blakeman, with Ford leading 35-26. Meanwhile, another Republican might be getting into the game, with the news that former Congressman and perennial candidate Joe DioGuardi is thinking about getting into the race. DioGuardi, 69, served in Congress for two terms way back in the 1980s, and is a favorite of the Conservative and Right To Life Parties."

DioGuardi will be formidable, as a speaker and a fundraiser.  He is reaching out to county leaders, hustling to secure the Conservative line and has been received well by State GOP leaders.

Sources within the Conservative Party are complaining that Blakeman was only brought into the race as a foil for former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato -- whose lobbying hooks into Gillibrand though her father, Doug Rutnik, should only be viewed as a conflict of interest.

Blakeman's prior political incarnation during Long Island's fiscal collapse a decade ago might also be held against him -- but he gave a great speech to Conservatives on Homeland Security. 

DioGuardi's own speech to Conservatives on the national debt was acknowledged as the best speech of the New York State Conservative Party's Political Action Conference.

DioGuardi's own foreign policy experience throughout the Balkans will give the two-term Congressman an edge in this race, though early polls indicate the dominating issues will be fiscal.

The Bronx born Italian-American CPA, who was the youngest partner in history of Arthur Andersen 40 years ago (when it was still considered "the marines of the accounting profession"), excelled as a human rights activist for the Albanians.

A good friend of News Copy over the years, DioGuardi was ahead of his time never cashing in as a lobbyist and was maintaining a modest profile as a citizen activist long before the tea party movement was started.

Of course, DioGuardi is also the proud father of American Idol's Kara DioGuardi -- which means the Internet's search engines are probably going to be busier than usual this election cycle.

Gillibrand's in for a long hot summer.

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.

Conservative Party Opposes Zeal for Repeal of Term Limits

We stand corrected.

The Conservative Party of New York State did issue a statement in opposition to the proposed repeal of term limits by the New York City Council.

State Chairman Mike Long said such a repeat would be a "defiant act".

Not a word about Bloomberg though, just a reference to Rudy Giuliani after 9/11 -- and the need for "experience" after such a crisis.  A tacit comparison between terrorism and deflation? 

Not a word in the media about the Conservative Party's stand either, unless we missed that too.