News Copy, New York

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.

New York 19th Drawing More Candidates: Andrew Saul Out As Di Carlo Drops In

Neil Di Carlo is officially in, having filed with the FEC.

Andrew Saul's long-speculated run in the 19th Congressional District will not happen.  News Copy had confirmation last night of Saul's choice not to run and the MTA official has circulated the word to county chairs.  Saul's ability to self-finance and his respect among Westchester Republicans would have given him immediate credibility.  The story circulating now is that Saul could be the Republican's Lieutenant Governor candidate.

Enter Neil Di Carlo, pro-life and plain-speaking on tea party issues.

"The reason you haven’t heard of Neil Di Carlo until now is quite simple. He isn’t a politician."

Di Carlo has a website, a message, a catchy design and religious conservative stands on social issues that should satisfy social and fiscal conservatives throughout this five-county district.  The 19th does have a strong Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical base of voters.

However, an overt religious conservative message could be dissonant with the libertarian bent of many tea party activists in the 19th.  There are some doubts that a religious-right approach is the way to go.

It's still refreshing to see a candidate take a firm stand on social and fiscal issues -- and not be shy about who he is ...

News Copy sat down with Di Carlo last month at The New York State Conservative Party's Political Action Conference.  Di Carlo's common sense business sense was impressive.  He's truly not a politician.

By the way, Yorktown's Tom DeChiaro might still be in the race.  But the Yorktown winery owner has no campaign in place.  DeChiaro is reported to have good D.C. ties.  He is also the only candidate to articulate a pro-life stance in the newspapers.  This is no surprise since DeChiaro is a professor at Catholic University.

Primary Picture Emerges

Di Carlo will dent Nan Hayworth's Republican base and motivate Conservatives.  Meanwhile, Hayworth was just endorsed by Southeast's Republican chair -- Di Carlo's backyard in Putnam County.  Di Carlo also has to get a move on raising money but his resume indicates an ability to raise enough to at least get him through a primary.

With David McFadden announcing on Saturday (last week's snowstorm delayed McFadden's formal announcement) and a second candidate out of Orange reported to be days away from announcing an aggressive exploratory committee, Hayworth could find herself in a competitive primary before March 15th.

Nan remains silent about the Mount Kisco Medical Group, where her husband, Dr. Scott Hayworth is CEO.  Evidence is now mounting about abortions being performed there, though pro-life leaders have not yet gone on the record characterizing it as an abortion clinic.  Hayworth continues to accumulate local endorsements but county chairs are reportedly still waiting for a better candidate to enter the race..

No other candidate in the 19th has Hayworth's endorsements or money.  No other candidate in the 19th has Hayworth's debts or drawbacks to securing the Conservative line either.

McFadden Campaign Takes Shape In 19th: Hayworth Silent On Abortion Questions

The candidate from Orange County previously described as most likely to exit the race against Democrat John Hall in New York's 19th Congressional District is running.

He also appears poised to establish a political beachhead in Westchester County.

Former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden will formally announce his candidacy in Orange County Saturday morning at 11:00 in Tuxedo at the Duck Cedar Plaza.

The event will be held at a newly opened, yet largely unoccupied, retail space where McFadden will be joined by the project’s developer and other local business leaders to tour the site. 

“This may not be the setting ordinarily used to announce the launch of a campaign, but these aren’t ordinary times.  As the owner of a small business myself, I think it’s appropriate to use this occasion to highlight local business owners taking risks and struggling to see their dreams come to fruition even as they face the damaging Washington policies which continue to harm the biggest engine of our economy: small business, ” said McFadden.

He added, “If given the opportunity to represent this District, my number one priority will be local job creation.  And by protecting free enterprise and lessening the tax burden on our local families and small business owners, we will do just that.”

The ambiguity in McFadden's professional biography on his campaign website is noted.  Critics on both sides of the river claim the former mayor is besieged with legal and financial problems.  Neither Nan Hayworth's campaign nor anyone else has provide evidence of his notoriety -- though McFadden hasn't provided the names of the businesses he's run either.

Both Sides of The River

McFadden has been social networking a BIT the past month, Facebook "friending" anyone who isn't nailed down.  More impressive has been the outreach by this Orange County campaign across the river.  The Orange County businessman has secured support from operatives and media professionals in Westchester.

It's clear McFadden won't be a stranger in Republican Nan Hayworth's home county.

It's as clear that McFadden won't be alone in his own county: with a pro-life conservative Republican from Orange -- with national tea party credentials -- expected to aggressively circulate within the next two weeks.

The 19th could get crowded.  Though Tom DeChiaro of Yorktown in Westchester and Neil DeCarlo of Southeast in Putnam County have been quiet in recent weeks, Nan Hayworth might be facing the resources of four well-funded pro-life campaigns by March 15th.  Of course, this could split the "true conservative" base and actually help Hayworth.

Abortion Questions

Hayworth keeps silent about questions surrounding the Mount Kisco Medical Group, where her husband as CEO has denied that the facility is an abortion clinic.

Sources have told News Copy that evidence exists proving that Dr. Hayworth does run an OB/GYN clinic that performs abortions.  The issue is not expected to go away anytime soon but no accountable claim by a candidate or organization has surfaced.  Perhaps McFadden himself could change that.

Saturday will be McFadden's day to make a noise like a Republican elephant and remind the rest of the Hudson Valley that Orange County is still in the game.

Orange County Gears Up To Challenge John Hall: Incumbent Democrat Not Raising Money

Incumbent Congressman John Hall (D-Dover Plains) isn't raising money and challengers are lining up.  The 19th Congressional District only went 52-48% for Barack Obama in 2008, with John McCain winning Putnam County and portions of northern Westchester (particularly the town of Somers).

The two-term Democrat must be viewed as extremely vulnerable with only $451,584 on hand, according to F.E.C. reports.  Republican Nan Hayworth has $519,007 on hand but already had $292,297 in campaign debts by the first of the year.

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Hall couldn't remember the lyrics to the national anthem before a Marist College women's basketball game Sunday night. For a professional singer, Hall gave a lazy rendition -- or maybe he didn't want to sing certain lyrics ("O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming")?

See for yourself.  It was so uninspiring that his flat repetition of the same lyrics almost goes unnoticed.

Hall better sharpen up.  Republicans in Orange County intend to put forth a significant pro-life conservative Republican challenger in the coming weeks.

Orange County GOP Chairman Bill DeProspo has focused on recruiting a "true conservative" to unify the Conservative and Republican parties -- the same way he aggressively backed and fundraised Greg Ball's aborted run.

And it is clear, directly from New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long and his entire operation that Conservatives do not want to support Mount Kisco native Nan Hayworth.

Local chairs on the Westchester County Conservative Committee have expressed doubts about Hayworth's conservative credentials -- and there are fears of a credibility gap on abortion.

Questions are being raised by Conservatives and Republicans alike about Hayworth accepting money from a the American Medical Group Association, a PAC significantly funded by the Mount Kisco Medical Group where Hayworth's husband is CEO.  There are unsubstantiated claims that abortions are performed there -- and denials by Dr. Scott Hayworth that the Mount Kisco Medical Group is an abortion clinic.  The are also questions about the PAC itself, with 81% percent of its recipients being Democrats.

Hayworth is the only candidate in the race with a committee filed properly with the F.E.C., though former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden is announcing his candidacy on Saturday.  Multiple sources in Orange County have repeatedly cautioned that McFadden is too ridden with legal and financial problems to be taken seriously.

In addition to McFadden, Yorktown's Tom DeChiaro and Southeast's Neil Di Carlo -- both openly pro-life candidates -- had told reporters their interest in 19th.  Neither appear yet to have filed with the F.E.C. or put together an organized campaign.

News Copy can confirm that an Orange County native will enter the race for the 19th, described privately by Conservatives and Republicans as "organized and intelligent" -- a "pro-life tea party conservative Republican" who can defeat John Hall.

NRCC Elevates Hayworth To Contender: Endorsed By Tea Party Group As Hall Stumbles

A tea party group from the city of Port Jervis in Orange County called the Tristate Sons of Liberty has endorsed Republican Congressional candidate Nan Hayworth.

Hayworth is vying to face off against Democrat John Hall in the 19th Congressional District.

The same day as the tea party endorsement, Hayworth was elevated to contender status by the NRCC on the basis of her fundraising.

"Hayworth’s campaign has already achieved some success, reporting $519,000 cash on hand as of December 31, which is $67,416 more than Democrat incumbent Hall had on hand."

A Republican surpassing an incumbent Democrat in fundraising this early in an election cycle is significant.

It's an indication that Hall might be more than vulnerable.  Sources in the Hudson Valley have suggested the two-term House Rep is "giving up" but the NRCC cautioned that the 19th was won by Barack Obama (52-48).

Hayworth's financial advantage makes her formidable, so anyone looking to challenge her better hurry up.

Back in December, the City Hall blog reported that Assemblyman Greg Ball was being asked to re-enter the race.

Ball appears solely focused on running for State Senate, despite that leaving him on a collision course with popular incumbent State Senator Vincent Leibell.  The NRCC still openly praises Ball but he is a political peck's bad boy or whipping boy depending on who you speak to ...

As for Hayworth, money changes a lot of minds but the following sentiments from two months ago still appear to hold true.

The county chairs say their main misgiving about Hayworth is her lack of political experience. But a personal dispute is playing into it as well: Hayworth hired John Hicks, the former party chair of Orange County, as her campaign advisor. Hicks is embroiled in a long-term dispute with DeProspo, who helped oust him. DeProspo says that by choosing Hicks, Hayworth has displayed her political naiveté and an unwillingness to fit in with the local G.O.P. team.

“I think that the NRCC has looked at [Hayworth] on paper,” he said.' “They have their own goals and benchmarks and guidelines…what they really, really like about her is that she has a lot of money.”

As chairman of Orange County in 1996, Hicks found himself at odds with Conservatives over his support of Sue Kelly -- whose radical late-term partial-birth abortion stands then had her at odds with half the national Republican Party.  DeProspo's backing the liberal William Weld for governor in 2006 didn't endear himself to Conservaties either -- but the Orange County Chairman has openly articulated a willingness to support a pro-life conservative in the 19th.

So far, that candidate has not arrived.

Meanwhile, News Copy was handed solid confirmation on another detail in the 19th that may surprise people.

The same political operatives within the NRCC praising Nan Hayworth had far more good things to say about Greg Ball's aborted candidacy.  The respect for Ball's run in the 19th was so effusive -- by NRCC staff simultaneously promoting Hayworth -- that it seemed hard to believe that this was the same organization Nan Hayworth's campaign had claimed wanted Ball out of the race over a faulty poll.

Currently, Greg Ball has not articulated ANY plans to re-enter this race nor does that appear likely.  However, Hayworth is vulnerable to a challenge in a primary -- regardless of what the rocket scientists in D.C. say. 

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.