News Copy, New York

DioGuardi Declares for U.S. Senate In New York: Gillibrand Facing Fiscal Conservative With A Bronx Cheer

Joe DioGuardi declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate today, with the expectation of securing the Conservative and Independence Party lines by May.

Grand Central Terminal hosted DioGuardi's announcement and he had been on Fox and Friends this morning.

DioGuardi also projected he could raised a minimum of $10 million against Kirsten Gillibrand, whose embattled stances with Democrats and Republicans alike has earned her the nickname of "flip-flip" all over New York State.

Reuters and the Associated Press framed this as "Kara's dad" goes to Washington -- but DioGuardi is a former Congressman (1985-1989).

He was the youngest partner in the history of the accounting profession, a Knight of Malta and one of the first (and few) practicing Certified Public Accountants ever elected to Congress.

Bottom line:  DioGuardi's credentials with the New York State Conservative Party are top-notch.

He is also extremely well-liked by Independence Party leaders.  Reliable sources close to the Conservative Party counted 18 endorsements from party chairs or committees.

And the real measurable sense is that State GOP chair Ed Cox also respects DioGuardi -- and for reasons a lot of insiders won't admit openly.

In New York, those who have been betrayed by the prior political establishments remains an exclusive (but growing) club.  Cox and DioGuardi are survivors.  There's an empathy here that D'Amato, Inc. can't diminish.

Finally, DioGuardi never sold out as a D.C. lobbyist, never cashed in as a D.C. insider (Joe's always been the consumate "OUTSIDER") -- and this hyperbolic type-a self-starter can raise money -- along with being a team player for a lot of Republicans around New York State.

DioGuardi's brings a Bronx cheer with an attitude.

Newsday emphasized DioGuardi's finanical acumen.

Most New York news outlets won't take Kara DioGuardi's father seriously until the country sees him a few times on national news shows.  One of the reasons New York State is in such bad shape is that the news media here has an insider's habit of discounting anyone daring to disagree with the establishment.

The Daily News covered Kara but was only due to the first volley of questions being about DioGuardi's daughter.

As would be expected by the liberal New York press, Gawker beat up BOTH DioGuardi and his daughter.

"Kara, one of the most obviously insecure people on television, is a judge on the popular television show American Idol, where she is generally considered an unpleasant usurper whose need for attention constantly distracts from the performances of the actual contestants."

Kara DioGuardi was a Duke University graduate with honors -- successful in the publishing industry with Billboard magazine, highly respected in the music industry as a songwriter and singer (literally one of the key "go to" people in music studios around the world) and already one of the single most recognizable (and beloved) faces in the music business BEFORE she joined American Idol.

New York Magazine called Joe DioGuardi's step into statewide campaign an audition -- but gave him a fair shake.

He's a certified CPA and a government-spending watchdog, and sounded a lot like a die-hard tea partier when he announced his candidacy at Grand Central Station this morning. "Are you ready to take your country back!?!" he shouted. "The new tyranny is Washington and Albany!"

News Copy will have more about the other candidates in this race at a later date, including David Malpass and Dan Senor.

Harry Wilson Running For New York State Comptroller: Joining Growing Downstate G.O.P. Slate

Westchester County resident and Rob Astorino ally Harry Wilson has formally declared his candidacy for New York State Comptroller.

Wilson is also getting major support from John Faso, who many wanted to see run again for Comptroller or Congress.

The New York Daily News reported on Wilson's announcement and his steady pace of endorsements.

"He's poised to receive the support of the Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Montgomery GOP county chairs this evening ...

"Wilson's campaign also announced today that he has landed the backing of the Westchester, Rockland and Fulton GOP chairs. Wilson, who is being billed by the campaign as a "restructuring expert," was raised in Fulton County (Johnstown)."

Wilson was an integral part of the transition team for newly elected Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Obviously, the strength of Astorino's win in Westchester -- coupled now with two statewide candidates (Wilson and expected U.S. Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi) out of that county and Rick Lazio's gubernatorial run (joined by Bruce Blakeman out of Long Island for U.S. Senate) -- should give suburban and downstate Republicans a renewed rallying cry.

Rockland Tea Party Holds Civic Conference: Cold Shoulder From Palisades Mall

"It's not what we oppose," explained Rockland County Tea Party organizer Anthony Mele. "It's what we are for."

Despite the Palisades Center not allowing the Rally for America to gather at the Nanuet mall, Rockland County was host to a well received "Blueprint for Change" on President's Day.

A few hundred well-intetended citizens held what organizers call a civic conference at the Comfort Inn in Nanuet.

Mele and others, including former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, explained that people are worried about over-taxing, over-spending and government over-reaching into their lives.

Moderated by a group called Conserveality, the day included panel discussions on grass-roots planning, galvanizing the voters, how to become more politically active in the coming elections with campaigns -- and joining political parties as committee members/district leaders.

Above is the welcome video that started the conference and below are some clips from the entire conference.

The conference had only one flashpoint.  Some discussion of social conservative issues in a news story one week prior to the conference prompted this letter to the editor by Joseph DiToma of Pearl River in the local Gannett newspaper disagreeing with a Rockland lawmaker.

The comments of Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco that "many are concerned about gay marriage and abortion" is precisely the kind of comment that is meant to cause division in an otherwise noble cause ...

... Gay marriage, abortion, etc., these are not our concern. Our concern is to take back our government, abolish the 16th and 17th amendments and reinstate the Constitution as our basis of law. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from our quest ...

Tea party groups appear divided on more than just the social issues, including territorial fights and resistance to endorsing any candidate (or getting involved in any political party).  However, today's conference in Rockland had no revealed controversies or disagreements.  Much like the Founding Fathers they tend to emulate, this is not a one size fits all movement -- nor are these true patriots afraid of dissent.

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.