Rosen bows out of race against Lowey (UPDATED)
Larchmont Business executive and Army officer Mark Rosen has dropped out in the race against Rep. Nita Lowey after learning he’ll be deployed for overseas combat early next year. 
“Obviously that impacts my ability to serve as a Congress person if I were honored and lucky enough to do that,” he said today. “It was an impossible choice and I have to serve in the Army. I love the Army and it’s the right thing to do.”
Lowey, 72, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1988 and is one of the House’s most powerful Democrats. She serves the 18th Congressional district, which covers most of Westchester County and parts of Rockland County.
Rosen, 48, is a Larchmont resident and a senior vice president at Adecco, one of the world’s largest job recruiting firms. The married father of five has spent more than 15 years in the Army and is serving as a lieutenant colonel and an executive officer.
As several polls suggest a growing anti-incumbent mood in the country, Lowey’s re-election bid this year was widely seen as being tougher for her than past election cycles where she often won by whopping margins. Rosen had hired some of the same strategists Rob Astorino used last year to upset Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, another longtime incumbent.
The remaining candidates publicly declaring they’ll run against Lowey are Paul Wasserman, a Briarcliff Manor venture capitalist seeking office for the first time, and Jim Russell, a Hawthorne computer consultant that is running for the district seat for his fifth time.
Despite being out of the race, Rosen said Lowey is “still very very beatable.” He added he plans on stumping for whichever candidate the GOP backs.
“Presuming we get the right candidate, I will get behind the GOP and conservative candidate and help them win in November 100 percent,” he said. “I don’t know who that candidate will be, but I will certainly support the GOP and conservative candidate.”
Rosen learned about his deployment this past week. The date, location and length of his deployment are still being worked out, but he’ll probably be heading to Iraq or Afghanistan for a combat tour ranging from 6-12 months, he said.
Rosen said he faces mandatory retirement from the armed services in two years, adding he won’t rule out future bids for public office.
“I got engaged in politics only recently but I’m in this for the long haul,” he said. “I’m going to help whomever in November but to me this isn’t about November. This about our long term policies in governance for our children. That goes way beyond 2010.”
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He could email his votes from Afghanistan and they’d probably have more cogent thinking and understanding of reality therein than almost any of our coiffured, potted plant stunads in Washington are capable of offering.
Why do I get the feeling that the Commander in Chief was using his powers to force out a potential opponent? “Oh, you want to run for Congress? You oppose me? Well, too bad—I own you. You’re going back to Afghanistan, pal. Sorry! And if you try again, I’m going to stop-loss you.”
We thank Mr. Rosen for his service to his nation. Here is a man who really does put “Country First”. I hope Mrs. Lowey pays heed to what Mr. Rosen is doing. A real patriot is Mr. Rosen.
Sad loss for our district to not have a new representative with the business acumen and sense of duty of Mr. Rosen. Although I appreciate the 22 years in office that Nita has served, it is time for change (or term limits!). Government in my opinion works better when it is closer to the people and run by the people, not by career politicians. I hope there are more candidates out there like Mr. Rosen (either R, D or I) that are willing to step up to the plate to bring new ideas and leadership in Washington and not just tow the party line. If there are any takers out there, now is the time to do it!
Interesting coincidence on Mr. Rosen’s deployment and frankly there is nothing I would put past the Social Democrats to keep there sorry selves in office to finish their work of destroying our country.
Thank you for your service Col Rosen and know that you are far more worthy of the office than the current occupant.
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