Politics on the Hudson

Democrat Andrew Cuomo maintained a wide, double-digit lead in a Siena College released today over Republican Carl Paladino.

But in some good news for New York Republicans, the races for attorney general and comptroller are in a dead heat.

Election Day is Tuesday.

The poll found Cuomo, the current state attorney general, holding a 25-percentage point lead over Paladino, a Buffalo businessman, 58 percent to 33 percent.

That is in line with most surveys showing Cuomo with a wide, double-digit lead.

The Siena poll found Cuomo leading in all parts of the state.

“Two days from Election Day and voters continue to overwhelmingly say that Andrew Cuomo is their choice for governor,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “No matter how you slice the numbers, Cuomo has a seemingly invincible lead. He leads Paladino 78-15 percent in New York City, 54-36 percent in the downstate suburbs and 47-41 percent among upstate voters.”

Incumbent Democratic Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who held a wide lead in nearly all polls until this point, was tied with Republican Harry Wilson, of Scarsdale, Westchester County. Both drew 44 percent of the vote.

State Sen. Eric Schneiderman of Manhattan, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, was also tied with his Republican rival, Dan Donovan, the Staten Island district attorney.

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, maintained wide double-digit leads over their Republican opponents, Jay Townsend and Joe DioGuardi, respectively.

The poll was conducted between Oct. 27 and 30 to 603 likely voters. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Rep. Eric Cantor has endorsed Dr. Nan Hayworth in her run against Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. From the Hayworth campaign:

Republican Whip Eric Cantor says Hayworth will be vital part of new Congress

MONROE – Republican Whip Eric Cantor electrified Republican supporters when he said Nan Hayworth would be a vital part of a new Congress that will help rebuild the nation’s economy.

“This is one of the most decisive races in one of the most important elections in our lifetime,” Rep. Cantor told Hayworth supporters gathered at the Monroe home of Don Beeler. “A new Republican majority is going to be a majority that listens to the people. People are out of work and they want to get back to work. And Nancy Pelosi should be out of work next year.”

Orange County leaders Ed Diana, the county executive, and Bill DeProspo, Republican Party chairman for the county, also gave their enthusiastic backing to Hayworth at the Friday afternoon gathering. They said she will be the partner needed in Washington to help restore the economy. Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, as well as Sheriff Carl DuBois, joined the gathering.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino endorsed Hayworth on Thursday. Both he and Diana have been aggressive in seeking to keep their respective county governments on a sound fiscal footing.

For those not in the know, the race for the 40th state Senate District features Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball against Democratic Westchester County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz.

With just days before Election Day, here’s the latest—
1. Brewster Mayor Jim Schoenig said he plans to sue Ball for saying that he was selling drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants. Ball’s comment, see the video below, came this week during a debate in Peekskill. It was the village’s code enforcement officer who was arrested several weeks ago and charged with selling licenses to those here illegally.

Here’s a video of Schoenig reading his statement.

2. Ball, for his part, called on Schoenig today to resign—and referred to the correct person.

Following Arrest of Village Employee, Ball Cites Mayor’s History of Aiding and Abetting Criminal Illegal Aliens

Following the arrest of a Village employee for selling identification to illegal aliens, Assemblyman Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson) has called on Mayor James Schoenig (R – Brewster) to resign his position as Mayor of the Village of Brewster.

“Two years ago, we stopped the Village from allowing the Guatemalan government to open up shop and hand out identification to illegal aliens. This month, a Village employee took it upon himself to do just that,” Ball said. “It is the policy of this Village to not just look the other way, but to perpetuate an illegal alien-driven black market economy that forces an entire population into a lawless, subsistence life while those who hire and house illegally reap the financial rewards. As we’ve learned repeatedly here in Brewster, these are not victimless crimes. The official policy of the Village seems to be Criminal Facilitation. Enough is enough. It is time for Mayor Schoenig to resign.”

Both Ed Kowalski of 9/11 Families for a Secure America and Michael W. Cutler, Senior Special Agent for the INS (Retired) have spoken out about the dangers of selling identification to illegal aliens, condemning the actions of the Brewster Village employee.

“In the U.S., the driver’s license is our de facto universal identification card,” Kowalski said. “These licenses become ‘breeder documents,’ which allow the recipient to obtain additional documents, based upon the false premise that he is a U.S. citizen. For example, all of the 9/11 hijackers had driver’s licenses or state-issued non-driver’s identification cards, which they then could use when opening bank accounts, renting housing, and boarding planes. What this individual is alleged to have done has to be considered in the above referenced context. This is not a victimless crime. Let’s hope that [the Village employee] is prosecuted to the full extent the law allows.”

In August, Ball announced that he would use the full weight of his elected position to put the Consolidation of the Village of Brewster to a referendum as part of a plan to save taxpayers millions of dollars annually in property taxes, water fees, and redundant government jobs.

“The potential exists that anyone who would be able to provide an individual with such a universally accepted proof of identity might, unwittingly, aid and abet those whose goals go beyond seeking unlawful employment,” Cutler said.

Scott Reif, spokesman for the Senate Republicans, had the following to say:

“Today’s Siena polls clearly show that Republicans are poised to win back the majority in the State Senate.  In the final days, it’s even more critical that we build on the momentum we are seeing and feeling in each of these races.

Our closing argument is simple – -  If New Yorkers want accountability in government, if they want lower taxes, if they want more opportunities to find a good job, and if they want to sweep out the Democrat corruption in Albany, they should elect more Republicans to the State Senate.

Two years ago, Democrats were given an opportunity to lead our government, and they have failed.  Democrats raised taxes when they should have cut them, ignored job creation when they should have focused on it, and let corruption and criminal activity flourish in Albany.  Republicans will clean up the mess.

Taxpayers can not afford the $14 billion in new tax and fee increases approved by Senate Democrats, or the out-of-control spending and dysfunction they have brought to Albany.  On Tuesday, New Yorkers have an opportunity to start fresh with a new Senate Republican majority that gives taxpayers, businesses and middle-class families its voice back.  We are confident that they will.

State Democrats were quick to provide a link today to this interview of Carl Paladino with a Vermont television station last night that also broadcasts in Plattsburgh, where Paladino was visiting yesterday.

The interview got off on the wrong foot right away, as they had broadcast troubles. Then the WCAX reporter, Kristin Carlson, first asked Paladino whether campaigning in Plattsburgh was a sign of “a campaign in trouble?”

“Absolutely not,” Paladino replied, saying they are his friends there and he promised he’d be back before Election Day.

Then he was asked about his comments Thursday about Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand being Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “little girl.”

He said he didn’t want to talk about it, but responded about whether it was a sexist comment. (He spent most of the day Friday defending the comments.)

“No, I don’t,” he said, responding to the reporter’s question. “I was referring to the fact that Ms. Gillibrand seems to vote exactly as Mr. Schumer directs her to. She doesn’t show any mind of her own in voting, and that’s why I referred to her that way.”

She persisted and he responded, “Are we going to talk issues, or am I leaving you right now?” After Carlson said it is an issue, Paladino said, “You have a nice day, Kirsten, okay.”

He then unplugged his earpiece and left.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo today didn’t indicate whether he has or will recommend jail time for former Comptroller Alan Hevesi, a Democrat who pleaded guilty earlier this month in a pay-to-play scandal while he was in office.

“He is cooperating with an ongoing investigation, and we’ll let that investigation proceed and then see where we are,” Cuomo, the attorney general, said after a rally in Ballston Lake, Saratoga County.

On Oct. 7, Hevesi admitted that about $1 million from a pension-fund investor went to fund trips for him and his family and fund campaign contributions to him and others while he had sole control of the state’s pension fund.

Cuomo’s conviction of Hevesi was the culmination of his three-year investigation into alleged corruption at the state Comptroller’s Office under Hevesi. Hevesi faces up to four years in state prison when he is sentenced Dec. 16.

Cuomo’s Republican opponent Carl Paladino in recent days has made a steady line of attack out of questions about whether Cuomo will seek jail time for Hevesi, who has agreed to cooperate with Cuomo’s ongoing probe.

Cuomo “gave him a walk so we could make a political announcement,” Paladino charged yesterday at a campaign stop in Saratoga. “He gave a criminal a walk so that he can say I convicted Hevesi and then they keep it a big secret.”

Paladino has also questioned why Cuomo didn’t investigate the scandal over alleged favoritism by state Democratic leaders to award a lucrative gaming contract for Aqueduct Race Track to a politically connected firm.

Cuomo said today that he didn’t investigate because there was already a federal investigation. The state Inspector General’s Office, meanwhile, released its scathing report earlier this month and forwarded its findings to federal and state prosecutors.

Here’s the results from today’s Marist Poll on governor and the two U.S. Senate seats.
—Andrew Cuomo: 56%; Carl Paladino: 37%; Other: 3%; Undecided: 4%
—Sen. Chuck Schumer: 60%; Jay Townsend: 36%; Other: 1%; Undecided: 3%
—Kirsten Gillibrand: 55%; Joe DioGuardi: 40%; Other: 1%; Undecided: 4%

“If there ever was a year for the GOP to punch through in New York, this was it.  But, in these three contests that hasn’t happened,” said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff.  “There may be a political tidal wave nationally, yet in New York, the water still has a tint of Democratic blue.”

Gannett commissioned a Survey USA poll and its results Friday found similarly big leads for the three Democrats. The positive for Paladino in the Survey USA poll: It showed him with a large lead, 55 percent to 36 percent, in western New York, which included the Rochester and Buffalo areas.

The Marist poll didn’t break out western New York from the rest of upstate. For all of upstate, Cuomo held a 47 percent to 45 percent lead over Paladino.

The back and forth between Democratic attorney general candidate Eric Schneiderman and Republican Dan Donovan continued in earnest today, with four days to go until the election.

Schneiderman, a state senator, again went after Donovan, Staten Island district attorney, on abortion and about an allegedly mob-connected construction company that sought New York City contracts. He also released a “plan to work toward an energy future without the Indian Point nuclear power plant” in Westchester County. Meanwhile, Donovan spent some time campaigning with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani today.

Schneiderman said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Environmental Conservation have petitioned the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny the owner of the plant, Entergy Corp., to renew Indian Point’s operating license. Schneiderman said he would continue the office’s opposition to re-licensing Indian Point; encourage the development of clean energy sources; work with power companies, businesses and government to reduce energy demand; and pursue other measures.

“It is simply irresponsible to permit the re-licensing of a dangerous, obsolete nuclear plant with a long history of safety violations and no viable escape route in the event of an accident or terrorist attack,” he said in a statement. “Now more than ever it is critical that we develop alternative clean energy sources to protect the people of this state from harm and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Giuliani campaigned with Donovan, Staten Island district attorney, at Grand Central Terminal in New York City today and sang his praises during Donovan’s last weekly campaign call with the news media.

“He has already as district attorney shown the independence that is going to be necessary to deal with one of the most corrupt governments in the United States,” Giuliani said, referring to Albany. “It’s a disgrace.”

Giuliani said Schneiderman is “part of the problem. He’s not part of the solution,” and called him a “typical Manhattan limousine liberal” who would advocate for criminals over victims. On the other hand, Donovan is one of the most well-regarded DA’s in the state, Giuliani said.

The Schneiderman campaign responded with criticism of Donovan’s record, saying the district attorney is changing the subject because murder and rape rates in Staten Island have increased during his tenure.

“By contrast, Eric Schneiderman has been a national leader in cracking down on gun violence, led the effort to close crack houses, and threw a colleague of his own party out of the Senate after he was convicted of domestic violence,” spokesman James Freeland said. “And just this week Eric was endorsed by three of the four biggest newspapers north of New York City, who all said that Eric is the leader with the record, integrity, and substantive plans to continue the work of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.” (more…)

That’s the one where Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball and Democratic Westchester County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz are going at it to replace state Sen. Vincent Leibell.

Sen. Charles Schumer came out today to endorse Kaplowitz. From the latter’s campaign:

Speaking in Bailey Park (in Somers), Sen. Schumer emphasized the need to send Kaplowitz to Albany to achieve real property tax relief and job creation for New Yorkers.

Schumer said: “I am honored to endorse Mike Kaplowitz. As a  homeowner and parent of two children who went through public schools, Mike understands the problems facing middle-class New Yorkers. As a certified financial planner and local legislator, Mike has developed a skill-set and expertise that will cut wasteful spending and save taxpayers their hard-earned money. Mike’s arsenal of ideas will provide residents of the Hudson Valley and throughout New York with the property tax relief and job creation they need and deserve. I look forward to working with Mike in the future, both at home and in Washington.”

The rally capped off a busy week of endorsements for Kaplowitz. Kaplowitz’ candidacy was endorsed by Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, earlier in the week. Kaplowitz has demonstrated deep and diverse support, and clearly has the momentum heading into election day next Tuesday.

Kaplowitz said, “I am extremely grateful to have the support of Sen. Schumer, a leader who has truly delivered for New Yorkers. He is a tireless and fierce advocate for those who want to see lower taxes and quality jobs in the Hudson Valley. I am excited to work with Sen. Schumer and together, we will acheive the results Hudson Valley residents need and deserve.

Greg Edwards, Candidate for Lt. Governor, Joins Greg Ball’s “Vote the Ins Out” Rally
Tax Revolt & “Take It Back” March Scheduled for Saturday in Carmel

Candidate for Lt. Governor Greg Edwards will join Greg Ball and candidates from throughout the Hudson Valley in Carmel on Saturday for the “Vote the Ins Out” rally and “March for Reform.”

Greg Ball’s Campaign for State Senate will host a “Vote the Ins Out” rally on the steps of the Historic Putnam County Courthouse on the afternoon of Saturday, October 30. Ball previously hosted the historic April 15 Tea Party MTA Tax Revolt at this same site, drawing an audience of 1,500 people that shut down the hamlet of Carmel. Ball also held the nation’s first Tea Party on the Courthouse steps in 2008 to protest and successfully defeat a proposed 60+% increase to the Putnam County Property Tax Levy.

“The silent majority is silent no more, and on November 2 the Ins will hear with resounding defeat that we’re saying Hell No to the Status Quo,” Ball said.

Jim Coleman will return to once again emcee this Putnam County Tea Party rally, entering the crowd throughout the day to ask, “What are we going to do about it?”

Invited speakers for the Rally including candidate for the 99th Assembly, Dr. Steve Katz (R, I – Mohegan Lake), candidate for the 90th Assembly, Bill Gouldman (R, C – Putnam Valley), and candidate for Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell (I-Carmel). Assemblyman Robert Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge) and candidate for Congress in the 17th District, Tony Mele, will also be invited to return to the Courthouse to speak. Additional invited speakers include Ed Kowalski of 9/11 Families for a Secure America, Homeland Security Expert Mike Cutler, “Rob the Bus Driver,” Kurt Colucci of the Westchester Taxpayers Association, Ed Ciffone of the United Taxpayers of Yorktown, 10-year-old Tea Party Activist Michael Buffone, and Robin Murphy of thegrassroots organization Stop Tax Hike Mike.

The Ball Campaign has reserved the Sheetmetal Workers Meeting Hall on Starr Ridge Rd in Brewster in the event of inclement weather.

The details for OCTOBER 30’s Rally Are:
WHAT: Vote the Ins Out Rally

WHEN: Saturday, October 30
Noon-2PM

WHERE:   Historic Putnam County Courthouse
40 Gleneida Ave
Carmel, NY

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino endorsed Republican Dr. Nan Hayworth in her run for Congress against Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. From the Hayworth campaign:

“We have right now, in Washington and Albany, a train wreck,” Astorino said Thursday with Hayworth and other Republican candidates at his side. “The politics in Washington, the politics in Albany, are destroying the dreams of a lot of people. We have a chance in five days to change that.”

Astorino, also a Republican, upset a long-time incumbent to take over the county executive’s job. Many believe that his election was a portent of greater Republicans wins across New York, after years in which the trend was headed the other way. Across the state, the 19th seat is emblematic as one of those that could shift and help Republicans regain the majority in the House.

Carl Paladino continued his criticism of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, reiterating today that he would repeal the payroll tax that hits New York City and its suburbs and freeze fares after the MTA approved toll hikes this week.

He said during a campaign stop in Saratoga today that he would eliminate the payroll tax enacted last year on businesses in the metropolitan area, and in a news release reiterated that he would move the MTA to under the governor’s control.

“It’s ludicrous to raise the cost of already expensive tolls while the MTA pays 8,000 employees over $100,000 a year,” Paladino said in a statement. “When I’m elected governor I will move immediately to freeze fares and reform the MTA so cost cutting is the agency-wide mission, not fare increases.”

The news release goes on to tout Paladino’s successful efforts to eliminate tolls on the Niagara section of the Thruway.