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Conservative Party
A Dispatch from Grimm Headquarters
Nov 5th - 7:42 pm
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It’s about 8:30 p.m. and supporters of Congressman Michael Grimm are trickling into a large ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island, taking their seats at tables draped with white linens and adorned with small American flags.
A color guard marches in. They pledge allegiance to the flag.
Fast forward a few hours, you have a crowd cheering around a bar and an aide to the congressman taking the stage — not necessarily in that order. The aide at the live mic invites the remaining Grimm supporters to join him at the bar for some “f—ing shots!”
Yes, it was clear: the congressman was well on his way to winning a third term. More >
Long, In Radio Ad, Pushes A Vote For Row C
Oct 22nd - 11:47 am
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Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long in a 60-second radio ad released this morning urges voters to back Republican Rob Astorino for governor by voting for him on row C, the long-held ballot position for the Conservative Party.
“Astorino for Governor means more on the Conservative Party line, row C,” Long says in the radio ad. “When you vote Astorino on the Conservative Party line you tell Albany you’re fed up with the same old games. Demand real change. Vote on the Conservative Party line for Rob Astorino for Governor.”
Long’s ad comes as Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins hits 9 percentage points in a Siena College poll.
While minor-party candidates tend to over perform in polls, the likely protest vote directed to Hawkins is expected to be high, which could vault the Green Party to a much higher ballot level.
At the same time, there’s a lot more competition for the fusion ballot lines, including the Working Families Party.
Astorino, the Westchester County executive, is running on the “Stop Common Core” ballot line.
Cuomo and state Democrats this year formed the “Women’s Equality Party” line that could challenge the position of the WFP, a labor-backed organization whose endorsement the governor had to fight for in May.
Panepinto Fights Back; Says Governor Will Come Around
Oct 22nd - 1:16 am
After weeks of questions over why Governor Cuomo hasn’t endorsed him and a constant barrage of attacks from his political rivals, State Senate Candidate Marc Panepinto is firing back.
“I’m talking about the issues. My opponents want to talk about negative things. This guy did this. This guy did that,” Panepinto said.
The Buffalo Democrat will appear on the Democratic and Working Families lines on a crowed Ballot in New York’s 60th State Senate District. His chief rival, Incumbent Senator Mark Grisanti, lost the GOP Primary in September but not the support of his Republican colleagues.
The Senate Republican Campaign Committee is behind a scathing attack against Panepinto. The TV ad, details a 2001 election law misdemeanor. It accuses Panepinto of submitting “blatantly fraudulent voter petitions” and “personally forging signatures of handicapped voters and voters who had been dead for years.”
Panepinto claims he signed off on some signatures even though he wasn’t present when they were collected. Those signatures turned out to be bogus and the Democrat pleaded guilty to making false witness statements on petitions.
“Here’s somebody who’s been associated with organizations that affiliated with racketeering. He also had some other allegations against him that have to do with more election fraud. So it seems to be a pattern of abuse that this individual has. So we have make sure that this person is not elected to the state senate,” said SRCC Chair Cathy Young.
Panepinto briefly lost his legal license and has consistently expressed remorse over what he’s called a “mistake.” More than a decade later, Panepinto told Time Warner Cable News Reporter Ryan Whalen he’s moved on.
“I’ve paid the price for that. It’s ancient history and so if they want to continue to talk about what happened thirteen years ago, that’s fine. I think the voters want to know what their plans are for the next two years,” said Panepinto.
On top of that, Panepinto is facing new questions over his wife’s appearance in his campaign flyers. A man claiming to be an unaffiliated voter filed a complaint against Panepinto because he used his wife’s image, State Supreme Court Judge Catherine Nugent-Panepinto, in campaign flyers.
“This attack on my wife is disgusting,” Panepinto said.
Panepinto is confident his use of her image does not violate election law.
“The Office of Court Administration provided my wife with documentation that it is permissible for her to be in my commercials, in my advertisements as long as she’s not identified as a judge and we don’t even identify her by name,” Panepinto added.
As for Governor Cuomo’s endorsement, Panepinto told reporters at a rally for the Women’s Equality Act in Buffalo Tuesday that he’s not concerned about it. Panepinto pointed out he stands with the Governor on the WEA and the Buffalo Billion.
“I support the Governor on those agenda points and most of his agenda. The fact he hasn’t endorsed yet doesn’t concern me. He knows where he needs to be to pass the Women’s Equality Act and that’s not with Senator Mark Grisanti,” said Panepinto.
Grisanti is hoping to buck the odds and win on the Independence line. Kevin Stocker is the endorsed Republican and Attorney Timothy Gallagher is the endorsed Conservative Party Candidate.
Conservative Party Pans Prop. 3
Oct 14th - 1:13 pm
The state Conservative Party has come out against Prop. 3 – the so-called “Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014″ – saying borrowing $2 billion to pay for educational technology, no matter how beneficial it may be in the short term, is not a smart investment when the technology is likely to be outdated long before the debt is paid off.
“The ‘Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014,’ would have voters believe that, if passed, every student will have the classroom technology necessary to achieve success, leaving out the fact that the very same technology is obsolete within five years,” the party said in a statement released this afternoon.
“The New York State budget currently allocates tax dollars specifically for computer-hardware aid. To incur an additional $2 billion debt for iPads, laptops and other devices requires these students to begin their adult lives with an additional enormous debt they cannot approve, yet, must repay.”
The party said it supports “reasonable” spending to meet the educational needs of New York’s students. But it also noted that state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report in 2013 that found New York has the second highest level of debt in the country, and spends a larger share of its annual budget repaying principal and interest on outstanding debt than similarly sized states.
“To add an additional $2 billion for technological support that will be outdated before the Bond matures is an irresponsible financial burden being put on the very children the bond is supposed to help,” the Conservatives concluded.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo first proposed the Smart Schools Bond Act in his 2014 State of the State address, but hasn’t done much so far this campaign season to promote it. (He’s a little preoccupied with his own re-election campaign and, as of today, promoting his new memoir).
The Conservative Party is supporting Prop. 1 – the redistricting reform amendment that has divided the good government community. That amendment was a result of a deal Cuomo struck in 2012 with legislative leaders in exchange for his signing off on the highly gerrymandered Senate and Assembly redistricting plans, even though he had promised – as far back as the 2010 campaign – that he would veto any lines that were drawn in the traditional, politically-controlled manner.
Cuomo yesterday declined to take a position on Prop. 2, which would switch the Legislature over to a paperless system, putting bills lin-line rather than distributing hard copies on the desk of every single lawmaker in both chambers. The proposal was pushed by GOP Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, who will be discussing it on CapTon this evening, as a means of modernizing legislative operations and saving money in the process.
UPDATE: The Conservative Party also supports Prop. 2, which Shaun Marie Levine, executive director, told me is “just common sense.”
Conservative Chair: Vote ‘No’ On Grisanti
Oct 13th - 6:34 am
State Conservative Chairman Mike Long weighed in on one of the state’s most hotly contested Senate races, urging conservative voters to reject GOP Sen. Mark Grisanti’s long-shot re-election bid on the Independence Party line.
During a CapTon interview last Friday night, Long said he is “no fan” of Grisanti’s, accusing the senator of “breaking faith” with conservatives when he voted “yes” on same-sex marriage and the SAFE Act.
“I’m not looking to champion his re-election as a state senator on the Independence line,” Long said of Grisanti.
“I would encourage Conservatives to send a very clear message for Albany – conservative-minded Democrats, conservative Republicans – vote for the Conservative Party candidate for state Senate, vote for someone who believes in the principles that they believe in.”
The Conservative Party candidate is attorney Tim Gallagher, who was tapped to run on Row C back in May. At the time, Gallagher was believed to be a placeholder, but the party has made no effort to remove him from the ballot.
Long’s comments are a blow to the Senate Republicans, whose leader, Sen. Dean Skelos, has endorsed Grisanti, despite the fact that the senator lost the September GOP primary to Kevin Stocker.
Skelos said last week that he doesn’t know Stocker, and the candidate hasn’t reached out to the Senate GOP for assistance. Stocker has repeatedly refused to say if he would caucus with his fellow Republicans – or support Skelos for leader – if he’s elected next month.
The SRCC recently released a TV ad that blasted the Democratic candidate in this four-way race – Marc Panepinto – but didn’t support any of his opponents.
Long insisted that he supports a Republican takeover of the Senate, saying it will be a “very dark-looking state if the Democrats gain control, total control of the Senate.”
“I believe we have a shot to win the Senate; I believe we can do that without Grisanti,” the chairman said.
“I’m doing everything I can to help any candidates throughout the state of New York that’s running on the Conservative-Republican line.”
Thanks to his gay marriage vote, Grisanti didn’t have the Conservative line in the 2012 election. (The Erie County Conservatives backed a Democrat, while the Niagara County Conservatives continued to back the senator).
Grisanti managed to win that fall with about 50 percent of the vote, but – unlike this year – he had both the GOP line and the Independence Party line.
DiPietro, Ball The Most Conservative, Says Conservative Party
Oct 8th - 10:19 am
Republican Assemblyman David DiPietro and outgoing GOP Sen. Greg Ball are the most conservative members of the state Legislautre, according to ratings released on Wednesday by the state Conservative Party.
DiPietro, an ally of Buffalo business and 2010 candidate for governor Carl Paladino, scored a 95 percent rating from the Conservative Party.
Ball, who is retiring at the end of the year, received an 80 percent rating.
“A review of the twenty bills used in this year’s ratings will show voters how some passed bills are specious or costly to taxpayers and where they will help New Yorkers,” said party Chairman Mike Long. “The ratings give voters a scorecard on how their individual legislator voted on a diverse range of bills considered in the legislative session.”
On average, the Democratic-led Assembly’s rating fell from 32.3 percent last year to 25.18 percent.
In the state Senate, which is controlled by a coalition of Republicans and five independent Democrats, the conservative rating is actually higher than 2013.
The Senate scored a rating of 53.26 percent last year. This year, the Conservative Party gave the Senate a 56.7 percent rating.
“Before going to the voting booth next month, voters should review our ratings and consider how their legislators represented them. Conservative principles works for taxpayers and for businesses, voting for officials committed to conservative principles is the only way New York will return to its Empire State status,” Long said.
The full Senate ratings and the bills used to rank lawmakers can be found here.
14 Senate Ratings 0 by Nick Reisman
Short Description of Bills Used for Senate 2014 Ratings by Nick Reisman
Long Re-Elected Conservative Party Chairman
Sep 24th - 12:23 pm
Mike Long was re-elected on Wednesday the chairman of the influential Conservative Party, the organization announced.
Long has led the party for the last 26 years, which has become a must-have ballot line for any Republican running statewide.
“You are the pivotal part of promoting the Party, elected officials may come and go, but you and your support keeps the Party vibrant, strong and able to make a difference in New York State politics,” Long said of Conservative Party delegates in a statement.
Long is often considered a key player in gubernatorial elections, especially primary races for the GOP and doesn’t hesitate to play an enforcer role when it comes to Senate Republicans considering votes on gun control, abortion or same-sex marriage.
Terms for party chairs run two years.
GOP Mayor Hoping to Replace Maziarz Gets Two More Endorsements
Jul 23rd - 11:15 pm
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North Tonawanda Mayor Rob Ortt picked up two more endorsements Wednesday night in his bid to replace retiring New York State Senator George Maziarz. Ortt was endorsed by the Conservative and the Independence Parties in the 62nd State Senate District.
“What Albany needs is someone who will bring the leadership of a veteran and experience of a chief executive to represent the people of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties,” said Ortt.
Ortt has already received the backing of the Republican Party. To appeal to conservatives Ortt has not only promoted his combat service in Afghanistan, he also pledged this week to repeal the New York SAFE Act.
Senator Maziarz, who voted against the SAFE Act, has been criticized by conservatives for not doing enough to repeal it. Maziarz announced his retirement this month just days before it was revealed a federal investigation was launched into his campaign spending.
“As Senator, I will work toward a smaller, more common sense government that respects the rights of our citizens and the rights of my neighbors. That’s what we have done in North Tonawanda, together, and what we will work to do in Albany,” Ortt added.
Conservative Gia Arnold is challenging Ortt in a Republican Primary. Niagara Falls resident Johnny Destino is running on the Democratic line.
New York’s 62nd Senate District includes all of Niagara and Orleans counties, as well as the towns of Sweden and Ogden.
Conservative Party Warns Republicans: Don’t Go There on Public Financing
May 16th - 3:30 pm
Following Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos’ comments yesterday about ongoing talks on a public campaign finance system, state Conservative Party is upping the ante on the issue, warning Republican lawmakers that they could lose a crucial endorsement if they vote “yes” should a bill come to the floor.
The party sent out a press release this morning reiterating its “staunch” opposition to “the wasteful and often abused system of public financing of campaigns,” and reminding members of the Senate and Assembly who plan on seeking the Conservative line this fall that legislation that would create such a system is double rated – meaning it will carry twice the rate of other bills in determining lawmakers’ score, as it were, on top party issues.
Party leaders use those scores in determining who will receive their endorsement.
In a brief telephone interview this afternoon, Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long went one step further, saying that while public campaign finance is not currently a line-in-the-sand issue like same-sex marriage, he may revisit that question with executive committee members in the coming weeks.
“Let me say this to you: At this stage in the game, if the bill were to pass, it’s really a vote for the Working Families Party,” Long told me. “And knowing what’s happening here, if in fact the legislators give this issue to the Working Families Party, I may go back and revisit it with the board.”
“If this is given to the Working Families Party – because that’s who’s pushing this, it’s the progressives who are pushing this agenda – I’m going to take very strong exception to it. I just can’t see how any of our endorsed legislators could go for this type of bill.”
Losing the Conservative line would be problematic for a number of GOP senators in closely divided districts. Skelos was careful to say that what’s under consideration is a “non-taxpayer” funded system, floating the idea of using a tax return check off to pay for matching funds.
The governor and IDC Leader Jeff Klein have been pushing hard for a more robust public system since the passage of the one-year, state comptroller-only program that was included in the 2014-125 budget and quickly panned by reform advocates. Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has said he won’t participate, even though he championed just such a pilot plan in the past, while his GOP opponent, Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci, is not only participating, but crediting the existence of the program for his decision to run.
Time is of the essence when it comes to public finance negotiations, since this is a key issue for many WFP activists who oppose giving Cuomo their party’s endorsement this fall if he doesn’t fails to deliver a more widespread program than the one included in the budget. The WFP is holding its nominating convention at the Desmond Hotel in Colonie on May 31. Coincidentally, the Conservative Party is having its convention that day, too, in Rockville Center, Long Island.
Conservatives Back Stefanik In NY-21 (Updated)
Apr 11th - 3:25 pm
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The state Conservative Party has given its nod to Elise Stefanik, one of two Republicans contenders (as of today) vying for the North Country House seat of retiring Democratic Rep. Bill Owens, ensuring her a ballot line in the November general election regardless of the outcome of the June GOP primary.
In a statement released by Stefanik’s campaign, state Conservative Chairman Mike Long praised her “energy” and “enthusiasm” and said she has “the principles to bring about the changes necessary in the halls of Congress.”
“She will fight for what is right for the citizens of New York’s 21st, the military at Fort Drum, stand firm for our Constitutional rights and protect our natural resources for future farmers and generations to come,” Long continued. “Elise Stefanik will be your strong voice when she gets to Congress and will represent you with honor and integrity.”
Stefanik has now been officially endorsed by officials in both the Conservative and Republican parties – a blog to her primary opponent, Matt Doheny, who ran on both lines two years ago in his second failed attempt to unseat Owens. Doheny did not have the Conservative line for his 2010 run. The party instead endorsed Doug Hoffman, who lost to Doheny in the GOP primary that year and dropped out the race, but too late to have his name removed from the general election ballot.
Because neither Stefanik nor Doheny is a registered Republican Conservative, they both needed formal permission – known as a Wilson Pakula – from the Conservative Party in order to run on its line. Stefanik’s press release announcing today’s endorsement makes clear that as a result of this decision, there will be no primary battle for Row C.
Also today, Tea Partier Joe Gilbert confirmed to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that he is dropping out of the GOP primary, due to “family reasons.” Gilbert said he may still seek independent petitions to run on the Constitution Party line. The minor party does not have official party status and, according to the ADE, has had problems with ballot access in the past.
Gilbert’s departure from the race leaves just Stefanik and Doheny duking it out for the GOP line.
On the Democratic side, Steven Burke, a town councilman in Macomb and former St. Lawrence Democratic Party chairman, and Brooklyn filmmaker Aaron Woolf have both filed petitions to run on Row A. The Democratic county chairs have endorsed Woolf. UPDATE: I’m told by Woolf’s campaign that he hasn’t lived in the borough of Brooklyn for some time, but he does reportedly split his time between “New York City” and Elizabethtown, and says he considers the latter his primary residence.
UPDATE: Doheny released a statement in response to Stefanik’s endorsement by the Conservatives, calling it a “shocking” move by party officials that ignores the will of rank-and-file members who signed his nominating petitions and backed him two years ago.
“In denying conservative voters in the 21st Congressional district a choice, the party insiders and their Washington based power brokers have subverted the clear will of the people,” Doheny said. “Our campaign received the support of five county committees and incredibly almost 1 out of every 5 conservatives signed our petition. In 2012, as the Conservative Party nominee I garnered 12,000 votes on the line and I’m no less a conservative today. The sad fact is the Executive Committee of the State Conservative Party is just another Big Brother.”
Dohney has been endorsed by the state Independence Party, which means he also has an assured spot on the general election ballot should he lose the GOP primary.