ALBANY—After a good week for Rick Lazio before Christmas--when he mopped up the endorsements of several county chairs as well as Rudy Giuliani--fifteen Republican county chairmen have signed a letter asking Erie County Executive Chris Collins to run for governor.
"We recognize that the time for bold and committed leadership is now. That is Read More
ALBANY—The latest county to endorse Rick Lazio's gubernatorial bid--in advance of a formal endorsement by Rudy Giuliani this afternoon--is Dutchess County.
"The Hudson Valley needs new ideas and new leadership representing it in Albany," said Mike McCormack, the Dutchess Republican leader, in a statement sent by the Lazio camp. "The current government has failed. Read More
ALBANY—Erie County Republican Chairman Jim Domagalski said that Rudy Giuliani's expected endorsement of Rick Lazio is "one politician endorsing another."
Domagalski is a booster of Chris Collins, the Erie County executive who has been moving toward a run for governor, but has not declared his candidacy. I asked Domagalski if the endorsement Read More
ALBANY—Rick Lazio today announced the support of the Niagara County Republican chairman Mike Norris, a move which is a blow at Chris Collins, county executive in neighboring Erie County, who has made noise about entering a primary against Lazio for the Republican line for governor.
Lazio and Norris appeared together at an event Read More
ALBANY--So what's a Rudy Drafter to do now?
"I've heard from one of his former commissioners when he was in City Hall that, in fact, Rudy has decided not to run for governor," said Craig Eaton, the Brooklyn Republican chairman. "I'm disappointed, because I was one of the first people to start that draft Read More
GLENS FALLS—Another Republican victory ground: Erie County. But how much will any of it benefit County Executive Chris Collins?
The G.O.P. held onto the Sheriff's office and won three seats in the Democrat-dominated County Legislature, bringing the margin to 9-6. This is significant: it deprives Democrats of the ability to vote as a bloc Read More
The next gubernatorial election is still just over a year away, but it's probably not too early to say this much: The contest will be between Andrew Cuomo and, most likely, Rick Lazio - and it won't be much of a fight.
David Paterson's long, slow march to the political sidelines advanced further this week Read More
ALBANY—The chairman of the Erie County Democratic committee just called on anyone receiving support from County Executive Chris Collins, a Republican, to denounce a comment he made this weekend at a fund-raiser comparing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is an observant Jew, to the anti-Christ.
"I just think that anybody who's received support Read More
WEST JAVA, N.Y.--Chris Collins insisted on driving.
It was Friday evening on the same day that Collins had released the 2009-10 budget proposal for Erie County, where he has been the county executive since last year. Two aides fielded budget questions from reporters as Collins, who is 59, explained that he knew the way Read More
Westwood One, the country’s largest radio network, was shopping for a replacement for Bill O’Reilly, who would soon be ending his Radio Factor show after six Read More
COLONIE—Is this Ed Cox's guy?
Erie County Executive Chris Collins just addressed a meeting of the Republican State Committee as it prepares to elect Ed Cox chairman. Collins backed Ed Cox over Henry Wojtaszek, the chairman of the Niagara County Republican Committee, and Collins has been making the rounds in preparation Read More
ALBANY—It's official: Rick Lazio is going for it.
The Long Island Republican, who, it was reported today, has taken leave from his position at J.P. Morgan, will officially announce his campaign for governor next Monday in Albany, then embark around the state. He would be the first Republican to announce formally; other candidates Read More
ALBANY—Henry Wojtaszek's ongoing campaign to become Republican state chairman has taken a turn toward the negative, with his affiliated operatives telling county chairs that his opponent, Ed Cox, was affiliated with Andrew Cuomo in 2006.
"I did get a call from a friend of mine who said he had heard that Ed Read More
ALBANY—Erie County Republican Chairman Jim Domagalski has sent letters to Republican chairs and officials around the state reminding them that County Executive Chris Collins is a potential candidate for statewide office.
According to people who received the letters, it includes a summary of Collins' biography and accomplishments and explicitly mentions a statewide run.
"It Read More
ALBANY—While they're pushing for legislative action in Albany, the coalition of unions advocating a bill that would require higher wages at publicly financed construction projects is fighting a side battle in Erie County.
The labor groups, led by SEIU 32BJ, are targeting Erie County Executive Chris Collins.
At the beginning of the month, Collins, a Read More
