Encouraged By Westchester Gains, GOP Targets Stewart-Cousins
State Republicans prepared to pour half a million in help to convince Yonkers mayor
Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:12:00
Emboldened by recent gains in the suburbs of New York City, Republicans are eyeing a fresh target in their effort to win back the state Senate next year: Andrea-Stewart Cousins.
GOP leaders have been in intense talks with Yonkers mayor Phil Amicone about the possibility of challenging Stewart-Cousins in next year’s elections, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Amicone, who has been mayor since 2004, is said to be strongly considering a run, and will likely decide early in the new year.
“They see Amicone as their best bet,” said a Republican operative briefed on the conversations.
GOP officials have been courting Amicone for more than six months, and have promised to pour millions into the race if he decides to run.
“Without question, he would be the strongest” candidate, said a second Republican source with knowledge of the talks. “There would be an all-out effort by the Republican Party if Amicone decides to run.”
Stewart-Cousins narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Nick Spano in 2006, though enrollment in the district has now turned heavily Democratic. Despite attempts, including a short-lived effort to lure Spano into a rematch, a strong 2008 challenge never materialized.
Amicone is said to be encouraged by the results in the Westchester county executive race, in which Republican Rob Astorino defeated three-term incumbent Andy Spano (no relation to Nick Spano) by 16 points. Though Democrats hold a 2-1 enrollment advantage in Westchester, Republicans have interpreted the results as a sign that their anti-tax message is resonating with angry suburban voters.
“There’s a few tea leaves that have fallen now that clearly indicate that the joblessness and high taxes are starting to make people really frustrated,” said Jeff Binder, a Westchester-based political consultant. “Observers now need to rethink the playbook. The dynamic could be an extension of 2009, in which case Republicans have a shot everywhere.”
Stewart-Cousins said she acknowledged the widespread voter anger, but expressed confidence that she could defend her record on controversial issues such as the budget deficit and a much-maligned bailout for the MTA next year.
“When you have institutions that are as entrenched as the Senate, change very often looks extremely painful, and it is,” Stewart-Cousins said. “But I also clearly understand that people are angry, they are paying attention, and they expect to see a representative government that works for them.”
Of Amicone, she said only: “We’ve worked well together, I’m sure that the mayor knows that we’ve worked well together.”
Stewart-Cousins glided to re-election last year against her Republican opponent, John Murtaugh, a former member of the Yonkers City Council. Murtaugh struggled to raise money and attract the attention of Republican leaders in Albany, who feared that the district had turned permanently blue.
Now, Republican officials argue that Amicone, as the sitting mayor of New York’s fourth-largest city, would have considerably higher name recognition and an easier time raising money, which they say immediately puts the district back in play.
“He would be very formidable in terms of fundraising, which is the beginning point,” Binder said. “If you give to Phil in his State Senate bid, you’re ingratiating yourself potentially on two fronts.”
Amicone has also demonstrated an ability to appeal across party lines in heavily Democratic Yonkers. He has made the environment and public safety centerpieces of his public image, joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-illegal gun coalition and even proposing tax increases to avoid cuts to the police department. He has been endorsed in his mayoral campaigns by Bloomberg as well as the League of Conservation Voters.
Amicone would also likely get considerable help from the newly elected county executive, and from state leaders who see Astorino’s win as even more of a reason for optimism about next year than they do Ed Mangano’s upset victory over Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.
“This means that we’ve got a good shot, certainly, at winning the State Senate back,” state Republican chairman Ed Cox said in an interview last month. “Good candidates are now coming out and saying ‘I want to run.’"
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ABOVE: Photo by Andrew Schwartz
GOP leaders have been in intense talks with Yonkers mayor Phil Amicone about the possibility of challenging Stewart-Cousins in next year’s elections, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Amicone, who has been mayor since 2004, is said to be strongly considering a run, and will likely decide early in the new year.
“They see Amicone as their best bet,” said a Republican operative briefed on the conversations.
GOP officials have been courting Amicone for more than six months, and have promised to pour millions into the race if he decides to run.
“Without question, he would be the strongest” candidate, said a second Republican source with knowledge of the talks. “There would be an all-out effort by the Republican Party if Amicone decides to run.”
Stewart-Cousins narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Nick Spano in 2006, though enrollment in the district has now turned heavily Democratic. Despite attempts, including a short-lived effort to lure Spano into a rematch, a strong 2008 challenge never materialized.Amicone is said to be encouraged by the results in the Westchester county executive race, in which Republican Rob Astorino defeated three-term incumbent Andy Spano (no relation to Nick Spano) by 16 points. Though Democrats hold a 2-1 enrollment advantage in Westchester, Republicans have interpreted the results as a sign that their anti-tax message is resonating with angry suburban voters.
“There’s a few tea leaves that have fallen now that clearly indicate that the joblessness and high taxes are starting to make people really frustrated,” said Jeff Binder, a Westchester-based political consultant. “Observers now need to rethink the playbook. The dynamic could be an extension of 2009, in which case Republicans have a shot everywhere.”
Stewart-Cousins said she acknowledged the widespread voter anger, but expressed confidence that she could defend her record on controversial issues such as the budget deficit and a much-maligned bailout for the MTA next year.
“When you have institutions that are as entrenched as the Senate, change very often looks extremely painful, and it is,” Stewart-Cousins said. “But I also clearly understand that people are angry, they are paying attention, and they expect to see a representative government that works for them.”
Of Amicone, she said only: “We’ve worked well together, I’m sure that the mayor knows that we’ve worked well together.”
Stewart-Cousins glided to re-election last year against her Republican opponent, John Murtaugh, a former member of the Yonkers City Council. Murtaugh struggled to raise money and attract the attention of Republican leaders in Albany, who feared that the district had turned permanently blue.
Now, Republican officials argue that Amicone, as the sitting mayor of New York’s fourth-largest city, would have considerably higher name recognition and an easier time raising money, which they say immediately puts the district back in play.
“He would be very formidable in terms of fundraising, which is the beginning point,” Binder said. “If you give to Phil in his State Senate bid, you’re ingratiating yourself potentially on two fronts.”
Amicone has also demonstrated an ability to appeal across party lines in heavily Democratic Yonkers. He has made the environment and public safety centerpieces of his public image, joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-illegal gun coalition and even proposing tax increases to avoid cuts to the police department. He has been endorsed in his mayoral campaigns by Bloomberg as well as the League of Conservation Voters.
Amicone would also likely get considerable help from the newly elected county executive, and from state leaders who see Astorino’s win as even more of a reason for optimism about next year than they do Ed Mangano’s upset victory over Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.
“This means that we’ve got a good shot, certainly, at winning the State Senate back,” state Republican chairman Ed Cox said in an interview last month. “Good candidates are now coming out and saying ‘I want to run.’"
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ABOVE: Photo by Andrew Schwartz
