Ball Gagged in Run-Up to Primary, Assembly Republicans Say
With challenge looming, suggestions of a deal for quiet in exchange for party support
According to several Assembly Republicans, the usually bombastic Assembly Member Greg Ball (R-Putnam) has toned down his anti-Albany and anti-immigrant rhetoric as he tries to cope with a competitive primary, the wrath of a local state senator, the dislike of most of his colleagues in the Legislature and rumors that he is already planning a 2010 race for Congress.
Ball made his name in politics by calling Albany dysfunctional and waging an active campaign to stop illegal immigration. But with his seat and potential future in politics in danger, he has instead being trying for conciliation, with some insisting there Ball made a pact to do so for the sake of Republican support.
“Greg kind of realized over time while there are glaring problems with the institution, he was going after his colleagues,” said one Republican Assembly member. “He has upset the other members.”
While Ball has not seen any bill he has prime sponsored pass either house, he has been a co-sponsor on several bills that have passed the Legislature.
The member said that Ball has been trying to be more conciliatory to other members during debates and in private in order to work on various issues. As the 2008 session progressed, he saw more caucus members being willing to work with Ball, who had been previously seen as radioactive by others based on his various public statements. Seen as a talented debater, members said Ball has been encouraged by the leadership to focus on his debating strengths instead of rhetoric.
“He’s a smart guy and good at raising money,” a Republican Assembly member said. “The thing that worries people is that you don’t know what he will say next. He took this anti-Albany thing to a degree where he thought he had to burn the place down.”
His new attitude has been welcomed by Minority Leader James Tedisco (R-Saratoga Schenectady), who has welcomed Ball’s rhetoric on the floor and used it to help shape the entire conference strategy. Members said Tedisco has talked to Ball about his past behavior and has asked him to tone down his rhetoric in order to be more effective in debate and to assist his reelection campaign. Other Republicans have also met with Ball in order to discuss his past behavior with him. The general attitude of the Republican conference has been to attempt to help Ball because they value what can bring to the conference, but many have had problems with what they perceive as his lack of respect for his colleagues and not willing to see that others also would like to change the way the Legislature works.
Still, Ball’s ornery behavior can have its value, explained another Assembly Republican.
“There is something of value that Greg provides,” the Assembly member said. “He has made a name for himself and we have an agitator in our conference. For the leadership they don’t need to be bombastic. They can say to the Democrats ‘at least we are not Greg.’”
Tedisco and the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee are backing Ball in his primary race against former Brewster Mayor John Degnan, a Republican who is also backed by the Democratic Party. Degnan, who lost a bid for Southeast town supervisor last year to a Ball-backed candidate, has been backed by the Putnam County Republican Party and State Sen. Vincent Leibell (R-Putnam) in the race. Westchester Republicans are backing Ball, while the Dutchess Republicans have remained neutral.
Republican members are confident that Ball will win reelection this year and believe having to battle Degnan in the primary and general elections will ultimately help him become a better legislator.
According to one Assembly Republican, though, there are those who doubt Ball’s behavior shift is sincere, rather than a ploy to assist his reelection campaign.
When asked, Ball insisted he has been as outspoken as ever. He points to his primary challenge by Degnan, who he said is being put up in Leibell in response to Ball’s decision to not back a home rule bill from Putnam County to raise the county sales tax and a concern Ball will challenge Leibell for the Senate. Ball said he opposed the measure in order to try to force the county to lower property taxes.
Leibell said that while people know who Ball is, many dislike him. Moreover, Leibell contended, this has hurt Ball’s effectiveness. He said he tried to counsel Ball on how to work with others and Ball rejected the advice. Leibell said Ball has no relationship with him and other local officials.
But Ball said this approach has been to his benefit. Pointing to his co-sponsorship of successful bills relating to property taxes and human trafficking as accomplishments, Ball credited his outspokenness to the unusually high profile his attitude has helped him achieve results in Albany.
“When I walk down the halls people know who I am,” Ball said. “Everything is decided by Sheldon Silver and his string of cronies. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more members of both sides to stand up on the floor and debate?”
While Republicans asked Ball to tone down his rhetoric in order to achieve help from Albany, Ball still makes his disdain for Albany clear. And according to one of his colleagues in the Republican conference, that has helped him as he eyes a challenge to Rep. John Hall (D-Orange/Putnam) in 2010.
Ball hinted at this himself as well, contrasting his approach to being in the Assembly to his colleagues’.
“They are reelected for name recognition and not accomplishments. They are neutered by the leadership, especially Sheldon Silver,” he said. “It was never my intention to be an insider and have a long career in the Assembly.”
Ball made his name in politics by calling Albany dysfunctional and waging an active campaign to stop illegal immigration. But with his seat and potential future in politics in danger, he has instead being trying for conciliation, with some insisting there Ball made a pact to do so for the sake of Republican support.
“Greg kind of realized over time while there are glaring problems with the institution, he was going after his colleagues,” said one Republican Assembly member. “He has upset the other members.”
While Ball has not seen any bill he has prime sponsored pass either house, he has been a co-sponsor on several bills that have passed the Legislature.
The member said that Ball has been trying to be more conciliatory to other members during debates and in private in order to work on various issues. As the 2008 session progressed, he saw more caucus members being willing to work with Ball, who had been previously seen as radioactive by others based on his various public statements. Seen as a talented debater, members said Ball has been encouraged by the leadership to focus on his debating strengths instead of rhetoric.
“He’s a smart guy and good at raising money,” a Republican Assembly member said. “The thing that worries people is that you don’t know what he will say next. He took this anti-Albany thing to a degree where he thought he had to burn the place down.”
His new attitude has been welcomed by Minority Leader James Tedisco (R-Saratoga Schenectady), who has welcomed Ball’s rhetoric on the floor and used it to help shape the entire conference strategy. Members said Tedisco has talked to Ball about his past behavior and has asked him to tone down his rhetoric in order to be more effective in debate and to assist his reelection campaign. Other Republicans have also met with Ball in order to discuss his past behavior with him. The general attitude of the Republican conference has been to attempt to help Ball because they value what can bring to the conference, but many have had problems with what they perceive as his lack of respect for his colleagues and not willing to see that others also would like to change the way the Legislature works.
Still, Ball’s ornery behavior can have its value, explained another Assembly Republican.
“There is something of value that Greg provides,” the Assembly member said. “He has made a name for himself and we have an agitator in our conference. For the leadership they don’t need to be bombastic. They can say to the Democrats ‘at least we are not Greg.’”
Tedisco and the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee are backing Ball in his primary race against former Brewster Mayor John Degnan, a Republican who is also backed by the Democratic Party. Degnan, who lost a bid for Southeast town supervisor last year to a Ball-backed candidate, has been backed by the Putnam County Republican Party and State Sen. Vincent Leibell (R-Putnam) in the race. Westchester Republicans are backing Ball, while the Dutchess Republicans have remained neutral.
Republican members are confident that Ball will win reelection this year and believe having to battle Degnan in the primary and general elections will ultimately help him become a better legislator.
According to one Assembly Republican, though, there are those who doubt Ball’s behavior shift is sincere, rather than a ploy to assist his reelection campaign.
When asked, Ball insisted he has been as outspoken as ever. He points to his primary challenge by Degnan, who he said is being put up in Leibell in response to Ball’s decision to not back a home rule bill from Putnam County to raise the county sales tax and a concern Ball will challenge Leibell for the Senate. Ball said he opposed the measure in order to try to force the county to lower property taxes.
Leibell said that while people know who Ball is, many dislike him. Moreover, Leibell contended, this has hurt Ball’s effectiveness. He said he tried to counsel Ball on how to work with others and Ball rejected the advice. Leibell said Ball has no relationship with him and other local officials.
But Ball said this approach has been to his benefit. Pointing to his co-sponsorship of successful bills relating to property taxes and human trafficking as accomplishments, Ball credited his outspokenness to the unusually high profile his attitude has helped him achieve results in Albany.
“When I walk down the halls people know who I am,” Ball said. “Everything is decided by Sheldon Silver and his string of cronies. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more members of both sides to stand up on the floor and debate?”
While Republicans asked Ball to tone down his rhetoric in order to achieve help from Albany, Ball still makes his disdain for Albany clear. And according to one of his colleagues in the Republican conference, that has helped him as he eyes a challenge to Rep. John Hall (D-Orange/Putnam) in 2010.
Ball hinted at this himself as well, contrasting his approach to being in the Assembly to his colleagues’.
“They are reelected for name recognition and not accomplishments. They are neutered by the leadership, especially Sheldon Silver,” he said. “It was never my intention to be an insider and have a long career in the Assembly.”
