MARCH 13, 2014 11:45 AM
Republican Rob Astorino Rules Out Independence Party Line, Calls On Cuomo To Do Same - UPDATED
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino effectively took himself out of the running for the Independence Party nomination Thursday and called on Gov. Cuomo to do the same.
“I can’t see any scenario where I would accept the Independence Party nomination,” Astorino, the Westchester County executive, said during an Albany radio interview.
“I do know that there are county chairs for the Independence Party who are good honest people but there are plenty who are not,” Astorino said, citing his own experiences with Westchester County leader Giulio Cavallo as an example.
Cavallo – who has appeared on the payrolls of both Senate Republicans and Democrats depending on which party had the majority - backed Astorino’s 2009 campaign for county executive but shunned his re-election bid last year after complaining that the Republican did not abide by his recommendations for patronage appointments.
“It is part of a very corrupt system,” Astorino said. “They don’t stand for a thing other than jobs and for themselves.”
Astorino said he agreed with Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs’ call for politicians of both parties to shun the Independence Party and called on Cuomo to also back the effort.
UPDATE: There's been no response from Cuomo or the governor's re-election campaign to Astorino's comments. However, the Astorino Truth Squad, an operation run by Westchester Democrats, has blasted out an email criticizing Astorino for $14,750 in contributions to the Independence Party since 2007.
"Despite criticizing the Independence Party as corrupt today, Rob Astorino has made a combined $14,750 in political contributions to the political party since 2007, including a personal check for $3,000 in 2008, all in an attempt to secure their endorsement in his various races over the years. In fact, Rob Astorino sought and received the Independence Party endorsement in 2003 and 2009 when he ran against incumbent Westchester County Executive Andy Spano.
"Just last year as he was gearing up for his reelection, Astorino made a contribution of $6,000 in May in the hopes of persuading the Independence Party to endorse him once again. When the party went with his challenger, he then tried to hijack the Independence Party nominating process by having his friends, family, and staff register as Independents to carry nominating petitions for him. In the end, a judge invalidated his petitions and called him out on the shady practice.
"Rob Astorino’s comments today are another example of his saying one thing and doing another. You simply cannot trust a word he says."
"Just last year as he was gearing up for his reelection, Astorino made a contribution of $6,000 in May in the hopes of persuading the Independence Party to endorse him once again. When the party went with his challenger, he then tried to hijack the Independence Party nominating process by having his friends, family, and staff register as Independents to carry nominating petitions for him. In the end, a judge invalidated his petitions and called him out on the shady practice.
"Rob Astorino’s comments today are another example of his saying one thing and doing another. You simply cannot trust a word he says."
No comments:
Post a Comment