News Copy, New York

99th Assembly District Race - Now the Fun

Rumors are starting that Republican Assemblyman Willis Stephens, Jr. will get some pressure from Albany Republicans to pull out of his re-election race after he got stomped by Greg Ball, his GOP challenger, on Tuesday. Stephens is the Conservative and Independence Party candidates, but the big line - the Republican - will now have Greg Ball as their standard bearer. Republicans don't want the district to be split and go to the Democrat in race, Ken Harper.

In a year that is shaping up to be a huge Democrat year in New York State, the GOP is trying to keep their loses to a minimum. They are spending heavily on certain tight races (think: Nick Spano in the 35th State Senate District, for instance) and don't need to spend money in a traditionally safe Republican district like the 99th. Look for Stephens to begin to receive plenty of pressure to pull out. As one Albany Republican wrote to me about Stephens:

"He has to pull out. We can't lose anymore seats in the Assembly. If he runs, Harper wins. He has to pull out."

Ball is receiving plenty of coverage in his Hudson Valley race, particularly in The Journal News. Reporter Michael Risinit writes that it was Ball's energy and pre-race planning that helped him out a lot:

Since he formally announced his intention in May 2005 to run for the state Assembly, Ball has been nothing but proactive. His relentlessness — knocking on doors, sending out mailers and staging debates — attracted both criticism and admiration.

But what mattered in the end was that seven out of every 10 voters in the 99th Assembly District pulled the lever next to his name.

"Ball came knocking on my door," said Marilyn Burke, a 45-year Yorktown resident, explaining her choice. "I never even knew Stephens was my legislator."

Now the fun begins. What does Stephens do?

Political Coup Within Dutchess County GOP

In what could only be described as a political purge, the executive officers of the Dutchess County GOP found themselves forced to resign at the hands of what sources have been describing for months as a coup.

News Copy had been told months ago that liberal abortion advocates, some close to Tivoli Mayor Marc Molinaro and State Senator Stephen Saland, had been plotting this upheaval for months -- though others disputed the actions as connected directly to Molinaro's Assembly challenge to six-term Republican Pat Manning.

I haven't been given a straight story from anyone on what's happening in this county, except it sounds fairly cut-throat.  Some of those resigning are supporters of Molinaro's candidacy, so the mutiny strikes me as a bit counter-productive -- unless someone has much bigger prey in mind.

Though Manning hasn't commented yet to News Copy, some of what is transpiring now in Dutchess County leaves him sounding almost prophetic.  Manning has previously claimed that Molinaro's challenge was unrelated to any problem he was having with voters.

This is not coming from Manning or any of allies -- but the ousting of Brilliant makes it very clear that Molinaro's allies had bigger designs on the Dutchess County GOP long before he declared himself a candidate against Manning.  It appears that Brilliant and others have been used, manipulated and systematically betrayed by a rogue bunch manhanding this county's political parties.

It's apparently been as divisive within the Dutchess County Independence Party -- and News Copy had previously learned of strong-arming by Molinaro allies within that county's Conservative Party.

It makes what Manning is going through seem minor compared to the political abuse being inflicted upon Dutchess Republican leaders.

It's also clear that the primary challenge Manning faces is only one small part of a far more intricate power play throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley, one that may have absolutely nothing to do with him or Marc Molinaro.

One wonders if it could have anything to do with Congressman John Sweeney either.

One thing is certain:  Someone in Dutchess or a surrounding county wants a lot more power and has begun bulldozing people out of the way.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reported the Dutchess County GOP in a kind of political limbo, delaying the choice of a new leader until July 10.

Corinne Weber, secretary of the county GOP committee, said Friday the party has received the resignations of former Chairwoman Elizabeth Brilliant and former Treasurer Ann Boehm. She also expects that Vice Chairman James Fedorchak also will resign.

Fedorchak has been unavailable for comment.

Brilliant announced Wednesday she planned to resign immediately without explaining her decision. Boehm followed suit. Weber said she plans to stay on as a party officer.

In what some speculated last year was a move against Manning had somehow festered into a challenge to Betsy Brilliant, who had not supported Manning's re-election, and now possibly Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus.

Also conected to the conspirators were Assemblyman Joel Miller and former Manning aide Jim Jeffries, who sources have openly described as key ringleaders in this systematic purging of political foes.

Some have even gone as far as blaming political operatives in Congressman John Sweeney's office, though there is no confirmation of this fact.  It has been noted though that Molinaro's candidacy is being guided by political operatives close to Bill Powers

It's shaping up to be political treason heaped upon more treason.

What's the expression? Some traitors are only good for the treason.

Though it remains to be seen whether or not Congressman Sweeney has a direct hand in the political deceit ensuing in Dutchess County, it's clear to this political observer that his political aides are standing back and letting it happen.

The county Republican Committee's executive committee met Thursday night in hopes of appointing an interim chairman. But the party's rules require the chairman and vice chairman be of the opposite sex. Since Fedorchak hadn't formally resigned, the executive committee was unable to act, Weber said.

The executive committee, which mainly consists of the town party chairmen and the county party officers, will meet again July 10 to vote on appointing an interim slate of officer, Weber said.

No one has publicly expressed interest in seeking the party chairmanship.

With the way these Republicans are eating each other alive, who would want to be chair of Dutchess?

"It's important whoever is selected now be viewed as independent, not necessarily aligned with a particular faction and they have the ability to talk to everybody in the party," said Legislature Chairman Brad Kendall, R-Dover, who is not on the executive committee, but was at Thursday's meeting.

The forced resignations of Betsy Brilliant and her allies, for example, by the political operation of Marc Molinaro and company, could be viewed as a power play in preparation for the primary with Manning -- except Brilliant did not support Manning.

And Manning clearly isn't supporting those prepared to take control of his home county's Republican Party.

Why would Molinaro and others play a part in taking down a political ally?

Talk about a bunch who don't play well with others.

99th: Ball's Military Record Assailed

I thought the following was noteworthy, given some of what has been roused in recent days about the military record of Republican and Conservative U.S. Senate nominee John Spencer.

I haven't been up to Putnam County in a long time but the following story about Greg Ball hits close to home.  Ball has been campaigning for a year now, going door to door, reaching out to people and building a good rapport with the news media.

The truth, though Assemblyman Willis Stephens might not appreciate being reminded, is that Ball has caught the incumbent sleeping.  Rather than put forth a re-election campaign of his own, Stephens seems almost unwilling to acknowledge his challenger.

It's a big mistake.

Rather than just campaign on the issues, Willis Stephens has allowed his staff to make this personal -- and too ugly for words.

...And now they seem dumb enough to drag me in the middle of this contest, which is laughable, since I haven't given myself the time or had the inclination to march myself up to Putnam County to help the challenger.

First, I don't appreciate the inferences, attitudes or hints about Greg Ball's military record.

Second, I don't appreciate the inferences, attitudes or hints about me.

It seems that anytime I say anything nice about a human being on News Copy, the political presumption is that I'm being paid to make the comment.  At that rate, it sems as though I have been blamed for every political challenger in New York State this year -- and I don't doubt someone might infer I'm secretly helping KT if I started waxing poetic about her.

It does inhibit me.  I have been more silent about people who naturally deserve comment and commentary.  I'm sick of censoring myself over a bunch of weak-minded crybabies who are only making excuses for their own deficiencies.  The Republican Party in this state is flawed enough without some of you biting at each other.

Negative Spin

My impression is that a staff member of Assemblyman Willis Stephens office called me with the intent of denigrating Mr. Ball's military record.  He started the conversation with the pitbull presumption that I was Ball's political associate, that I was working with his campaign and that I was biased.

That I was left with that negative impression is an understatement.  It's not up for debate.  O'Toole lost me at the first sentence and it's his own fault.  I happen to like Jack O'Toole. In Yonkers, Jack had been known as a well-intended activist who spent over ten years fighting the judicial tyranny of Federal Judge Leonard Sand's consent decree that mandated the construction of more public housing in that city.

He's a hero to a lot of people but he is a political brawler, so let's not be fooled here.

That I might have mistaken the letters "dd" for dishonorable discharge is a valid enough point.  Point taken.  However, O'Toole said "dd" and he certainly didn't want to say honorable in connection with Greg Ball.  Of course, that's the impression Jack O'Toole left with him -- and that's the impression Jack O'Toole is capable of leaving with people.

I came away from the conversation with the impression that O'Toole was hell-bent on discrediting Ball.  That's the business he's in.  He's following orders.  If O'Toole was working for Ball, he would be his most fierce defender.  That's Jack O'Toole and it's not entirely bad sometimes.  He's a great guy to have with you in a political foxhole, if you're in trouble.

Stephens is in trouble.

But that's no reason to discredit a young candidate.

O'Toole owes Greg Ball an apology.  The bottom line is that Jack O'Toole expressed a desire to see a document starting with the letters "dd" that he claimed had not been forthcoming from Greg Ball.  That's not true.  It's on Ball's website.

Another point:  Ball was not dishonorably discharged. 

It sounded to me as if Jack O'Toole wanted me to believe that Greg Ball was dishonorably discharged.  If I was mistaken about what O'Toole meant, I stand corrected, but I'm not mistaken about what he said.

The inference by O'Toole was unmistakenly an attempt to infer that Ball was hiding something, as if there was some detail in the documentation that would cast a negative light on his employer's political opponent.

In the business we're in, Jack, they call what you did "spin" and hardball politics.

We both know each other well enough to understand what transpired here, so don't lower yourself any further by attacking this messenger.

I'm just a messenger, a blogger, and not affiliated with Greg Ball's Assembly race as a volunteer or political consultant.

A Good Campaign

I admire what Greg Ball is doing as a candidate.  That's for sure.  I wouldn't mind returning to Putnam and helping him.  The truth is that I have no time, resources or heart to turn my attentions in that direction.

I still wish the young man well.  It's a great campaign, by all measures.

Who wouldn't admire the smart and diligent work that Greg Ball and his campaign staff have maintained for the past year?

He has put forth a good model in the 99th for other candidates to emulate and I'm still waiting with others for Willis Stephens to start his own campaign.

I believe Mr. O'Toole tried to open such a conversation to cast aspersions on Ball's military record, though ironically the documention is easily accessible on the candidate's website, and now Mr. O'Toole has sought to cast aspersions on me to discredit the message.

This should be much ado about nothing -- but the campaign of Willis Stephens has somehow missed the point.

This letter should drive the point home.

Dear Fellow Republican!

I was honored to serve as Greg Ball’s mentor while he was in the U.S. Air Force. When Greg was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at the United States Air Force Academy, I was honored to pin on his rank and commission him as a young officer. As Greg excelled through the ranks and was promoted to Captain, I was honored to watch Greg perform as an outstanding young officer.

These recent attacks by the Stephens Campaign have riled and disgusted me to the core. Assemblyman Stephens made national news last summer by calling his constituents “pontificating idiots”, and this summer he is making another political mistake by using a whisper campaign to hurt Greg’s credibility. Greg is an All-American leader, and he is running a door-to-door, grassroots campaign that the community should be proud of. Greg’s opponent never served in the military, and he is trying to turn his own political weakness into Greg’s by spreading salacious and false rumors against Greg.

Greg Ball graduated from the Air Force Academy, served in the White House Drug Policy Office, lived on Capitol Hill, and served in the 11th Wing in our Nation’s capital working directly for four star generals in the Pentagon and throughout the National Capitol Region. Few Lieutenants are chosen for such a demanding position. Greg’s military record is stellar and beyond reproach. Indeed, to prove this fact, Greg was selected for promotion to Captain and remains a Captain in the U.S. Ready Reserve.

In summary, unlike the current Assemblyman Greg Ball served his country with distinction. Furthermore, he is now ready to serve YOU in the State Assembly. However, politics being what it is, dirty, the opposition is going to do everything they can to keep this hardworking Air Force Captain from overthrowing the corrupt political machine and reigning in commonsense in Albany – even if it means resorting to dirty politics. Please, don’t reward the politics of personal destruction. Get to know Greg, as I have gotten to know Greg, and you will become as proud of him as I am. He will never let you down.

Colonel Joseph P. Green, USAF (Ret.)

Mid-Hudson Valley Challengers Gain Ground

As if the Republican political establishment didn't have enough to worry about with the the races of Tom Dadey and Peter Santiago, there are two other Assembly races in the Hudson Valley threatening to change that region's political landscape.

Don't count on races in the 103rd and 99th Assembly being sleepy.

Neither Assemblymen Willis Stephens nor Patrick Manning will be getting free rides this summer.  They are two incumbents catching flack from ready challengers who are so far being taken for granted.

Manning versus Molinaro

Of course, that depends on how one views six-term Assemblyman Patrick Manning -- who lobbied against his own peers in the State Legislature to help defeat the Runaway Spending Amendment (Prop. 1) last year and whose pro-life conservative Republican gubernatorial bid this year roused differences of opinion.

Manning is billing himself as more of the "outsider" this year -- and he is.

He is so far outside the barn that he might lose.

The Dutchess County native is facing a well-funded and establishment-core candidacy of Tivoli Mayor Marc Molinaro.  Molinaro is drawing support from liberal Republicans and intending to counter Manning's pro-life agenda with a pro-choice stand mirroring the political agenda of Assemblyman Joel Miller and State Senator Stephen Saland.

So far, it's looked awfully dire for Manning but Molinaro has clung to a rather ghoulish bunch of political patrons.  With friends like Miller and Saland, who needs political enemies?  It's still put Manning in a tough place, one his enemies say he created all by himself.

In other words, the political machines are backing Molinaro and Pat Manning might as well be running his first race.  Serious questions have been raised about Manning being able to muster the support and the people to survive petitions, for example.  It's been indicated by multiple sources that Manning's petition effort might be lagging, facing rumored resistance by voters or simply suffering from an incumbency burn-out.  Whatever the reasons, Manning needs help or he could find himself off the ballot in July.

Still, Manning also resists the label of being a "going along to get along" incumbent and that helps him.  True populists will win this year in New York and Manning won't be a shrinking violet on the campaign trail.

Molinaro, a popular force in his village and beyond, has the full party establishment behind him but the "party" is not the people.

Stephens versus Ball

In the 99th State Assembly District, the incumbent still won't acknowledge that he has a Republican primary opponent -- and it's this kind of arrogance that is fueling the opposition to incumbent Republican Assemblyman Willis Stephens.

His opponent Greg Ball has been campaigning across Putnam, lower Dutchess and upper Westchester counties for the better part of a year now.  People know he is in the race, despite attempts by Team Stephens to prompt some tasteless questions about Ball's military record.

As expected, the party machines have pulled tightly behind the incumbent but this hasn't kept Greg Ball from getting his message out.

Stephens has a voting record that has never turned on conservatives but his family's political lineage is one of the longest running in the state.  His primary problem is that Putnam County, the heart and majority of the 99th district, has experienced the most rapid population growth in New York.  That makes for a lot of newcomers who have no idea who Willis Stephens is, handing Ball a ripe opportunity to turn the new vote his direction.

For example, there is a candidate's debate next Thursday night (7:00 pm) in Mahopac between Ball and the Democrat, Ken Harper, but Stephens wont bother showing up in the same room with his challengers.  It is early for a candidate's debate (don't tell that to the statewide candidates) but Stephens should be there.

Another example is being mailed out to voters this week by Ball's campaign, an expose on a statement about constituents made last year by Stephens.

Ball has ably capitalized on the anti-incumbency and anti-establishment sentiments.

It's almost cartoonish, close to hyperbole but Stephens said it.

The mailer has been sent to every Prime Republican Household in the 99th district, and will arrive in mailboxes by Thursday.

People will know Greg Ball is running, though he should be careful not to wrap too much hyperbole around what should otherwise be a stable campaign.

The Journal News blog, Politics on the Hudson, characterized the political hay as old news and another example of political high-tech horrors.

Politics on the Hudson also made a good point on the advantages and drawbacks of too immediate a message being sent out to voters.

...Thanks to the Internet, mailers can be shared with a click of the mouse -- especially one taking your opponent to task for a digital faux pas. Greg Ball, who has been after Assemblyman Will Stephens for more than a year, is reminding Republican primary voters in the 99th A.D. of Stephens' slip last summer. In an e-mail meant for a staff member but inadvertently posted on an Internet chat group, Stephens referred to the group's members and their Internet opinions as "watching the idiots pontificate."

Stephens sent out a too-little, too-late apology, but it's another example of Ball catching the incumbent sleeping.

It sure doesn't make Willis Stephens look like a populist.

There are no polls on this race but word of mouth is rabid for the conservative Republican challenger.

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco is not expected to abandon Stephens but statewide Conservatives, particularly through Mike Long and Conservative and Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Spencer, will put significant support behind Greg Ball's candidacy.

---

Pat Manning has already received the endorsements of State GOP chair Stephen Minarik and Tedisco, except State Conservative chair Mike Long will apparently take no action for the conservative Republican. Molinaro won the endorsements of Conservatives in both Columbia and Dutchess counties, thereby earning himself a Wilson-Pakula -- and it is unlikely Long will allow Manning a "fair fight" with the Tivoli mayor.

Also, Tedisco could likely stay out of expressing any support for either candidate during the actual primary -- but count on this race flipping a few ways before it settles.  If Manning doesn't get out of petitions alive, many will be writing his political obituary.

More On 99th: Cheap Shots On Military

The above photo is of New York State Assemblyman Willis Stephens giving the keynote address on Memorial Day for VFW 672 in Putnam County two years ago.

Maybe he can explain to that VFW what the following is all about.

Supporters of incumbent Republican Assemblyman Willis Stephens sent the following letter in a disgraceful attempt to attack the military record of conservative Republican challenger Greg Ball in the 99th Assembly District.

Ball naturally responded and defended himself.

My litmus test on such political chess games is how forthcoming the one assailed is willing to share the content of the original attack, since it is not uncommon to create such political attacks against oneself to draw attention to a less than tasteful opponent.

One has to play devil's advocate when doing surgery on such hardball politics.

Of course, such attacks are also designed to prompt doubt in an opponent and Team Stephens has taken the desperate measure to cast doubt upon someone who could yet be called upon to serve in the military.  That's an insult to veterans, many reservists, many military personnel in discreet capacities and all the soldiers overseas.

To time such an attack right before Memorial Day either means Willis Stephens is prepapred to reveal a disturbing revelation about Greg Ball or this lawmaker's crew is guilty of an empty political bluff.

Greg Ball sounded to me on the level -- and the letter from Willis Stephens' supporters does not.  It's a cheap shot, full of disgusting inferences and Greg Ball's response is understandable given the nature of the attack.

It's one thing to expose someone dishonestly representing his or her military record.

It's another thing to go after Greg Ball's military record on innuendo, as the people supporting Willis Stephens are obviously doing with impunity.

There isn't a story here, except Willis Stephens should publicly deny having anything to do with the letter or take responsibility for this cowardly attack.