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Suffolk GOP set to back Faso

Nod would bring him close to majority vote he needs at convention for party nomination for governor race

BY RICK BRAND | Newsday Staff Writer

May 19, 2006

William Weld poses for a photo after speaking to members of the Rochester Rotary Club in Rochester, N.Y. (AP Photo / February 7, 2006)

John Faso will get his biggest boost yet today as Republicans from Suffolk, the state's largest GOP county, officially endorse the gubernatorial candidate, bringing him close to the majority needed to be the party designee, party sources said.

Harry Withers, Suffolk Republican chairman, and Faso aides declined to comment yesterday, but county GOP officials have scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference with Faso at party headquarters in Bohemia to make a "major announcement."

The Suffolk GOP, which accounts for nearly 10 percent of the convention vote, would be endorsing the former assemblyman over a semi-hometown candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, who was born in Smithtown and owns a home in Bellport.

Andrea Tantaros, Weld's spokeswoman, said, "We're continuing to work to gather support, political and financial, leading up to the convention" later this month. Even if Faso is the party's designee, there still could be a primary.

Party sources say Withers and party officials felt that Faso, a staunch conservative who was raised in Seaford and lives in Kinderhook, Columbia County, is a "mainstream Republican" who has greater strength with rank-and-file party members and already has the Conservative Party endorsement, which experts say is critical for any GOP gubernatorial candidate.

"Philosophically, he's closer to what the Republican Party stands for and has a deep knowledge of state government, particularly hands-on experience with state budgets," said one high-level party official who did not wish to be identified.

Faso, 43, an upstate lawyer, spent 16 years as an Albany lawmaker, headed Gov. George Pataki's budget transition team and was the GOP comptroller candidate in 2002.

Withers agreed to back Faso after a two-hour meeting yesterday. Party officials said Faso helped his cause by stumping for Assemb. Philip Boyle in a February special election.

"This is very significant for us," said one source close to Faso's campaign. "It builds on the momentum ... and it's likely to bring us over 50 percent."

Suffolk, which has 9.7 percent of the GOP gubernatorial vote, joins the Westchester and Queens Republican organizations that have endorsed Faso. Nassau GOP officials have not decided on a candidate.