Suozzi questions Spitzer's ties to lobbyist

BY MICHAEL ROTHFELD | Newsday Staff Writer

June 8, 2006

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi. (Newsday / Alan Raia)

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi suggested yesterday that Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, his Democratic opponent for governor, has not taken action against an upstate casino that is operating illegally because of his political ties to a prominent Albany lobbyist.

Patricia Lynch Associates, one of the state's most successful lobbying firms, has a $10,000-a-month contract with the Oneida Indian Nation, the operator of Turning Stone Resort & Casino.

Lynch, her husband and her firm have given Spitzer a combined $49,500 in campaign contributions since 2003, according to records cited by Suozzi, while she raised $174,000 for him from other donors. Suozzi, at a Manhattan news conference, said "the question could be asked" whether Lynch has influenced Spitzer.

"She represents the Turning Stone Casino," Suozzi said. "And Eliot Spitzer is not moving against the Turning Stone Casino, despite the fact that the law is clear on the issue, and he has always said, 'You must enforce the law.'"

Christine Anderson, Spit- zer's campaign spokeswoman, denied that Lynch had affected the attorney general's stance. "Eliot took on Merrill Lynch. Do you think he's afraid of Pat Lynch?" Anderson said, referring to his fraud case against the investment house.

Lynch did not respond to a request for comment.

Turning Stone, which opened in 1993, has been found by state courts as recently as last month to be illegal because state lawmakers never ratified the compact signed by former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Spitzer said last month he would consider legal steps in conjunction with Gov. George Pataki. Pressed last week as to what he would do as governor, Spitzer said, "Nobody is going to immediately move to close a business that is ... employing thousands of people."

The casino employs more than 4,000 people.

Anderson also said the federal government has primary jurisdiction.

Suozzi himself hired Lynch as a lobbyist for Nassau in 2002. She terminated the contract in 2003 after he began attacking state Democrats, alienating Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), for whom she had previously been chief of staff. Silver is a key supporter of Spitzer.