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Local Republicans seen as possible governor candidates

Dan Janison | dan.janison@newsday.com

July 21, 2008

For the moment, the biggest Long Island names in statewide politics belong to Thomas DiNapoli, the Democratic state comptroller, and Dean Skelos, the Senate's GOP majority leader. Fast forward to the 2010 governor's race, and at least five regional names pop out of the rumor mill, on the Republican side.

Speculation surrounds former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. But despite a weekend burst of publicity about his fundraising and new real-estate dealings, even close allies doubt he'll run, following his high-debt presidential implosion. "Go to Albany and have to deal with [Assembly Speaker] Sheldon Silver?," a longtime ally puzzled at a GOP event. "Why does he want to do that?"

Mayor Michael Bloomberg gets his name floated, but says when asked that he won't run.

The Capitol newspaper in Albany notes that until four years ago, Barack Obama was just a state senator from Chicago - and set out to rate future prospects in New York's upper house. Two names drew the highest marks from a team of political consultants: Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan) and John Flanagan (R-East Northport). "Possible governor material for 2014," they say of Flanagan.

Flanagan recently gained influence with appointment to the legislature's key review board for Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects. Some staffers, for better or worse, have been calling the 6-foot-4 Flanagan "mini-Dean." No comment on the future from the Flanagan camp - where as in the rest of the Senate the instant concern is the GOP drive to retain control.

U.S. Rep. Peter King, who lost clout last year when Democrats took the House majority, has already suggested he could be in the mix for 2010. King owns creds as a loyal Republican: Last week, for example, he drew fire from long-shot Democratic challenger Graham Long for backing President George W. Bush on offshore oil drilling.

Then there's the talk that Suffolk Executive Steve Levy, with his flush campaign account, tight fiscal posture, and conservative props, could ditch the Democrats and run statewide as a Republican.

SURE SHOT FOR SHERIFF?: After the Suozzi administration's search for sheriff was found flawed, Nassau re-advertised. But the first picked candidate, Mark Farsi - expected to double-dip as a retired official from the NYC Department of Correction - is due to get the $132,000 post after all. Stay tuned.

LONG ISLAND $$ TREE: Gov. David A. Paterson raised $3.3 million since March. Among his biggest local donors: Louis Bradbury, East Hampton, $10,000; Roger Tilles, Great Neck, $25,000, and Ruth Mack, Floral Park, $10,000. Among donor corporations and PACs: Cablevision System of New York PAC, Bethpage, $37,800; Duffy Duffy & Burdo, of Uniondale, medical malpractice attorneys, $17,000; National Insurance Brokerage of New York, Islandia, $5,000; Physicians Reciprocal Insurers, Manhasset, $5,000; Anthony V. Curto PC, Mineola, $5,000; Hamilton Financial Group, Woodmere, $5,000; River York Stratford LLC, New Hyde Park, $9,000, and NYS Medical Society PAC, Lake Success, $10,000.