Cuomo accepts Democratic nomination for governor

RYE BROOK - State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Thursday accepted the Democratic nomination for governor, vowing to unite residents behind his message of fiscal restraint, smaller government and equality.

In a 25-minute speech here to the state Democratic Convention, Cuomo called for caps on local property taxes and state spending, saying high costs were driving people from New York and trapping others in their homes. This fiscal conservatism, frequently heard from Republican leaders, was mixed with pledges to boost schools, fight discrimination and welcome immigrants.

Cuomo also moderated his criticism of current state officials, all Democrats for the first time since 1935. He decried the late budget but did not single out the legislature as he did earlier this month, earning a rebuke from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan).

"People are hurting . . . they believed that government would be there to help them, and the state government that was supposed to be part of the solution turned out to be part of the problem," Cuomo said. "Today's approach requires fiscal prudence, requires competence and performance in government."

He opposes borrowing money to close a projected $60-billion budget deficit over the next five years and wants to consolidate all levels of government.

"We're going to have to balance the budget without raising taxes because New Yorkers cannot afford a tax increase at this time," he said to applause from the crowd of 1,500.

But those seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination questioned Cuomo's embrace of smaller budgets. They noted he was a top aide to his father, Gov. Mario Cuomo, who raised taxes during his 12 years.

"If [voters] want bloated government, higher taxes, less jobs, more scandal, more late budgets and more of the same, then they should vote for Andrew Cuomo," said Rick Lazio, who once represented Suffolk in Congress.

Cuomo, 52, of Manhattan, has a commanding lead in the polls over Lazio, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino. Another GOP contender, Myers Mermel, switched his candidacy recently from lieutenant governor to governor.

Levy, through a spokesman, suggested Cuomo would abandon his positions once elected.

The 446 convention delegates roared approval when Cuomo spoke of a more equitable distribution of school aid and legalizing same-sex marriage.

He also appealed to residents angered by the recession and Albany's dysfunction. He urged them not to heed calls from groups that seek to foment hate. Later, he declined to identify the groups.

"I know that you are upset. I know that you are afraid . . . but the answer is not to get angry and get negative," Cuomo said. "The answer is to get united . . . to get positive. That's how we move forward."

Long Island delegates praised Cuomo's speech. "It's first time I ever heard a candidate for governor talk about Long Island, about the property taxes," said James Gaughran, a lawyer from Huntington. "He made it clear if he gets elected as governor, it's not going to be business as usual."

With Kathleen Kerr