Suffolk GOP still hasn't picked candidate

Suffolk Republicans held a $250-a-head fundraiser Tuesday night to kick off their fall campaign, but, on the eve of the GOP county convention, party officials still have not agreed on a candidate to top their ticket.

"I've never seen it go down to the wire like this," political consultant Michael Dawidziak said Tuesday. "The convention's tomorrow and no one knows who the county executive candidate is going to be, and that includes the leaders."

In an interview at the fundraiser, John Jay LaValle, Suffolk Republican chairman, said that Randy Altschuler, a wealthy businessman who narrowly lost a bid for Congress last year, withdrew his name over the weekend, the latest of several high-profile names party officials tried to recruit. His exit leaves in the race Suffolk Treasurer Angie Carpenter, who has raised more than $200,000, and Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), a contender with strong conservative credentials but little in his campaign account.

LaValle said he would meet with Suffolk conservative chairman Edward Walsh this afternoon and then sit down with the GOP's 10 town leaders before the convention to make a final county executive selection. "We're closer," he said, but added that he hopes an intraparty battle can be avoided. "Once we make a decision, a primary would not be productive."

"Up to now, it's been Wiffle ball," said John Galla, Riverhead GOP leader. "Now we're going to be playing hardball."

After being introduced to the 200 people at the fundraiser, Carpenter said: "I'm full steam ahead." She added that, after weekend meetings, "I'm more determined than ever."

Reached in Albany before the event, Fitzpatrick acknowledged that he received many calls about the race. "I'm waiting to hear back from LaValle."

Walsh, who also attended, said: "I could support a lot of people," but he also raised the name of Democratic candidate Steve Bellone, the Babylon supervisor as a possible choice.

The Republican party has been in a tizzy for the past eight weeks since County Executive Steve Levy told his newly adopted party in late March that he would not seek re-election. It has forced Republicans to scramble to catch up with Democrats already united behind Bellone, who has already raised $1.5 million.

During that time, the GOP has pinballed from Stater Sen.John Flanagan (R-Northport), former GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio and Altschuler for a high profile name.
Carpenter, 67, is the only contender who has already won twice countywide but her job of county treasurer is largely administrative.

Fitzpatrick, 51, a member of the Assembly minority, has not had to vote for controversial bills.
He has been honored as Albany's most conservative state lawmaker for two of the past three years. However, Fitzpatrick's January campaign finance report showed he had only $350 in his account and he said he had raised only $5,000 since.

He has also been a major champion of reforming pension of public workers. "He's too Johnny one note," said Paul Sabatino, a former chief deputy county executive. "The one thing he talks about us pensions, but when you run countywide in Suffolk you can't go with just one issue you have to show versatility."

If Republicans cannot unite, the party could a repeat of a 1991 GOP primary when then Assemb. Robert Gaffney (R-Port Jefferson Station) defeated Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio in a primary and he went on to beat Democratic incumbent Patrick Halpin. Republicans also split in 1979 when Peter Fox Cohalan defeated GOP incumbent John V.N. Klein who was mired by the Southwest Sewer District scandal. Cohalan won, but the bitter primary split the GOP for a decade.

"We're anxiously awaiting their decision whoever their candidate is," said Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, "So we can begin discussing the issues that are important to Suffolk residents."