NY's US Senate Race for 2006

While the NY State Committee tries to persuade Jeanine Pirro to challenge Sen. Clinton, we already have four...(count them) four! candidates already exploring a bid for the seat. They are (in no particular order):

Adam Brecht
Mr. Brecht has been exploring the idea of challenging Sen. Clinton before last year's election. I met him at an Election Results party in Manhattan and he was passing out cards saying he is running in 2006.
His bold, results-oriented vision for New York and the nation includes:

-insuring the uninsured by 2010 by creating a new generation of private, not-for-profit insurers supported by charitable giving and pay-what-you-can-premiums;

-a government commitment to eliminate cancer and AIDS by 2050 under the global scientific leadership of the United States of America (using in part funds from the privatization of NASA);

-eliminating federal income tax on small businesses in their first three years with less than $6 million in annual revenue;

-freezing all federal taxes and hiring (except for national security hiring);

-stopping the closure of U.S. military bases on American soil -- and determining if those bases can be converted to homeland security purposes;

-a five-fold increase in college education grants for the poor;

-shrinking government by privatizing some government agencies including NASA, Amtrak and the General Services Administration.

Adam Brecht is a former aide to U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY) and the late U.S. Senator John Heinz (R-PA). In business, he has worked in the public relations industry for more than a decade in Manhattan, achieving senior executive positions with leading firms. A graduate of New York University, Adam lives in Manhattan, and he is single. He is an avid swimmer and advocate of health and physical fitness.

William A. Brenner
William “Bill” Brenner, 64, is a popular, respected attorney and politician in Sullivan County, New York. He is a dedicated community leader and a deeply passionate, honest and able communicator. He is also the proud father of three children whom he put through college, and a grandfather of two.

During his Congressional campaign of 2004, he had the opportunity to view first-hand the deep-rooted problems besetting the great state of New York and to speak passionately about his Republican-based ideas on how to fix them. He was particularly affected by his Congressional District’s skyrocketing taxes, the countless empty stores and lost businesses, the rising level of unemployment, and the ever-growing sense of pessimism displayed by proud New Yorkers who had always been known for their optimism and sheer determination to succeed.

Bill Brenner believes that we can and must turn our economy around and bring jobs and industries back to New York. We must assist Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in making New York State and New York City “Business Friendly” again, and we must reshape the current sense of economic pessimism into one of hope, optimism and opportunity.

Ed Cox
Ed Cox was born and raised in New York. Throughout more than 30 years of service to his state and nation Ed Cox has garnered broad respect for his work on a wide range of issues. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler. He has been a member of the New York bar since 1973.

For a decade, he has served as a Trustee of the State University of New York. He serves as Chairman of its Administration and Finance Committee and of its Construction Fund. In addition, Ed Cox is founder and Co-Chair of the State University's Community College Committee and of its Charter School Institute. Ed Cox has served for more than 20 years as a founding Director and former Chairman of Student/Sponsor Partners, which supports and mentors over 1,300 inner city students in New York City's parochial high schools. He is also a director of the Institute for Special Education which is at the forefront of servicing the educational needs of students with disabilities.

John Spencer
Not to be confused with John Spencer.
I strongly believe that Hillary Clinton can be defeated. More important for the good of New York she must be replaced. New York needs a hard working Senator who shares our values rather than someone who is going to run a losing race for President.

I believe the only way to defeat Sen. Clinton is to present a clear contrast in background, in life and on the issues. That's why I'm running and that's the only way Republicans win in New York.

Right now I am promising you that I will seek both the Republican and Conservative nominations. If necessary I am planning to run in the Republican Primary and if nominated by the Conservatives I will proudly run on their line all the way to November 2006. I've always run for, and with, both Republican and Conservative Party support. That's how I've won and that's how we need to win again.

If you're like me you're tired of watching our party lose in New York. We haven't won anything new in New York State for the past 11 years. Instead we have lost our US Senate seat, our Attorney General, Congressional seats, State Senate and Assembly seats, County Executives in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester and too many other races. Why? Because some Republicans have forgotten who we are and what we stand for.

I think New Yorkers have four strong candidates to challenge Sen. Clinton right here. For so Republican County Chairmans to throw support behind Jeanine Pirro when she hasn't even announced her candidacy is foolish at best.
I can't keep from going back to the question I always ask.
Who is more likely going to be defeated by Jeanine Pirro? Sen. Clinton? Or Andrew Cuomo or Mark Green?
Who is more likely going to win for Attorney General? Andrew Cuomo? Mark Green? Rick Lazio?

Jeanine Pirro is a very strong Republican candidate who can win the Attorney General hands down. That is one office of the Big Four next year. I'm not too sure any Republican can beat Sen. Clinton so play it safe and run your strongest candidate in the office she can almost certainly win.

A primary of the four mentioned candidates for US Senate could wake up State Republicans and get them to jump on a candidate's campaign. It will stir grassroots politics. And if the winner of the primary can't beat Sen. Clinton in November 2006, well, at least we won the Attorney General seat with Jeanine Pirro, right?