PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK – Today, Allegany County Republican Party Chairman Dwight “Mike” Healy, Steuben County Republican Party Chairman Joe Sempolinski, Livingston County Republican Party Chairman John Pauer, Wayne County Republican Party Chairwoman MaryAnne Nicosia-McCarthy, Yates County Republican Party Chairman Jack Prendergast, Seneca County Republican Party Chairman Thomas Fox and Schuyler County Republican Party Chairman Larry Jaynes endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) for Governor of New York State.
Having already garnered the endorsement of the Monroe and Ontario County Republican Party Chairs on Monday, Congressman Zeldin has now earned the endorsement of every County GOP Chair in the Finger Lakes Region.
Allegany County Republican Party Chairman Dwight “Mike” Healy said, “Congressman Zeldin stood up for our police when radical democrats wanted to defund them, has delivered for our veterans and seniors in Albany and Washington, and will help put New York State back on the right track. As Governor Lee will continue to stand up for law enforcement, fight for lower taxes, and make it easier for our seniors to stay in their homes.”
Steuben County Republican Party Chairman Joe Sempolinski said, “Andrew Cuomo has been an absolute disaster for New York. His and the Democrats’ policies are putting our communities in harm’s way while they try to find new ways to put more taxes on hard working New Yorkers to fund their radical agenda. I’m proud to endorse Lee Zeldin for governor because too many New York families are finding it harder and harder to afford the place they call home. We need a fiscally responsible governor like Lee Zeldin who will look out for New Yorkers’ wallets.”
Livingston County Republican Party Chairman John Pauer said, “I am proud to endorse Congressman Lee Zeldin in his bid to be our next governor. He is by far the best man for the job. Lee has a proven track record of delivering real results for his constituents when it comes to standing with our law enforcement, fighting to lower taxes, and protecting veterans and seniors. I am confident he will do the same and more for all New Yorkers as our next governor.”
Wayne County Republican Party Chairwoman MaryAnne Nicosia-McCarthy said, “Corruption, abuse, and intimidation are the status quo in Albany under Governor Andrew Cuomo. We can’t stand idly by while Cuomo and a liberal majority continue to make Albany fiscally and morally bankrupt. I’m endorsing Lee Zeldin for governor because I know he will restore honesty to our state and make us proud to be New Yorkers once again.”
Yates County Republican Party Chairman Jack Prendergast said, “I am delighted to announce my endorsement for Congressman Lee Zeldin’s run for New York Governor. Cost of living is out of control, crime is through the roof, and our economy is still placed under a needless lockdown. We need a real leader in Albany like Congressman Lee Zeldin, who will reverse our state’s decline and restore New York State to prosperity.”
Seneca County Republican Party Chairman Tom Fox said, “New York State government has been plagued by Andrew Cuomo’s lies, abuse, and coverups. New Yorkers have lost faith in their government and their leaders. Today I am proud to endorse Congressman Lee Zeldin to be our next governor. Lee Zeldin has proven himself to be a man of integrity that New Yorkers can trust to do the right thing for our state.”
Schuyler County Republican Party Chairman Larry Jaynes said, “Threats. Scandals. Lies. Coverups. intimidation. Higher taxes. For the past two terms Andrew Cuomo has guided our state in the wrong direction, and now we are paying the price. New Yorkers are being taxed out of their homes, law enforcement are under attack, and we have a governor focused on investigations and an impeachment hearing. Lee Zeldin will help to support small businesses, cut taxes, and support our police and first responders, and help to save our state. He has my full endorsement.”
To date, the Suffolk, Nassau, Monroe, Ontario, Tioga, Madison, Oneida, Broome, Schenectady, Allegany, Steuben, Livingston, Wayne, Yates, Seneca, and Schuyler County Republican Party Chairs have endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin, representing 37% of the New York State GOP’s weighted gubernatorial vote. Congressman Zeldin needs to surpass 50% to become the endorsed Republican Party candidate for Governor.
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About Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin was born and raised on Long Island. He grew up in Suffolk County and graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, where his identical twin daughters attend school today. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and then his law degree from Albany Law School, becoming New York’s youngest attorney at the time at the age of 23.
Lee spent four years on Active Duty with the U.S. Army after completing ROTC and served in different capacities, including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Prosecutor, and Military Magistrate. In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Lee deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2007, Lee returned to Suffolk County with his family. It was at this time that Lee transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserve, where he currently serves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 2008, Lee established a successful law practice in Smithtown, NY. Elected to the New York State Senate two years later, in 2010, Lee’s been working hard every day since to keep the promises he made to the hard-working families he represents.
In the State Senate, Lee successfully fought to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for 80 percent of employers, a job killing tax that was hurting small businesses. Lee led the successful efforts to repeal the Saltwater Fishing License Fee and create the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, a statewide program in New York to help our returning veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Lee also wrote the law that protects our fallen veterans and their families from protests at military burials.
Lee was then elected to the United States Congress in 2014, representing New York’s First Congressional District, and quickly became a leading voice in America on top local, domestic and foreign policy issues.
Lee has secured many key victories for Long Island, which have included among many other successes:
Saving Plum Island, by securing the repeal of a 2008 federal law requiring the island to be sold off to the highest bidder. He also secured funding to repair the historic Plum Island Lighthouse and funding necessary to remediate environmental concerns on the island.
- Delivering a $2 billion Electron Ion Collider project to Brookhaven National Lab.
- Securing $8.3 billion in much needed funding to support treatment, enforcement, and prevention for those affected by the heroin and opioid abuse crisis.
- Working with the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our coastlines, advancing the ambitious $1.5 billion Fire Island to Montauk Point project, in addition to several other vital projects on the north and south shores of Long Island.
- Co-Chairing the Long Island Sound Caucus and delivering vast quantities of funding for the Long Island Sound Program, National Estuary Program and SeaGrant.
- Introducing and passing into law his Adult Day Health Care legislation for disabled veterans and opening a new health care clinic for East End veterans.
- Co-authoring a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 246) that passed the House opposing the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.
- Successfully resolving over 17,000 constituent cases in favor of NY-1 residents.