North Country takes sides in fight for GOP control
The NY Daily News is reporting today on a “fierce behind-the-scenes fight” for control of the state Republican Party.
A chief contender is the former son-in-law of President Richard Nixon, Ed Cox, a Manhattan lawyer and SUNY trustee, who served as John McCain’s campaign chair in New York state.
According to Cox, most of the county chairs in the North Country are on his side.
Chairs from Clinton, Essex, Frankly, Jefferson, Hamilton, and St. Lawrence counties are all urging him to take the post.
A copy of their letter of support can be seen here. It describes the GOP as being “in crisis” and says that Cox is the best man to right the ship.
Cox hopes to edge out Niagara County’s Henry Wojtaszek.
According to the Daily News, Wojtaszek has former Governor George Pataki and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani in his corner.
He also has a strong power base in western New York.
According to the Albany Times-Union, this leadership battle could be decisive.
The 2010 elections will be critical for the state GOP. If Republicans don’t win back the state Senate, Democrats will control the state’s Census-driven redistricting, and could gerrymander the new district boundaries in a way that could cut the GOP out of power for years to come.
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