Long Sees Vision in Faso Run

FT. HAMILTON, NY  -- Mike Long, State Chairman of the Conservative Party, has sent the following
letter to the members of the Conservative Party State Committee and Conservative endorsed legislators,
enthusiastically supporting the vision of John Faso.

Chairman Long’s letter reminds his members how in early 1995, Faso took a leading role in crafting the
spending constraints and tax relief in Governor Pataki’s first budget which broke from the Cuomo culture
of government excess.

Long states in his letter that all of those seeking the Conservative endorsement for Governor offer many
fine qualities, however, the key difference is that John Faso combines a commitment to conservative ideas
with a proven ability to run an effective statewide campaign here in New York.

Acknowledging that this election is a time for choosing, Long gave each potential candidate the
opportunity to win the support of leadership of the Party. After months of review, Long believes that
John Faso is the candidate who best represents the Party’s principles and is the best chance to unite the
Conservative Party with the Republican Party in the Governor’s race.

The text of Chairman Long’s letter follows:

I am writing you today because I have come to the firm conclusion John Faso is the Conservative Party’s
best choice for Governor of New York. I urge you to join me in supporting John’s campaign to reform
Albany and lead New York in the right direction.

John is committed to fighting for the priorities New York Conservatives value most: Reining in
government, respecting taxpayers and protecting families. And John has pledged to carry the Conservative
Party banner in a campaign that runs all the way through November.

Before I explain why John is our best choice, let me mention something about the other contenders who are
seeking our nomination. Every man running for the Conservative Party nomination offers many fine
qualities.

My decision to support John does not spring from a desire to reject the other candidates. Too often, we
dwell on defects. I won’t do that here. To the contrary, we are fortunate that we have such a fine
field of competitors.

The key difference is that John Faso combines a commitment to conservative ideas with a proven ability to
run an effective statewide campaign here in New York. That’s why John is the best choice for New York
Conservatives.

An example from over ten years ago shows what New York Conservatives should remember about John. In
early 1995 John Faso took a leading role in crafting the spending constraints and tax relief in Governor
Pataki’s first budget. That first Pataki budget broke from the Cuomo culture of government excess. John
is committed to renewing his fight for lower taxes and less spending.

And it is important to consider the Cuomo years for a moment. We still pay the price for over a decade
of Cuomo tax-and-spend politics. But don’t think those days are gone forever. Like those dinosaurs
that come back to life in the movies, the Cuomo Democrats are ready to return and raise havoc.

If you can’t get some publicity by indicting it; get some cash by taxing it. That could be Eliot
Spitzer’s motto. You can be sure the same “tough guy” prosecutor who let Medicaid crime run out of
control will have little enthusiasm for protecting taxpayers.

The liberal Democrats are hungry after being locked out of the Governor’s office for over ten years.
They will come after us with all they have. So we must choose the best possible candidate to fight back.

Because while the liberals are hungry, they hope we are complacent. We have had successes and setbacks with a Republican in the Governor’s office. The liberals want us to pout about our disappointments and hand them a victory this November that will doom all of our agenda.

One critic recently wrote to accuse the Republicans of betraying the Conservative Party on every
conceivable issue over the last 11 years. Since the critic himself was once appointed to high office by
those same Republicans with Conservative support, his standards are remarkably high. Yet, it suggests an
important point.

Yes, we must select the candidate for Governor who best represents our principles. In my view, that
candidate is John Faso. And, in my opinion, it isn’t a liability that John Faso also represents the best
chance to unite the Conservative Party with the Republican Party in the Governor’s race.

But if the Republicans decide to break with the Conservatives and field a different candidate for
Governor, John Faso is committed to waging an active campaign on our issues, on our line right through
the November election. Let the critics know this is not an outcome we seek, but it is also not an
outcome we fear.

John Faso has displayed the courage to fight for conservative issues. He is pro-life and says so. He is
committed to protecting marriage. He has the command of the intricacies of the budget to find and cut
the waste. And he knows we must reduce taxes to create jobs and give our kids a future here.

This election is a time for choosing. My choice for the Conservative Party nomination for Governor is
John Faso. I ask you to join with me. And I am fully confident you will be proud to have John Faso as
the Conservative Party’s candidate for Governor this November.

All the Best,

Mike Long

 

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