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Diana would be good choice for Gillibrand's seat, GOP says
Orange exec brushes off Senate talk as 'a rumor at this point'
By Chris Mckenna
Times Herald-Record
February 16, 2010
GOSHEN — Diana for Senate?

Only six weeks into his third term as Orange County executive, Ed Diana is being talked about as a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate seat that Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to fill just over a year ago.

He brushed aside that chatter as "a rumor at this point" when reached by phone on Monday. But the Republican chairmen of Westchester and Rockland counties both said that Diana, a Republican, is thinking about challenging the Democratic incumbent.

"I understand that he is," said Rockland County Republican Chairman Vincent Reda, who is also first vice chairman of the state Republican Committee. "He'd be a great candidate. I think Eddie Diana would be on anybody's short list."

A plethora of state and federal offices at stake in New York this fall, combined with a sense that incumbents are in trouble nationwide, has emboldened a wave of candidates. Republicans, buoyed by recent election victories, seem especially confident.

"The Republican brand is good right now," said Douglas Colety, the Westchester County Republican chairman. "Everybody wants to run."

Six Republicans have stepped forward to challenge Rep. Nita Lowey, a Democrat who represents parts of Westchester and Rockland, Colety said. And the Republican field for the neighboring congressional district represented by Democrat John Hall has three declared candidates and other potential ones, including Orange County Republican Chairman William DeProspo.

Jonathan Jacobson, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Committee, dismisses the GOP enthusiasm as misguided.

"I think they're overreading the status of American politics," said Jacobson, arguing that frustrated voters don't necessarily want a power shift in Washington.

"People don't want Congress to be controlled by people who just say 'No,'" Jacobson said.

Diana, 61, a former gym teacher and restaurant owner with 26 years in politics, has also been mentioned in recent weeks as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor. Supporters consider him a strong candidate for higher office because of his experience and fiscal record. He handily won re-election in November.

If Diana were to run for higher office and win, the county Legislature — now firmly in Republican hands — would appoint a successor to serve until an election could be held a year later, according to the county charter.

Gillibrand, a former attorney elected to Congress in 2006, had just begun her second term when Gov. David Paterson appointed her in January 2009 to the Senate seat Hillary Clinton vacated when she became secretary of state. Gillibrand must run for election in November to serve the last two years of Clinton's term.

Harold Ford, a former Tennessee congressman, is considering challenging her for the Democratic nomination. The only declared Republican in the race is Bruce Blakeman, an attorney and former county legislator from Long Island; at least five GOP county chairmen have endorsed him.

The New York Times reported Friday that Mort Zuckerman, the Daily News publisher, may seek Gillibrand's seat, either as a Republican or an independent. Republicans George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani have both ruled out running.

Because of the special election, this is a rare year in which contests are held for both of New York's U.S. Senate seats. Sen. Charles Schumer will seek his third six-year term.