Como Lands Pataki Endorsement

Former New York governor George Pataki surfaced on the campaign trail in Ridgewood on Tuesday to endorse Anthony Como for state Senate. Como is challenging state Senator Joe Addabbo Jr. in District 15.

Addabbo, a freshman senator, took the seat from 20-year Senator Serphin Maltese in 2008. A Republican has held the seat almost exclusively for decades. Addabbo's brief run in the 15th District with much of the fundraising in Queens aimed squarely at Como.

More than 175 elderly people gathered at the Peter Cardella Senior Center waiting for lunch to be served as Pataki and Como spoke of ending the two-year reign of Democratic leadership in Albany's legislature, and reclaiming Maltese's old seat.

In his own speech, Como positioned himself as a younger face to represent the old guard of New York republicans who reigned in Albany during Pataki's tenure of Governor in the 1990s and early 2000s, including Maltese.

Though some genuine excitement was evident from a few seniors who applauded as Pataki walked in the door, several regulars at the center said every politician usually receives a warm and courteous welcome, whomever they are.

Addabbo also appeared at the center recently. One woman pushing her way through the crowd could be heard complaining, "I can't wait until the election is over."

Like much of Queens, District 15 is largely Democratic, but with Maltese's 18-year tenure, state republicans hope to lure right-leaning Democrats in the area to vote for Como.

"Now I'm saying to Democratic voters, put party aside. The Democratic leadership in the state Senate has let you down as they've let all New Yorkers down. Cross party lines. Let's have bipartisan, non-partisan government," Pataki said. "Albany is in desperate need of leaders like Anthony Como. Anthony has the integrity to reform our broken State government and make it work again for the people. His common sense reforms and pro-growth policies will help get New York back on track. I'm proud to support him in this year's election."

Como and Pataki's remarks avoided any specific legislative agenda, except to paint Democrat-led Albany as corrupt and inept.

When asked what specific plans he had as a state senator, Como said it was "ridiculous" what Addabbo and other Democrats had done to allow Medicaid fraud, misuse of the MTA, and a few other hot-button talking points that can also be heard in this year's Governor's race. "We need a senator who will stop it before it happens," Como said.