Lazio coming to St. Lawrence County next week

CANTON — When Republican Rick A. Lazio last stumped in Northern New York for statewide office, his party was at the beginning of its decade-long freefall from power.

Mr. Lazio returns here Thursday as a gubernatorial hopeful hell-bent on reclaiming upstate, upending the status quo and “reminding the politicians who works for who.”

“If we elect David Paterson or Andrew Cuomo, it’s business as usual,” said Mr. Lazio, a former congressman and one-time challenger to Hillary Rodham Clinton for U.S. Senate. “But if the people get behind me and my message about lowering spending, living within our means, lowering property taxes, creating jobs, expecting better outcomes, pushing schools to achieve, (and) restoring ethics in Albany, then the politicos in Albany are going to sit up and take notice. And they’ll know that they ignore the public’s will at their peril.”

Mr. Lazio’s message has taken root with several county GOP chairmen and party leaders, pushing him over the 51 percent he’ll need from the state committee to win the nomination.

But those in the north country are, so far, reserved.

Nancy Martin, St. Lawrence County Republican chairwoman, is hosting Mr. Lazio at The Club, 25 Court St., for a 7 p.m. private meeting with her executive committee and local elected officials. But she doesn’t anticipate taking a vote to endorse a gubernatorial candidate at the meeting.

Jefferson County GOP Chairman Donald G.M. Coon III had encouraged Christopher C. Collins, Erie County’s executive, to run. Mr. Collins dropped out last week. Mr. Coon has previously said his committee has no immediate plans to endorse a candidate for governor.

Mr. Lazio is unconcerned that he hasn’t sewn up support here.

“This all takes time and face-to-face interaction,” he said. “People need to be able to see me up in the north country and get a feel for what I’m talking about and see: Am I in touch with what they’re worrying about?”

Mr. Lazio is campaigning on what he’s calling “the three principles,” a platform of fiscal conservatism, job creation and ethics reform. But he said Thursday he’s also interested in regional issues, such as U.S.-Canadian trade and border access issues, milk price volatility and small business challenges.

“I don’t presume to know all the answers,” he said. “But I want to be a very well informed governor when I take over.”

Mr. Lazio has, of yet, no other announced stops in the north country Thursday.