Vanderhoef not running for reelection?

A reliable source has told Left of the Hudson that C. Scott Vanderhoef will not likely seek reelection to his post as Rockland County Executive, which could open the door for Republican County Legislator Ed Day of New City.

The source, which has brought some pretty juicy scoops to LOTH in the past—including naming Ramapo Town Clerk Christian Sampson as Ellen Jaffee's primary opponent for State Assembly last year—told us: "I've spoken to several people close to Scott and he's 90 percent sure he's not running."

This is no surprise to LOTH. While Vanderhoef has been actively fundraising, it's not unusual for incumbents to do so and use the money to seek another office. It has long been rumored that Vanderhoef is one of the Rockland GOP's picks (along with Board of Elections Commish Joan M. Silvestri) to succeed State Senator Thomas P. Morahan should Morahan not seek office in 2010. There has been open speculation that the long-entrenched Morahan—now part of the State Senate minority—will not seek reelection now that his member-item slush fund has been ripped from him and he has lost his committee chairmanships. Silvestri is Sen. Morahan's daughter.

It also seems odd that Day, a Republican and supporter of Vanderhoef, would publicly toy with the idea of running for County Executive. It would be political suicide for him to run in a primary against the four-term County Executive.

Currently, only Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, a Democrat, has thrown his hat in the ring. Kleiner will formally announce his candidacy Sunday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the Rockland County Office Building.

There is also a "Draft Harriet Cornell" movement begun by Thomas Stoner of the Working Families Party, to try to coax the Rockland Legislature Chair into running. Cornell has told LOTH that she is not interested in the job.