GOP Source: Vanderhoef to run for Morahan's Senate Seat

Sources inside the State Republican Party have told Elizabeth Benjamin of Capital Tonight that Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef will seek the State Senate seat in the 38th District. The seat is currently held by long-term incumbent Thomas P. Morahan.

According to Capital Tonight:

Republican Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef is poised to announce his bid for the state Senate seat expected to be vacated by ailing veteran incumbent Tom Morahan, who has been battling Leukemia and is expected not to seek re-election this fall, a Hudson Valley GOP source confirmed.

The five-term incumbent won’t mount a primary challenge against Morahan, who has insisted his illness won’t prevent him from running, but insiders – including retiring Sen. Dale Volker – have suggested their colleague’s health concerns might ultimately trump his desire to stay in office.

Capital Tonight is a new statewide political television show that is broadcast on YNN, exclusively to Time Warner Cable customers. Benjamin is a former political reporter and blogger for the New York Daily News.

Benjamin's report echoes the content of an e-mail tip sent to Left of the Hudson on Sunday. It had been widely assumed in political circles that County Legislator Ed Day would seek the Senate Seat if Morahan chooses not to run. But the candidacy of popular Clarkstown Clerk David Carlucci might be a game changer for the GOP. Carlucci's run may have prompted the County GOP to find a stronger candidate than Day. Former Republican and State Parole Board officer Grant Valentine is also running as a Democrat.

Statewide, Republicans have found themselves in an unusual position of being in the minority and having several open seats to defend. Several State Senators have retired or are seeking other offices and some seats that have been weakly contested in the past now have strong Democratic challengers. Statewide GOP fundraising is reported to be abysmal. Vanderhoef would bring instant name recognition and fundraising resources to the race.

Vanderhoef was quick with a denial this morning:

At a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of Chef’s Market in Nyack this morning, Vanderhoef was asked if he was running for the State Senate. He replied “no.” Reliable sources say that Morahan will soon announce his retirement from the senate and that Vanderhoef will declare his candidacy.

Vanderhoef has been a serial job seeker while in office. He announced in January--the very day after he was sworn in to a fifth term as Executive--that he was considering running for State Comptroller. Weeks later, Vanderhoef announced that he had begun an exploratory committee to look into a run against Kirsten Gillibrand for United States Senate. Last month, he announced he dropped the idea. While County Executive, Vanderhoef has run for Congress, Lieutenant Governor and sought the Presidency of Rockland Community College. Sources inside County government told Left of the Hudson that Vanderhoef also sought employment with Giuliani Partners while County Executive, delaying the announcement of his 2009 campaign.

The salary of a State Senator is notably less than the $152,000 Vanderhoef makes as County Executive. But as the $79,500 a year Senate seat is only part time, sources have speculated that Vanderhoef would be set up with secondary employment with a local law firm to make up the difference.