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Updated
August 29, 2009
The Times Union Insider
Jennings takes his fundraising act on road
By JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST, Staff writer
First published in print: Friday, August 28, 2009
Original LinkMayor Jerry Jennings took his prodigious fundraising act south last week, joining an undisclosed number of supporters for an evening affair at New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Manhattan home.
The event took place on Aug. 18, said Jennings spokeswoman Carolyn Ehrlich, who declined to discuss who was in attendance or how much "Our Mayor" raised at his billionaire counterpart's pad.
"It was a private event, so we don't usually speak about who we invited," Ehrlich said, seeking instead to point out that Jennings and Bloomberg share a common cause in their quest to rid New York's cities of illegal guns.
Bloomberg is co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a national coalition to which Jennings belongs.
"These are two guys who are really working hard to get illegal guns out of our cities," Ehrlich said.
Asked whether Bloomberg was endorsing Jennings, who is seeking a fifth term this year, Ehrlich said that the fact that Bloomberg hosted the party at his home spoke to his support.
How much Jennings raised from the event won't be clear until the next state campaign finance disclosure deadline, which is Sept. 4.
But what's already clear is that Jennings hasn't needed too much help from billionaires to phenomenally out-raise his only Democratic opponent, Councilman Corey Ellis of the Third Ward.
Since December 2008, Jennings has out-raised Ellis about 10-1, pulling in $494,866 to Ellis' $50,274.43
As of Aug. 14, Jennings had spent just shy of $170,000 to Ellis' $28,198.33.
Change at Colonie GOP
Former County Legislator John Graziano Jr. is in line to become the next leader of the Colonie Republican Party.
The son of Albany County Republican chairman and GOP elections commissioner John Graziano Sr., the former minority leader in the legislature is expected to succeed longtime chairman Harry D'Agostino.
The full committee meets Sept. 8 to elect someone to fill the rest of D'Agostino's term, which ends in September 2010.
D'Agostino resigned last month from the position he had held for more than 36 years. The elder Graziano was among those who called on D'Agostino to step aside after Republicans lost control of the Town Board for the first time in 2007.
Graziano Sr. indicated he would take the job himself, if needed, but later relented and became county chairman.
The succession comes in the midst of the town supervisor contest between incumbent Democrat Paula Mahan and former state senator and Albany County Executive Michael Hoblock, the Republican nominee. Three seats on the town board are also up for election.
Colonie Town Clerk Elizabeth DelTorto became acting chairwoman upon D'Agostino's resignation but said her day job kept her too busy to take the post full-time. She is unopposed.
"He brings a lot of energy, a lot of creativity," DelTorto said of the younger Graziano. "He's just exactly what Mike needs to be successful."
Graziano served in the County Legislature from 1995 to 2004. He runs Capitol Hill Management Services, which helps not-for-profits run their operations.
"I'm very, very flattered that they've nominated me," he said. "It's a great opportunity."
He said he intends to bring the same approach to his political role as he does to his work, to help create an organizational structure for his candidates.
"The number one priority is to win in November," he said. He sees himself as "the person who gives the candidates the infrastructure to run good, solid races."
"I am approaching this as a management project, to give everybody the resources they need to win the races," he said.
Jostling for state GOP job
In keeping with Graziano news, the elder Graziano met this week with both contenders to replace state GOP Chairman Joe Mondello, who announced Monday he'll quit.
Ed Cox was in town Tuesday and helped cut the ribbon on the city of Albany's new Republican headquarters. Henry Wojatszek was in town the next day and spent about two hours with Graziano, said Albany County GOP spokesman Dan Farrell.
Graziano will remain uncommitted until a candidate shows him not just a plan aimed at a "fundamental restructuring" of the statewide party but also a way to achieve that plan.
"He's not neutral," Farrell said. "He does intend to make a choice."
Also on hand for the city's grand opening was GOP Assemblyman George Amedore, of Rotterdam, and Rensselaer County GOP Chairman Jack Casey.
Inside Politics is a companion to the Local Politics blog -- http://blogs.timesunion. com/localpolitics -- and compiled by Jordan Carleo-Evangelist. Tim O'Brien contributed.