Rockland Democrats Back Carlucci for State Senate

Rockland County Democrats threw their support behind Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci Thursday night in New City to be the party's candidate for the state Senate seat of outgoing Republican Thomas Morahan.

As anticipated, four candidates went to the convention at Clarkstown Town Hall looking for support, but Carlucci, 29, of New City, emerged as the Democrat's choice by acclamation.

The decision, however, did not come quickly.

A contingent of Ramapo Democrats sought at the start of the convention to block the gathered Democrats from backing any single candidate. The effort, however, failed and the Democratic committee members decided they would indeed back a single candidate.

"I was disappointed by this effort to change the rules," said Carlucci. "They wanted to change the rules in the middle of the game. I didn't think that was right."

Rockland Democratic Chairman Vincent Monte said that Ramapo Democrats ended up voting in support of Carlucci. After 122 ballots had been cast in favor of Carlucci, the gathered Democrats decided to formally back Carlucci by acclamation.

Still to be seen is whether the party's endorsement will hold up, or if Carlucci will face a primary challenge from one or more of the three others interested in the Democratic line in the November election: Upper Nyack businessman Lou Tharp, Grant Valentine of Chestnut Ridge and Tuxedo town Supervisor Peter M. Dolan.

Tharp, a political newcomer, said he is conducting polls to assess his chances if he decided to run in a primary against Carlucci. Tharp said if his polling shows there is an opening for him, he would use his own financial resources to run.

The Rockland County Democratic convention came just a day after the Orange County Democratic convention, where Carlucci was also endorsed. The 38th District Senate seat currently held by Morahan, a New City Republican, represents all of Rockland County and parts of Orange County.

Morahan, 79, is fighting leukemia and has decided not to seek re-election.

Carlucci repeated his message of reform to the gathered Democrats Thursday night. He is calling for full disclosure of outside income by legislators; lowering campaign donation limits; and, an independent non-partisan redistricting of the Senate.

"We can't even begin to tackle issues like crippling property taxes until we change the way the Senate does business," Carlucci said. "History has proven over and over that until we clean up the mess in Albany, important issues will continue to be used as political footballs and nothing of substance will be accomplished."

Carlucci said he is prepared in the event he faces a primary for the Democratic line in the election.

"I am in this to make a difference," said Carlucci. "I am in this to improve the lives of the people in the community. That's why I got into this."

In addition to gaining the Orange County endorsement on Wednesday evening, Carlucci received the backing of U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey Wednesday morning. Lowey's district includes New City.

Lowey spokesman Matthew Dennis said Lowey has worked with Carlucci for several years in his role as town clerk.  Dennis said Lowey has been impressed by how hard he works, the results he achieves for residents of Rockland County, and how well he keeps in touch with those he serves.  Dennis said Lowey is confident Carlucci will run a strong campaign and be an effective state senator.

Monte described Carlucci as a good campaigner who has strong ties to the community. Although Carlucci is among the youngest elected officials in the state, Monte said his popularity extends beyond his hometown of New City and the Town of Clarkstown.

"If the Republicans underestimate David Carlucci as a campaigner, they do so at their own peril," said Monte.

Rockland's political focus next turns to the Republican Party, which meets in the same Town Hall auditorium on Monday to decide who they want to run for Morahan's seat. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, who was re-elected in November 2009, and Rockland County Legislature member Ed Day of New City both want Morahan's seat.

Vanderhoef has shown he can be consistently elected despite the overwhelming edge Democrats have in voter registration in Rockland. Additionally, Vanderhoef contends Republican leaders see the 2010 election as a chance for Republicans to gain seats in the state Senate and have more influence of key issues such as taxes and spending.

Day, a security consultant and former commander of detectives in the New York City Police Department, contends he is more closely connected to the community in Rockland and does not have ties to statewide political bosses.

Political observers are waiting to see the process used by the Rockland County Republicans for their convention, especially whether voting by committee members is done in secret or in an open voice vote. If the voting is secret, some observers say that could give Day something of an edge because there are many Rockland GOP committee members who work for the county government and could face the loss of their jobs if Vanderhoef were no longer in office - and if Democrats gained control of the county administration.

Vanderhoef said he was been working to convince his fellow Republicans that the county would be best served if Vanderhoef could take Morahan's Senate seat.

Also left unresolved politically is the future of Ramapo town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, who Thursday night used the Democratic Convention to speak about issues and conditions he's seen around the state as he lobbied to be Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's choice for lieutenant governor. Last week, as Cuomo formally announced his candidacy for governor, he named Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy to run with him on the Democratic ticket.