Hayworth Expects to Run on Three Ballot Lines Against Hall

Nan Hayworth, an ophthalmologist and Republican from Mount Kisco, is running for the Congressional seat held by John Hall, a Democrat. Although recent primary results nationally may show that the anti-incumbent mood is not as strong as it is thought to be, she thinks she has a good chance.

Hayworth wants to deal with the federal budget. "I feel that there is such a need in 2010 for this country to shrink the size and scope of our federal spending," she said.  The federal deficit is enormous and the nation's debt is mounting.  

"The heavy and growing burden of taxation poses a threat to our local economy and national prosperity, and to our future," she said. "I am running to make sure that the federal government comes down to size and respects the taxpayers. And so that we can let our free markets do what they do best."

As someone who has never run for political office before, Hayworth is considered an outsider, but she sees that as a plus. "The intention of the founders was to have citizen legislators to have life experience and careers outside of government. My profile is very well suited to being in the congress."

She sees her background as a physician as excellent training for Congress. Physicians train for years and are used to sifting through large amounts of information to come up with the best solution for a problem, she said. "The country is going to be grappling with issues on how to manage our health care system for years and years to come," she added. "The new laws will hurt us, not help us."

Although it is usually tough to go up against an incumbent, Hayworth hopes to take advantage of the anti-incumbent movement. "It is not really an asset for Congressman Hall to be an incumbent, especially since his voting is in line with the roundly despised Nancy Pelosi. In our district Nancy Pelosi is not regarded as looking after our best interests," she said. "The crux of the matter is that I am not running against Hall because he is incumbent, but he does have a record to which we can point. He is consistently voting for deficit spending programs."

Several Republicans are seeking the seat, including Neil DiCarlo of Brewster, Thomas DeChiaro, John MacEnroe of Beacon, and David McFadden of Tuxedo. However, Hayworth has been endorsed by Republican groups in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Yorktown, and in Putnam, Dutchess, and elsewhere. She expects to be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines on the ballot, she added.

Although the bulk of Republican organizations in the district are backing Hayworth, DiCarlo has said that he may force a primary.

Doug Cunningham, Hayworth's spokesman, said the field has narrowed considerably since she won the Republican district convention last month by a 5 to 1 weighted margin and the rest of the GOP field, save DiCarlo, has either thrown their support to Hayworth or decided not to continue.

Hayworth was born in Chicago, raised in Indiana, and has lived in Mount Kisco since 1988. Her two sons attended Bedford schools. She practiced as an ophthalmologist for several years and also worked with a pharmaceutical advertising firm in Manhattan.  

The 19th Congressional District covers northern Westchester County, all of Putnam County, southern Dutchess County, and parts of Rockland and Orange Counties.