UPDATE: Rockland GOP Opens Campaign HQ in New City

Rockland County Republicans rallied in New City this morning as they opened their fall 2010 campaign headquarters.

Leading the scorecard of Republicans at the event to kick off the election season were Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio and Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, who is running for state Senate.

"I love being county executive. I'm not running away," said Vanderhoef, who then  followed up by saying he wants to go to Albany to better serve the people of Rockland.

Lazio spoke about bringing jobs back to the state.

"[New York]" can't be known as the 'entitlement state,'" Lazio said. "It needs to be known as the 'work state.'"

Among those greeting Lazio today was Clarkstown Town Board member George Hoehmann of Nanuet.

The Republicans have tunred the vacant former Vanderbilt Lumber store at 41 Demarest Ave., New City, into their headquarters.

Rockland Republican Chairman Vincent Reda led the rally to mark the official opening of the campaign headquarters. Ed Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, was also scheduled to attend.

"We'll kick things off properly," Reda said. "Everyone is getting pumped up. There's only about 10 days left to campaign for Primary Day. We're trying to get the vote out."

Primary elections take place on Sept. 14.

In addition to Lazio, and Vanderhoef, attending were comptroller candidate Harry Wilson and U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Blakeman and Congressional candidates York Kleinhandler and Nan Hayworth.