Day: Don't Let Albany Powerbrokers Decide Who Represents Rockland

County Legislator Ed Day and County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef are both Republicans and both want to be the next state senator representing Rockland in Albany. But to Day, that's where the similarities between the two men end.

Day, a New City resident, formally announced his candidacy for state Senate Tuesday, describing himself as the person average Rocklanders want as their senator. In contrast, Day described Vanderhoef as the candidate Albany power brokers want for the job as part of statewide political strategy.

"This is all about people," said Day, who announced his candidacy on the steps of the Rockland County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon before a group of supporters. "This is not about politics. Not party. But people. And most importantly, the effective representation of people during one of the most turbulent times in our history."

Day is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat currently held by state Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, which represents all of Rockland County and part of Orange County. Morahan, 79, is battling leukemia and has decided not to seek re-election.

Rockland County republicans meet June 7 to decide who will be there candidate for the November election. Vanderhoef, who was re-elected as county executive last November, contends he has support for his Senate bid from local residents – Republicans and Democrats – as well as the support of statewide political leaders hoping the GOP can gain seats in the Senate in the upcoming elections.

In making his formal campaign announcement, Day said his supporters represent a broad range of Rocklanders, from community and civic leaders to business owners, workers groups and law enforcement organizations.

Day, a security consultant, is a former New York City police detective commander. Day is the deputy minority leader of the County Legislature. If elected, day said he would quite his consulting job and that he would not enter the state's retirement system as he could as a senator.

Day, like many other Rockland political leaders, contends the state Legislature needs reform, citing recent actions that have affected Rockland such as the new payroll tax to support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's troubled budget.

"They are decimating Rockland, Orange and other communities by levying scores of use fees, transferring costs to our local property tax payers and even raising the state budget by an unbelievable nine percent in the midst of one of the biggest economic downturns in the history of our state," Day said. "Many fear that Albany's unable to address the obvious structural issues in government due to politics and alliances. That the focus on these political decisions will compromise the basic safety net government has the responsibility to provide all of us."

Day contends he will be able to bring about change in Albany because he is not a career politician – and that he does not intend spend the rest of his life as a lawmaker.

"I offer as my motivation a desire to spend a finite amount of time in public service – not a career in politics," Day said. "I have had that career in law enforcement, one that I am most proud of."