Day, Vanderhoef Aim For State Senate

Rockland County Legislator Ed Day, a New City Republican who is the Legislature's deputy minority leader, is getting set to formally announce his bid to succeed state Sen. Thomas Morahan, who is not seeking re-election.

And, he's not alone. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef also said yesterday that he too wants to head to Albany to join the state Senate.

Day said he will be joined by the "Committee for Good Government Ensuring A Safety Net for New York's Vital Services," a diverse group of residents of Rockland and Orange County, when he formally announces his campaign. Morahan, also a New City Republican, is not seeking re-election as a result of his ongoing battle with leukemia.

Morahan, 79, has not indicated who he is supporting to be his replacement.

Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci, a New City Democrat, is campaigning to be the Democratic candidate for Morahan's seat, which represents all of Rockland County and a section of Orange County.

Clarkstown Councilman Frank Borelli, a New City Republican, said Thursday he was considering a run for state Senate, but has told Republican officials that he has decided not to seek Morahan's seat. Additionally, Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City, said he would not seek the Senate seat and that he would seek re-election to the Assembly.

Zebrowski said he was expecting he would support Carlucci's bid for Senate.

More than 100 supporters from the ad hoc "Committee for Good Government Ensuring A Safety Net for New York's Vital Services" are expected to join Day on the steps of the Rockland County Courthouse in New City at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday June 1.

Vanderhoef won re-election in November 2009, defeating then Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, a Democrat. In April, Vanderhoef decided against making a run for U.S. Senate against  Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.