Mike Conners is still a Republican

From the Albany Times-Union
Section: CAPITAL REGION
Page: D1
Date: Sunday, July 25, 2004
CONNERS PRACTICES BIZARRE ART
FRED LeBRUN

What a bizarre week it has been for the Democratic, at the least for the moment, county comptroller.

On Monday, he stunned us by withdrawing from the November prize fight we were all relishing, against veteran Republican state Assemblyman Bob Prentiss. An event area political odds makers had at even-up.

Mike pulled out, he says, reluctantly, but realistically. ``Let's be blunt. My party dropped me.'' Albany County Democrats had asked him in May to run against Prentiss, but when it came time to pony up $17,000 for a poll required by the Assembly Campaign Committee, county Democrats were seen walking away, whistling down the alley. They abandoned Mike. Mayor Jerry Jennings swears he had nothing to do with it. The Breslins -- Mike the county executive and Neil the state senator -- haven't 'fessed up to being behind it, but it is widely known they are not big fans of Mike Conners. Conners has made no secret of wanting Mike Breslin's job, and he embarrassed county officials over the finances at the airport and nursing home. Conners also endorsed Republican Gov. George Pataki last time around, as did Jennings, and that went down hard with traditional Dems.

``Monday, I presided over my own political wake. I was dead,'' says Conners.

Then on Friday morning, as bold as brass, there was Mike Conners announcing he will run as a Democrat on the Republican line against Sen. Neil Breslin.

[Snip]

``The Republicans reached out to me right away. Fourteen hours after word was out I was withdrawing from the Assembly race, Brendan Quinn came to me, representing Congressman John Sweeney. Later Senator Joe Bruno sent over John Graziano Jr. We worked it out.

``Once they realized I was serious about this, Senator Bruno called me. I've known the senator for a long, long time. He said, `Michael, I will spend whatever it takes to communicate effectively with the voters of Albany County that you are a better candidate than the incumbent.' ''

An open checkbook from the Republicans. Bruno, the Senate majority leader, has some testy contests across the state for Senate seats come November. If he can wrest a seat from the Democrats here in Albany with Conners, it would be delicious indeed.

In addition, Neil Breslin is one of the campaign finance strategists for the Democrats trying to steal seats from the Republicans, so any complications that can be thrown his way by Conners' candidacy presumably helps to derail the Democratic effort.

A high-ranking Republican put the price tag for the Albany County race at between $250,000 and $300,000 per candidate. Conners himself thinks it might run as high as twice that, or about what it was when Breslin first beat Republican Mike Hoblock. The enrollment in the Senate district is 2-to-1 Democratic. But Conners thinks his long-established political presence as a county legislator and comptroller will be enough to get him over the top.

``But win or lose, on Nov. 3, I will be switching my enrollment to Republican. If I lose, I'll have three years as comptroller before I have to run again -- as a Republican.

``If that comes to pass, I may or may not win. But I expect to be beaten bloody,'' he laughed. He's got that right. Contact Fred LeBrun at 454-5453.

Mike Conners sold out for Republican money.

Mike Conners promised to run for Comptroller as a Republican. What happened to his promise? Why is he running in the Democratic primary?