Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro vowed Monday to fix what he called Albany’s climate of corruption and backroom dealmaking as he announced his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.
Taking aim at two-term Democratic Gov. Cuomo, Molinaro, 42, criticized “leaders who squander the public’s trust by putting the personal politics of ambition and greed above government’s true purpose” of serving the people.
Molinaro is considered the GOP frontrunner for governor, with state Sen. John DeFrancisco providing the strongest competition.
Molinaro, a married father of three, was elected county executive in November 2011.
“So often the tone coming from the governor’s office is angry and divisive,” Molinaro said in upstate Tivoli, where he launched his political career as the village’s mayor in 1995.
Cuomo quickly tied Molinaro to President Trump, claiming he’s a “Trump mini-me.”
“No one’s going to vote for a Trump clone in New York,” Cuomo said.
Molinaro shot back that Cuomo will focus on anything other than his own record. “I can imagine he wants to talk about anything except his last seven years in office and the fact that we have among the highest tax burdens of any state in the nation,” he said.