Rick Lazio Letter To Andrew Cuomo, 11-16-09

Rick Lazio C/O Lazio 2010 28 W. 44th St., Suite 708 New York, NY 10036

November 16th, 2009

Dear Attorney General Cuomo, As a citizen of New York, I am seriously concerned with the direction in which our state is heading. I grew up here, I raised my family here, and I served the public here in New York. This is where I want my children to raise their children, but the future of our state is imperiled by a dysfunctional government. New York State Government is failing the people of New York. I am running for Governor because I can succeed where Governor Paterson has failed. I can bring sweeping, fundamental reform to our state. Having said that, it is decidedly unhelpful for you to continue to undermine Governor Paterson in a very personal and political way while he is clearly trying to address the fiscal crisis that we face. I am writing to ask that you and any associates that may be acting on your behalf stop trying to undermine the Governor. If you think you can do a better job than Governor Paterson, why don’t you say so publically? You’ve been in Albany for the past two and a half years, and you have been a part of Albany culture for decades, but have never taken on the failing legislative leadership when you could have. Today’s newspaper report on your potential choice for Lieutenant Governor is a shameful, but all too familiar political ploy at a time when the state needs strong leadership at the top. I have been out on the campaign trail for months making the case that Albany needs a fundamental overhaul. You do a great disservice to the people of New York when you and your associates make political attacks anonymously through the pages of a newspaper. I encourage you to either debate the issues in public, or refocus your efforts on continuing to serve the people of New York as Attorney General. Sincerely,

Rick Lazio