By Joyce Kryszak
Amherst, NY – Local and state GOP leaders met in Buffalo Thursday to begin a lengthy process of choosing a candidate for governor.
The setting was friendly enough. A nice lunch at a trendy restaurant in Amherst. But anxiety at this closed door meeting was likely high.
Ten political hopefuls filed in and out of interviews throughout the day. Some are seeking state offices. Former Assembly Minority Leader John Faso is eyeing the state's top post.
"I'm looking at options and considering whether I should run for Governor or not. That's a big decision," said Faso.
Discussing the job of Governor was added to the list when Governor George Pataki made his sudden announcement earlier this week.
But the original intent of the meeting was to review candidates for other statewide offices.
Ed Cox is an attorney and the son-in-law of Richard Nixon. He'd like a shot at Senator Hillary Clinton's job.
"My record, I think, particularly my record in Washington and internationally, clearly puts me in a position to run a very effective campaign against Mrs. Clinton," said Cox.
Erie County GOP Chairman Bob Davis said matching the right candidate with the right race is crucial.
He said candidates need to be passionate about the office they are seeking. And he said with two such high profile, expensive campaigns running side by side, they will need to pull in lots of money for campaigning.
"You're going to have candidates on the other side doing the same thing. So, you're talking about taking a lot of money out of this state and this community for statewide campaigns next year," said Davis.
He guesses it could take as much as eighty million dollars for the governor's and U.S. Senate races alone.
Davis admits party leaders and candidates will need to reach consensus on who should run and for what.
That could be tough with new candidates stepping up every day. But State GOP Chairman Steve Minarek believes the process will work and they will come together.
"This is America and we have a process in place. If people don't like it they can do the primary route," said Minarek. "I would prefer not to do that and we're going to work very hard to kind of get consensus. But if it doesn't occur there are mechanisms involved that people can take that route."
Minarek said they will continue the review process at meetings around the state. He expects a full slate of candidates will be ready by the first of the year.