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Local mayor to Challenge Hillary for Senate Seat
The Journal News

Posted on 06/01/2005 7:10:52 AM PDT by sdk7x7

Jeanine Pirro may not be ready to say which office she's seeking next, but former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer is — he's running for U.S. Senate.

Spencer, who was forced from office by term limits in 2003, said yesterday that he would seek the Republican and Conservative nominations to run against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. He described himself as the ideal conservative alternative to the incumbent Democrat.

"I obviously see what's going on in politics, and I think I am uniquely qualified to debate with (Clinton) on the issues," Spencer, 58, said.

Spencer said his experience as mayor gives him an edge when it comes to serving the needs of the public and on issues like job creation. He described Clinton as "locked into some of the shenanigans" in Washington, such as the filibustering of judicial nominees.

"She's beatable," Spencer said of Clinton. "She's liberal, and she is on the wrong side of many issues and, quite frankly, these issues have to be enunciated to the people of New York state."

Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman and Yonkers native, shrugged off Spencer's entry into the race.

"A number of Republicans, including Mr. Spencer, have put their names forward," Wolfson said. "While Republicans sort through their process, Hillary Clinton will continue to work hard for the people of New York in the Senate."

With immense fund-raising ability and strong poll numbers, Clinton is viewed by most pundits as a difficult candidate to beat in 2006. Yet, a handful of Republicans has already expressed an interest in the race.

Several Republican leaders have encouraged Pirro, Westchester's flamboyant district attorney, to challenge Clinton. Pirro announced last week that she would not seek re-election and would seek statewide office next year. She did not specify which one: U.S. senator, governor or attorney general.

Pirro, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment on Spencer's Senate candidacy.

Other Republicans who have expressed an interest in running include Edward Cox, President Richard Nixon's son-in-law, and Adam Brecht, a Manhattan-based public relations executive.

"Like all potential statewide candidates, we've encouraged (Spencer) to go out and meet with county GOP leaders and try and garner their support," said Ryan Moses, executive director of the state GOP.

"We have not made any commitment to any candidate yet," said New York Conservative Chairman Michael Long. "I think the more people that get into the race, the more we can debate the issues. I think it is a healthy sign."

Spencer, who was approached by Republican leaders as a possible opponent for Sen. Charles Schumer in 2004, said it was too early to discuss potential primary opponents. He added, however, that Pirro would make an excellent candidate for state attorney general and chided Republican leaders for not seeking him out earlier about a potential run in 2006.

"Right now, it looks like a very dictatorial style," Spencer said. "I don't know how you choose a candidate for such a position without even talking to the mayor of the fourth-largest city in the state."

Among the most mercurial public figures in Westchester, Spencer won election as mayor in 1995 and was widely praised for turning around the city's fortunes and spurring economic development, especially along the city's waterfront.

Yet, Spencer also generated heavy criticism, especially concerning the almost-yearly financial crises at Yonkers schools and his frequent, often acerbic, clashes with Westchester's Republican leadership.

Critics also charged that Spencer bloated Yonkers' payroll with friends and relatives. Just before leaving office in December 2002, he approved $1.1 million in retroactive raises to 120 managers and department heads, including his wife and former chief of staff, Kathy Spring-Spencer.

Spencer's relationship with Spring-Spencer was a frequent source of controversy. After living together for five years and having two children together, the couple married in June 2003. The wedding took place about a month after Spencer's divorce to his first wife, Eileen, was finalized.

Always reluctant to discuss his personal life, Spencer said he did not believe his family would be an issue in a Senate campaign.

Since leaving office, Spencer, a recovering alcoholic, said he's worked to establish his own consulting firm to advise employers on substance-abuse issues and the creation of employee-assistance programs. He also was named by current Mayor Phil Amicone late last year to represent Yonkers during an audit of the city's finances by the state comptroller.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 2006; clinton; electionussenate; hillary; johnspencer; senate; yonkers
Haven't heard much about this guy, doubt he stands a chance in the Blue state, but we'll see.
1 posted on 06/01/2005 7:10:52 AM PDT by sdk7x7
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To: sdk7x7
"A number of Republicans, including Mr. Spencer, have put their names forward," Wolfson said. "While Republicans sort through their process, Hillary Clinton will continue to work hard for the people of New York in the Senate."

a.k.a, the senators

2 posted on 06/01/2005 7:14:52 AM PDT by Zeppelin (Keep on FReepin' on.....)
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To: sdk7x7; All

He was the Mayor of Yonkers, NY for a long time. I don't know if he is still mayor of Yonkers but he was when I lived there a couple of years ago. Between Pirro, Cox and Spencer - Hillary is going to have a tough time. I'm not saying she won't win but this is not going to be a walk in the park like last time!


3 posted on 06/01/2005 7:17:12 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: sdk7x7
"I obviously see what's going on in politics, and I think I am uniquely qualified to debate with (Clinton) on the issues," Spencer, 58, said.

Be careful during the debate. Under no circumstances should you approach hillary with a piece of paper in your hand. The feminists, who laud hillary as brave and competent will shrilly howl that such a movement constitutes a percieved assault. hillary will feign freight and you will be villified in the press for frightening that brave woman.

4 posted on 06/01/2005 7:18:27 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze
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To: sdk7x7

That would be funny if she lost, then lost her run for Pres too.


5 posted on 06/01/2005 7:37:48 AM PDT by No Blue States
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To: No Blue States

That would GREAT! :)


6 posted on 06/01/2005 7:39:00 AM PDT by veronica (Never trust a Worm...)
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To: veronica
It would be impossible to gloat.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

7 posted on 06/01/2005 7:41:57 AM PDT by No Blue States
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To: No Blue States
(correction, impossible to NOT gloat)
8 posted on 06/01/2005 7:42:38 AM PDT by No Blue States
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To: sdk7x7
"Always reluctant to discuss his personal life, Spencer said he did not believe his family would be an issue in a Senate campaign."

Running against the Clinton's everything will be made an "issue". Hillary will eviscerate this guy.

9 posted on 06/01/2005 7:48:25 AM PDT by fuzzthatwuz
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To: sdk7x7
Appears to be of sound body and mind. Wonder how much baggage?


10 posted on 06/01/2005 7:59:01 AM PDT by GalaxieFiveHundred
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To: sdk7x7

Anyone but Clinton!!


11 posted on 06/01/2005 9:24:27 AM PDT by BigTexJim (See my positics page at http://www.geocities.com/jimflaherty1/Politics/politics.htm)
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To: sdk7x7; Liz
Former Yonkers Mayor Running For Senate
Jun 1, 2005 1:00 pm US/Eastern
(1010 WINS)

(WHITE PLAINS) Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer said Wednesday that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is preoccupied with a run for the presidency and he would be a better senator for New Yorkers.

Spencer, 58, joined the field of potential Clinton opponents, announcing he is seeking the Republican and Conservative party nominations to oppose her re-election in 2006.

"I would be a better U.S. senator fighting for the people of New York than Hillary Clinton, who I believe is utilizing her time to run for president," Spencer said. "From my experience as a big-city mayor I know that around the state of New York we're not getting from our federal representatives the help our county executives and mayors need."

In response, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said Spencer "is one of several Republicans who have floated their names as possible opponents to Senator Clinton. While the GOP sorts out its candidate, Hillary Clinton is going to continue doing the kind of hard work in the Senate that has won her praise from both Republicans and Democrats across the state."

Spencer's entry into the race further clouds the 2006 picture for the Republicans. His fellow Westchester resident, District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, has said that she will run for some statewide office, perhaps the Senate. Others eyeing the race against Clinton are Edward Cox, a son-in-law of the late President Nixon; former Wall Street public relations executive Adam Brecht; and tax lawyer William Brenner.

Spencer, an anti-abortion Catholic, married his chief of staff, with whom he had two children, in 2003, a month after the end of his 31-year marriage to his first wife.

Asked about a potential primary battle between himself and Pirro, Spencer said, "I wouldn't want to project that because that would only be divisive and helpful to Senator Clinton. Jeanine is an outstanding prosecutor and district attorney.

"At this stage of the game I think we all have to go through a process with the New York State Republican Party and Conservative Party. ... Like a lot of people close to her are saying, I always thought Jeanine wanted to be attorney general, and she'd be a great one."

Spencer, who was mayor from 1996-2003, said he would run on "my life, my record," including pulling Yonkers out from under a state Financial Control Board and federal oversight of its court-ordered desegregation.

"I took over a stagnant city that was in decline and I reversed it," he said. "I changed the image of the city. I revitalized the waterfront. I cut taxes people said couldn't be cut and I improved services."

As to the beleaguered Yonkers schools, Spencer blamed a lack of federal help. As senator, he said, he would coordinate federal aid "and bring it back to Yonkers and Buffalo and Albany and Plattsburgh and Queens."

Spencer, who has his own consulting firm, said his sometimes combative style would be a help rather than a hindrance in his campaign.

"I tell people what I believe," he said. "I'm not a phony about it. If you ask me a question about where I stand I don't give these political answers. Maybe some politicians are uncomfortable with it but I don't believe the people of New York would be."

12 posted on 06/01/2005 4:33:01 PM PDT by Libloather (Hillary, I want my FBI file back...)
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