Free Republic

Former Health Commissioner Antonia Novello pleaded guilty to a felony and will perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $22,500 fine, ending a case that alleged she used her state staff as free servants. Novello pleaded guilty to filing a false instrument, but she will get to keep her medical license if she completes the terms of her plea bargain. Novello also waived her right to appeal the conviction. She will be sentenced on Aug. 14. The former U.S. surgeon general specifically pleaded guilty to falsifying the state mileage on Dec. 9, 2006 that stems from travel where...

ALBANY — Gov. George E. Pataki’s appointment of Antonia C. Novello, a former surgeon general, as state health commissioner in 1999 was seen as something of a coup for New York. An appointee of President George H. W. Bush who was the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as surgeon general, Dr. Novello was praised even by the Clinton administration for her “vigor and talent” and promised to bring new attention to pediatric health. But the New York State inspector general’s office says that she turned her staff at the Health Department into her personal chauffeurs, porters and shopping...

ALBANY - Republicans close to Gov. Pataki are trying to recruit state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello to run against Sen. Hillary Clinton, sources told the Daily News. Novello, a high-profile Latina who was U.S. surgeon general during the first Bush administration, has a strong understanding of federal policies, particularly health care, and would be in good position to battle Clinton on those issues, the insiders said. A native of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Novello, 61, was on vacation yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Sources said she was waiting for the dust to settle from Jeanine Pirro's withdrawal from...

ALBANY - Republicans close to Gov. Pataki are trying to recruit state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello to run against Sen. Hillary Clinton, sources told the Daily News. Novello, a high-profile Latina who was U.S. surgeon general during the first Bush administration, has a strong understanding of federal policies, particularly health care, and would be in good position to battle Clinton on those issues, the insiders said. A native of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Novello, 61, was on vacation yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Sources said she was waiting for the dust to settle from Jeanine Pirro's withdrawal from...

True or not, it has at least made for interesting buzz. Last week, word spread of another potential Republican challenger for Senator Hillary Clinton in 2006—Antonia Novello, the state's health commissioner for six years now and a former U.S. surgeon general. Novello has kept quiet about her intentions, and a call to her office by the Voice was not returned. But GOP leaders confirm she's mulling over a bid. Ryan Moses, of the state Republican Party, says he's had exploratory talks with Novello and her people. "She is one of many possible candidates we're taking a look at." And state...

    Novello Possible Foe For Clinton May 2, 2005 Copyright © 2005 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y. All rights reserved. To the short list of possible GOP contenders to take on U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., next fall, add the name of state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello. There have been a few whispers in certain top Republican circles that Novello, 60, is considering a statewide run post-Pataki administration, and perhaps might even challenge Clinton. State Republican Party officials say she hasn't contacted them, however, and through a spokesperson at the Health Department the commissioner declined...