2018 Elections Molinaro kicks off ‘corruption tour’
Republican challenger calls for dismissal of ex-cuomo aide Schwartz from MTA board
Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro kicked off a corruption-focused general election campaign in Albany on Tuesday, calling for the dismissal of Larry Schwartz, a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, from his role on the MTA board.
Schwartz, who worked as secretary to the governor until 2015, was identified last week as having signed off on a widely criticized campaign mailer sent by the state Democratic Party on behalf of Cuomo ahead of the primary election. Cuomo’s office maintains that Schwartz had only seen the “positive” side of the mailer.
Molinaro now asserts that Schwartz’s ties to Cuomo, his volunteer efforts for the governor’s campaign, and his full-time job at a private company — which may stand to gain from state investment — create, at the very least, the appearance of a conf lict of interest, as the New York Daily News first reported.
“Mr. Schwartz is integral not only to Mr. Cuomo’s re-election enterprise; he’s a central figure in the corrupt enterprise into which Andrew Cuomo has turned New York state government,” Molinaro said. “Its agencies have been improperly molded into fundraising tools and re-election message vehicles for this governor, and we believe that Larry Schwartz is right in the middle of it.”
Schwartz is the chief strategy officer at OTG, an airport concessions company under contract with Delta Airlines that may benefit from the state’s investment in Laguardia Airport, Molinaro argues.
OTG, which is also looking to expand into New York’s lucrative casino gaming market, according to Molinaro, has donated to Cuomo’s political campaign committee.
Molinaro said he intends to file a Freedom of Information Law request for all communications between Schwartz and state agencies if the governor’s office is not forthcoming with the information.
The candidate sought to draw a parallel between Schwartz’s overlapping roles and those of former top aide Joseph Percoco, who was investigated for peddling his inf luence in the administration while still working as Cuomo’s campaign aide after he moved on to the private sector. Percoco was convicted on federal corruption charges this spring for accepting bribes from companies with business before the state.
Schwartz, under state policies, was barred from lobbying for two years following his work in the Cuomo administration, and Molinaro’s campaign has provided no evidence that he has done any lobbying work since.
Cuomo’s campaign said OTG was operating in Laguardia and JFK before the company hired Schwartz and noted that its contract is with Delta, not the state.
“Trump ‘mini-me’ Molinaro knows Larry is a professional and a part-time volunteer, unlike his political hit men Al D’amato and lobbyist David Catalfamo. Instead of cheap shots, Molinaro should stop hiding and release his taxes,” campaign spokeswoman Abbey Collins said.
Cuomo participated in the state Democratic Committee general election kickoff rally in New York City on Tuesday, where a slew of Democratic officials unified behind the second-term Democrat. Setting a tone similar to the one he used during his campaign to thwart Cynthia Nixon’s primary challenge, Cuomo delivered an impassioned speech on the looming threat of President Donald Trump.
Cuomo has repeatedly tried to connect his Republican opponent with the president, but Molinaro says his pragmatism and anticorruption platform are the keys to beating Cuomo in November’s general election.
“Andrew Cuomo is like some sort of deranged Wizard of Oz — ‘Pay no attention to the corruption in my administration. Look over there — it’s Donald Trump!’” he said.