Basile: “ready… aggressive”
STONY POINT – Republican Thomas Basile has raised $130,000 in the
last 2 ½ months for a possible State Senate campaign next year.
He filed a report today (Tuesday) with the state Board of Elections.
Basile, a Stony Point town board member, wants to run for the seat currently
occupied by fellow Republican William Larkin, but Basile has made it clear
that as long as Larkin holds the post, he will not primary him.
“We are going to build a campaign that would be ready, that would
be aggressive and broad-based, reflecting the diverse population and needs
of Orange, Ulster and Rockland counties Should Senator Larkin decide to
retire at the end of this term,” he said.
Funds in Basile’s war chest come from real estate developer Peter
Kalikow, Ohio Governor John Kasich’s PAC and philanthropist Rebekah
Mercer among more than 100 others.
Larkin, who will turn 90 next month has made no mention of retiring. If
he seeks re-election, Basile said he will fully support the long-time
lawmaker.
On the Democratic side, no one has stepped forward at this time; however,
it is widely speculated that State Assemblyman James Skoufis (D, Woodbury)
would seek the Democratic Party nomination to run.
