Gay GOP leader may challenge Kelly

By Anthony Farmer
Poughkeepsie Journal

September 29, 2005

An Orange County resident and former top national official with a gay Republican group has announced he is exploring a run in a GOP primary next year against incumbent U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah.

Jeff Cook, 26, of Monroe, formally announced his exploration to supporters at an event in Harriman Tuesday night. He doesn't expect to make a final decision on running until January, he said.

Cook is a former national field director for the Log Cabin Republicans, a GOP gay rights group.

Cook said the Republican Congress has failed to uphold former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America," that helped Kelly and other Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Democrats in the 1994 elections.

Special interests have hijacked the congressional agenda, advocating for uncontrolled spending and government invasion into private family decisions, he said.

"The voters of the Hudson Valley deserve strong representation from a leader who will stand up to the special interests, make the tough decisions and do the right thing when it really counts," Cook said in a written statement. "If I don't stand up for the taxpayers, who will?"

The 19th district, which Kelly represents, includes most of the Town of Poughkeepsie, the City of Beacon and the towns of Wappinger, Fishkill, East Fishkill, Beekman, Pawling and Dover, all of Putnam County and parts of Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties.

A spokesman for Kelly said the congresswoman is concentrating on her job in Washington protecting local taxpayers, helping small businesses and boosting the local economy.

"When the time comes, she will run an aggressive campaign just like she always does," Kelly spokesman Kevin Callahan said in an e-mailed statement. "But right now she's focused on continuing to work hard for her constituents in Dutchess County who want her focused on their needs, not on politics."

Anthony Farmer can be reached at apfarmer@poughkeepsiejournal.com

[Ed note: and also taking tens of thousands of dollars from the banking and insurance PAC's]