Voters Guide 2010: Statewide Offices

Cuomo versus Paladino. Schneiderman or Donovan. DiNapoli or Wilson. Hauppauge voters will face these decisions when determine who to vote for on Election Day in the state wide races. Patch has assembled basic background information on the major party candidates to help local residents make an informed decision on Nov. 2.

New York State Governor

D – Andrew Cuomo - As New York Attorney General, Cuomo investigated the state pension fund, the student loan industry and Wall Street corruption. As governor, Cuomo says he will consolidate state government and focus on revitalizing New York by bringing in new jobs. Republican opponent Carl Paladino and others blame Cuomo's expansion of mortgage loans when he was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton for fueling the housing crisis.

R – Carl Paladino - Paladino defeated Rick Lazio and pushed out Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy for the Republican nomination. The focus of Paladino's campaign is overhaul in Albany. He says he plans to declare a fiscal state of emergency and will cut the state budget by 10 to 20 percent by freezing compensation of state employees, among other budget trimming measures. Paladino, a lawyer and businessman from Buffalo, has faced controversy during the campaign, accused of sending explicit e-mails and making offensive statements towards the homosexual community.

Attorney General

D - Eric Schneiderman -  Schneiderman received his bachelor's degree from Amherst College, where he majored in English and Asian studies. His law degree is from Harvard Law School. He served as deputy sheriff in Berkshire County, Mass. and from there went on serve as an anti-crime, anti-drug advocate as an attorney and in the New York State Senate, getting elected in 1998. Schneiderman is also running on the Working Families line.

R - Dan Donovan - A Staten Island District Attorney, Dan Donovan received his Bachelor's degree from St. John's University, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He received his law degree from Fordham University Law School. He was a prosecutor for eight years in Manhattan and served as a Staten Island Borough President in 2002. Donovan is also running on the Conservative party line.

State Comptroller

D - Thomas DiNapoli - Nassau County resident Thomas DiNapoli became state comptroller in 2007.  In 1972 when he was elected to the Mineola Board of Education. He was only 18 years old.  He then served in the New York State Assembly for 20 years. He has also been an adjunct professor and a manager in the telecommunications industry.

DiNapoli earned his Bachelor's degree from Hofstra University with a major in History. He received his Master's degree Management and Urban Policy from The New School University. DiNapoli will also run on the Working Families line.

R - Harry Wilson - Harry Wilson, a Westchester resident, has been comptroller for Goldman Sachs, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, The Blackstone Group, and Silver Point Capital. Wilson was the only Republican to serve on the President's Auto Task Force, where he advised both Presidents' Bush and Obama on how to proceed with the overhaul of General Motors. He was opposed the corporate bailout of car company Chrysler. Wilson will also run on the Independent and Conservative lines.

This is part 2 of Hauppauge Patch's Voter Guide 2010, see Wednesday's post for the national races for U.S. Congress.