Editorial Lazio For Governor

Republicans need to cast their ballots during Tuesday's Grand Old Party primary for Nick Lazio for governor.

Mr. Lazio has spent the past year earning the party's nomination the old fashioned way - visiting communities across the Empire State to learn about their unique needs and how New York State government affects them.

While a lot of candidates in this media age just think they can buy a nomination by purchasing a multi-million dollar television advertising blitz, Mr. Lazio has spent the past several months meeting with local leaders and learning about ways that New York State government can be a partner in helping to revitalize the Empire State.

For example, Mr. Lazio has repeatedly visited St. Lawrence County and Ogdensburg. Months ago, he vowed that if he was elected governor, he would protect St. Lawrence County's prisons.

If he's elected, we're hoping Mr. Lazio will look at ways he can cut operational costs in the corrections budget by contracting for mental health, substance abuse and sex offender services by using existing state agencies instead of creating duplicate agencies within the department of corrections. Ogdensburg could provide a model for the state to reduce the cost of providing those services to prisons.

Mr. Lazio understands that the best way to cut costs is to streamline and make state government more efficient. He also has shown repeatedly that he knows where St. Lawrence County is and the unique issues affecting our region.