Senator Ball. (Photo: Observer media file)

GOP State Senator Greg Ball, an outspoken Hudson Valley legislator who repeatedly knocked then-Rep. Nan Hayworth last year--even threatening to run a primary campaign against her--is taking his hat out of the ring. In a statement released late this morning, Mr. Ball said he was focused on his work in Albany and had no overriding desire to defeat the Democrat who ultimately beat Ms. Hayworth, Sean Patrick Maloney.

“I want to make it clear that I am focused on finishing this legislative session and delivering for my current district and not running for Congress," he said. “As for my re-election in the current State Senate seat, I will make a final decision on that as the time nears.”

However, showing his rebellious size, Mr. Ball did manage to heap some praise on the Democratic incumbent, whom he said should be "applauded."

"Indeed, while I disagree with the current Congressman on most issues, we have a great working relationship and he and his office are to be applauded, for they have bent over backwards to mutually assist shared constituents,” Mr. Ball sated.

For her part, Ms. Hayworth has formed a new campaign account for a rematch with Mr. Maloney as Democrats prepare to defend their congressional victories in last year's elections.

Greg Ball. (Screengrab: YNN)

State Senator Greg Ball has been on a bit of a media tour since he tweeted his support for torturing the Boston Marathon terror suspect in the aftermath of his arrest, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. To wit, his round of interviews took him to at least two news shows yesterday evening, Capital Tonight and Piers Morgan Live, where he put his argument into rather direct form.

"All I can tell you is what I would do as an American. If we saw what just happened where we had men, women and children--a child--killed," he said at one point, for example. "I can tell you that as Greg Ball, if I felt that torture--whether it be making them listen to music at night, or using a baseball bat--would save one innocent life, including that of a child, I would use it. But I'm just speaking for Greg Ball."

When Liz Benjamin, Capital Tonight's host, pressed Mr. Ball on the subject, he simply stated that he was not "completely full of crap," unlike other officials who might have more of a filter between what they feel and what they say.

"Let's just step back a second. I mean, you make a living out of interviewing politicians and others and I understand that most politicians are completely full of crap," he contended. "And you have to deal with that every day. I don't know how you do it. I happen to say exactly how I feel ... It's easy to have an academic debate and there's certainly room for that in editorial board meetings and the ivory towers of universities ... I'll leave that up to academia."

Mr. Ball further said he relished the criticism he receives from making these sorts of statements, adding, "You know, If I wasn't being criticized, I don't know what I'd do with myself. An old World War Two guy told me this, that, 'If you're not taking flak, you're not over the target.'"

Of course, Mr. Ball is hardly the only pol to step into the spotlight due to an off-hand Twitter post. Ms. Benjamin asked Mr. Ball if he was concerned whether he might get into trouble someday, perhaps like then-Congressman Anthony Weiner, who was caught sending lewd social media messages in 2011.

"Well I don't think that there's an attachment of a picture of me in my underwear," the state senator said. "If there is, please let me know."

"Not to this one," Ms. Benjamin replied, likely referring to a pants-free Twitter photo Mr. Ball once indeed took. "Not to this one."

(Photo: Facebook)

State Senator Greg Ball, hasn't been quiet about his disagreement with the Journal News' decision to publish the names and addresses of handgun owners in Westchester and Rockland counties and he isn't done with the publication just yet. Mr. Ball, who began his day by tweeting, "Woooohooooooo!!! Get up! Hook up! Shuffle to the door! One day closer to victory! One day closer to more! Get 'em!" continued his energized performance in the opening moments of a K104 radio interview, declaring, "I'm motivated! How about you? Ready for a push-up contest?"

("Glad he didn't come into the studio," one of the hosts remarked after Mr. Ball left.)

On the show, Mr. Ball repeatedly argued the Journal News is fundamentally flawed news organization, while addressing the various points of criticism against them.

"You've got to understand, the Journal News is just a liberal, liberal, liberal rag. I think, Amy, I called them 'egg-heats' not 'boneheads,' but both apply, "Mr. Ball said, for example, after he was asked to explain a "bonehead" comment he allegedly made. "They're to the left of the left."

The state senator also mocked the publication for hiring armed guards in the wake of the controversy despite the fact the paper was threatened with an envelope of white powder yesterday.

"In their ivory tower view of the world, which is so screwed up, they actually believe...that law-abiding gun owners, who are paying their taxes and protecting their family, they believe from their ivory tower that they're a bunch of yahoos. They believe that they are part of the problem," Mr. Ball continued. "God forbid they post an interactive map of those who have a prior, illegal history of purchasing illegal firearms, which are attributed to over 95 percent of the crimes. They didn't do that. That would have been too tough. They take people who are obeying the law and publicly expose them. The minute that they get a little heat in their direction, and their names and addresses are out there, they become staunch defenders of the Second Amendment and hire mercenaries with guns to protect them! These bigwigs at the Journal News now have armed guards.

Mr. Ball also expressed disbelief that Putnam County, which has resisted the Journal News' request for handgun owners' names and addresses, will fold. Indeed, Mr. Ball will be holding a press conference later today to emphasize that point.

"The Journal News can come on in with their snot-nosed attorneys and do whatever the hell they want, but I can tell you, from this state senator, it'll be a cold day in hell before I bend to the Journal News," he said, adding when asked if he has ever had a conversation with the organization, "There are a lot of good reporters at the Journal News. Having a conversation with the editors of the Journal News, I mean, I'd rather have a root canal. I do have the opportunity to go before them every two years and ask for an endorsement that I wouldn't accept if it came with a million dollars."

At the end, Mr. Ball was asked if he thought relations would ever warm between himself and the Journal News.

"The Journal News can kiss my white, Irish, you-know-what," he replied.

The Journal News' map of gun owners' addresses.

Putnam County doesn't want to help the Journal News newspaper with its map of gun owner's home addresses. To make the controversial map, the newspaper used addresses obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request for pistol permit records from Westchester and Rockland Counties. They made a similar request in Putnam, but  County Executive MaryEllen Odell and County Clerk Denis Sant plan to announce their decision not to release the records at a press conference this afternoon.

Ms. Odell and Mr. Sant will be joined by State Senator Greg Ball, who called the paper's editors "asinine" for publishing the map, which has caused nationwide controversy, in a strongly-worded statement last week. Mr. Ball's office sent out an advisory about the conference yesterday.

"Senator Greg Ball will join Putnam County Clerk, Dennis Sant and other officials on Thursday at the Putnam County Clerk’s office to announce that Putnam County will not be releasing the records of Putnam Pistol Permits to the Journal News," the advisory said.

When the paper initially published the maps of the homes of gun owners in Westchester and Rockland, a note was included that said the map of Putnam would be forthcoming because the County was "still putting together its records and could not immediately provide any data." The press conference in Putnam County is scheduled for noon at Mr. Sant's office.

Senator Greg Ball. (Photo: Facebook)

Over the weekend, The Journal News newspaper published maps with the addresses and names of pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland Counties. The information for the map was legally obtained by the paper through a Freedom of Information Act request, but it sparked a nationwide controversy among those who considered the map a privacy violation. This morning, State Senator Greg Ball weighed in by proposing legislation to keep gun records private and prevent the publication of similar stories in the future. He also blasted "the asinine editors at The Journal News” who published the map.

"The asinine editors at The Journal News have once again gone out of their way to place a virtual scarlet letter on law-abiding firearm owners throughout the region. The immediate elimination of the information posted on the Journal News website is the only way we can ensure the safety and liberty of these New Yorkers," said Mr. Ball in a statement. "This is clearly a violation of privacy, and needs to be corrected immediately. The same elitist eggheads who use their editorial page to coddle terrorists and criminals are now treating law-abiding citizens like level three sexual predators."

Mr. Ball vowed to introduce a bill in the State Senate that would ban disclosure of information in pistol license applications except to law enforcement officials involved in active investigations. Similar legislation has already been proposed in the State Assembly. In his statement, Mr. Ball described The Journal News’s map as placing peoples' lives in danger.

"The Journal News has placed the lives of these folks at risk by creating a virtual shopping list for criminals and nut jobs," Mr. Ball said. "Publishing this information on a website provides criminals with a map of where they can steal firearms from lawful owners for later use in the commission of crimes. Preventing the theft of guns and their criminal misuse is an important public-policy goal. This map is bad for the good guys and good for the bad guys."

In addition to the maps of pistol owners in Westchester and Rockland Counties, The Journal News plans to publish a map of pistol permit holders in Putnam County. The paper published a similar story in 2006.

Senator Greg Ball (Photo: Facebook)

“I view a political campaign as a guerrilla effort, not the furry type of gorilla,” State Senator and former Air Force Captain Greg Ball told The Politicker recently. “In the military, the saying is, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ And we’re going to win this primary handily. We’re going to teach the assemblyman a lesson in civility and in loyalty.”

The assemblyman in question is former ally Steve Katz, who is challenging Mr. Ball for his Hudson Valley State Senate seat in the Republican primary. The two have been enmeshed in a protracted campaign that has gotten ugly enough for Mr. Ball’s bellicose metaphor to be increasingly apt. In a former life, the candidates were friends—even donating to each other’s past political efforts—but the race has devolved to include outlandish costumed characters, nasty nicknames and even calls for a ceasefire from local party officials.

The differences in their outward appearances is marked. Mr. Katz is a veterinarian with bushy gray hair, glasses and a penchant for suits. Mr. Ball is relatively youthful, with a strong build that bespeaks his military background. He often favors a baseball cap, jeans and flannel shirt, emphasizing his image as an outdoorsman. But their political tactics have been similarly bizarre.

Mr. Katz, who blamed Mr. Ball for the contentious tone of the race, pointed to the chicken suit. Within a week of Mr. Katz’s announcing his candidacy, a person donning the costume showed up at one of his appearances holding a sign that read, “Dr. Do-Liberal, Why Did You Vote Against Pension Reform?” It is unclear who was inside the chicken suit.

“This is, you know, Greg Ball and seeing that, you’re looking at the mark of the man. I know that it’s getting no traction and it’s just another example of his being immature and trying to be a bully,” Mr. Katz said. “That’s what you get with Greg Ball. The words that come to mind generally are immature, self-promoting bully.”

However, Mr. Ball has also faced personal attacks. Most recently, on March 30, an anonymous Twitter account began sending a photo Mr. Ball posted on his Twitter page showing him wearing a costume at a charity event. The angle of the photo and the small size of his shorts made it appear that Mr. Ball was not wearing pants. Mr. Ball’s campaign quickly sent out pictures of the event to prove the get-up was a costume and a statement blaming the episode on “Krazy Katz.”

Mr. Katz denied any involvement.

“If it came off of Greg Ball’s Twitter account, how can I have anything to do with that?” Mr. Katz asked before continuing, his voice heated. “The idea that, you know, he thought that that was appropriate, to put a picture of him in his underwear in a bathroom alone. I mean, honestly that’s what you want in a state senator?”

Mr. Ball, on the other hand, said things turned negative last December when Mr. Katz’s wife, Nicole, posted an “exceptionally odd” video online, depicting herself gagged with duct tape to protest being banned from Mr. Ball’s Facebook page.

Mr. Ball makes no apologies for the unorthodox tactics he has employed in the campaign. He said the chicken suit and “Krazy Katz” press releases help illustrate Mr. Katz’s shortcomings as a legislator.

“There’ll be more chickens, and other animals,” Mr. Ball said. “The chicken does a damn good job.

“The relationship has faded … I think it’s unfortunate,” Mr. Ball added. “People want to see their senator and assemblyman working together … I don’t think there’s any particular rush for him to run, leapfrog to the next seat and stab me in the back in the process.”

Steve Katz (Photo: Facebook)

Mr. Katz—who will give up his chance to be re-elected to the Assembly if he pushes on with his primary challenge—said he was inspired to risk his seat because he sees Mr. Ball and the other members of the Republican majority in the State Senate capitulating to the Democratic Cuomo administration.

“I am not happy right now and that is why I’m running. I want to be a voice for the true, Republican conservatives,” Mr. Katz said.

On April 2, the local party held its convention in the ballroom of the White Plains Crowne Plaza. Chairmen of the three counties sat on a raised stage in front of an audience of party members on folding chairs. Mr. and Mrs. Katz met Mr. Ball with a stony silence when he greeted them as he entered the room.

Before the votes were cast, speakers came up to nominate Mr. Ball and Mr. Katz. Even the supporters who spoke on behalf of both candidates also decried the nasty nature of the race so far.

James Chisholm, chairman of the Republican Party in Somers, who endorsed Mr. Ball, described the campaign as “Republican beating up Republican.”

“I thought we were very happy with having a state senator and having an assemblyman, but no, we’ve got to mix it up,” Mr. Chisholm said. “Democrats will now start sneaking in and who’s to blame? Every single one of us.”

The three county GOP chairs all said local party leadership spoke to the candidates and urged them to run a kinder, gentler race.

“We always ask for a civil type of approach toward politics,” Putnam County chairman Jim DiBella said. “Unfortunately, they don’t always heed our requests.”

Westchester Republican Party chairman Douglas Colety said he hoped Mr. Katz would abandon his challenge to Mr. Ball and focus on being re-elected to the Assembly if he didn’t receive party backing for the primary.

“We’re hopeful that we can leave united, that the candidate that loses tonight will support the winner and that we can move on and compete for the race in November against the Democrats,” Mr. Colety said. “Hopefully, if Steve Katz doesn’t prevail tonight, he’ll run for his old Assembly seat and not continue in a primary against Greg Ball.”

Steve Katz playing piano during the convention.

As the votes were counted, Mr. Katz stood behind a piano in a lobby outside the ballroom and played a waltz. His tinkling provided a soundtrack to the proceedings, which ended with the announcement that Mr. Ball won by more than a two-to-one margin. In his victory speech, Mr. Ball indicated his hope Mr. Katz would give up his primary bid.

“This Senate seat is critically important to the balance of power, we know that,” Mr. Ball said. “I think it’s fundamentally important for people in this district … that they know they have an assemblyman and a senator who, regardless of any personal differences in the past, work together hand-in-hand to deliver.”

Mr. Katz, however, was nowhere to be found. He had left the ballroom sometime before the result was announced—a fact that did not bode well for the fence mending hoped for by fellow party members.

In the weeks since the convention, Mr. Katz, who has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the matter, hasn’t indicated whether he plans to continue challenging Mr. Ball in the primary without the party’s endorsement.

Regardless of Mr. Katz’s decision, the primary fight is just a prelude to the general election. As Mr. Ball and Mr. Katz duke it out, Justin Wagner, the Democratic contender for the seat, has been running unopposed. Mr. Wagner, who’s clearly pleased with the tough tone of the Republican race, is bullish on his chances considering redistricting doubled the Democrats’ voter enrollment advantage in the district from 1.4 percent to 3.6 percent, a significant increase considering Mr. Ball initially won his seat in 2010 by a margin of just about 2 percent.

“This Republican primary is just another example of the fact that Greg Ball can’t bring people together,” Mr. Wagner said. “I’m very optimistic.”

hwalker@observer.com

Sen. Greg Ball (Photo: Facebook)

Governor Andrew Cuomo overrode the State Senate Republican majority's opposition to his Health Exchange with an executive order today, but at least one state senator is still fighting the plan -- Greg Ball. Mr. Ball issued a statement blasting the exchange, which is part of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul that's being debated in the Supreme Court as a "large and expensive government program that may never get off of the ground."

"Any rush towards enacting Obamacare is more political than reality," Mr. Ball said.

Under President Obama's Affordable Healthcare Act, states can receive federal funding for healthcare exchanges if they demonstrate they have a plan for an exchange that will be operational by January 1, 2014. States that do not set up their own exchange will be required to participate in a federal healthcare exchange program. Though the Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of President Obama's healthcare overhaul, according to the governor's office, federal funding for the exchanges has already been allocated and will not be affected by the Court's ruling.

In his statement, Mr. Ball said federal funding for the exchange program is "not without strings." Mr. Ball also said New York State shouldn't move forward with an Exchange while the president's healthcare plan is before the Supreme Court.

"The promise of federal funding is not without strings and the program itself will ultimately, if enacted, cost New York taxpayers billions of additional dollars that we do not have," Mr. Ball said. "Furthermore, with the fundamental constitutionality of the overall looming program in immediate question and the presidency hanging in the balance there is zero need to build an initial framework for a large and expensive government program that may never get off of the ground. We can and should make landmark reforms, including reigning in big insurance in New York, but moving forward now to enact Obamacare is simply not prudent."

Though Governor Cuomo's Health Exchange plan was approved by the Democrat-controlled State Assembly, it was unable to pass the Republican majority in the State Senate leading the governor to issue his executive order. In a statement announcing the Health Exchange, Governor Cuomo described it as a program that will cut healthcare costs for New Yorkers while being "entirely financed by the federal government."

"The bottom line is that creating this health exchange will lower the cost of health insurance for small businesses, local governments, and individual New Yorkers across the state. The sky-high cost of insurance in New York is driving businesses out of the state and preventing lower income New Yorkers from being able to afford needed coverage," Governor Cuomo said. "Establishing the health exchange will bring true competition into the health care marketplace, driving costs down across the state."

According to the governor, the Health exchange will be "financially self-sustaining, requiring no state subsidy, by January 1, 2015."

Senator Greg Ball (Photo: NYS Senate)

Last night, the Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Republican County Committees held a joint convention at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains and voted to back State Senator Greg Ball in his re-election fight against Assemblyman Steve Katz. Mr. Ball issued a statement following the results expressing his hope Mr. Katz will drop his challenge for the State Senate seat and focus on being re-elected to the Assembly.

“We have always enjoyed strong grassroots support and I am now proud to merge that grassroots machine with institutional support. It’s now time for the party to come together, for the Assemblyman to focus on maintaining his solid Republican seat, and for all of us, as elected officials to come together to continue to work for, and deliver for the taxpayers," Mr. Ball said." "My sole focus now, as always, is on job creation, lowering taxes and working with our critical Senate Majority and with Governor Cuomo to get New York State back on track,” said Senator Greg Ball."

Mr. Ball began serving in the State Senate last year after spending three years in the Assembly. He won the backing of the three local party committees by a margin of 15,233 votes to 6,260.

Mr. Katz and Mr. Ball are former allies who have fought a heated campaign that has included chicken costumes, nasty anonymous websites, a Facebook flap involving the assemblyman’s wife and, most recently, a pants-less photo hoax. The contentious nature of the campaign has led many observers to speculate Mr. Katz might continue to mount a primary challenge against Mr. Ball though he doesn't have local party support. As of this writing, Mr. Katz has not responded to request for comment from The Politicker.

The picture of Greg Ball that started the pants-free photo flap. (Photo: Twitter)

Last weekend, State Senator Greg Ball Tweeted a photo that appears to show him without pants and the picture is making the rounds tonight courtesy of an anonymous Twitter account that's sending the shot to various local media outlets. The picture was subsequently picked up by the website of the late conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, which compared it to the Anthony Weiner scandal. Mr. Ball's staff sent The Politicker evidence the shot simply showed him getting ready for a costumed charity event.

"That was a celebrity waiters brunch and it was to raise money for a Children's Museum, The picture was of Greg in the event in his costume," Mr. Ball's spokesman Joe Bachmeier told The Politicker. "He was wearing pants. ... What it was was a person taking it way out of context. They were doing a good event and it's really unfortunate they were taken out of context like this."

Greg Ball at the Celebrity Waiters Brunch. (Photo: Ball4NY.com)

The picture showed Mr. Ball wearing a t-shirt with a Superman logo underneath a blazer and collared shirt. On his lower half, he appears to be wearing either boxer shorts or nothing at all, though it is not clear. Mr. Ball Tweeted the picture along with a note saying, "Celebrity Waiters Brunch in Poughkeepsie for the children's museum." The Celebrity Waiters Brunch is an annual Hudson Valley event featuring notable people serving as waiters while wearing ridiculous costumes. Past photos of the event show male "waiters" wearing exceedingly small shorts under collared shirts and blazers.

Mr. Ball began serving in the State Senate last year after spending three years in the Assembly. He is currently fighting a heated primary challenge from his onetime friend Assemblyman Steve Katz that has involved stalkers in chicken costumes, nasty anonymous websites and a Facebook fracas involving the assemblyman's wife.

Update (3/31/12 10:47p.m.): The furor over pants-gate continues. Mr. Ball's Democratic challenger, Justin Wagner, issued a statement through his campaign manager, Steve Napier, criticizing Mr. Ball for Tweeting the photo and comparing the situation to the scandals involving former Congressman Anthony Weiner and Chris Lee.

"From Congressman Craigslist to Weiner-gate to the latest hijinks of Greg Ball, I think it’s safe to say the people of New York have had enough of their elected officials tweeting half naked pictures rather than focusing on the problems of middle class New Yorkers," Mr. Napier said.

Mr. Ball's chief of staff, Jim Coleman, also issued another statement on the senator's behalf accusing Mr. Katz of starting the photo flap and attempting to use "a fun children's event for political fodder."

"Greg was proud to join dozens of other celebrity waiters, including many elected officials, to raise money for the children and a great community organization. Krazy Katz has sunk to a new low, and should be ashamed of using a fun children's event for political fodder. Not only is the Senator wearing shorts in that photo, he's wearing black shorts over swim trunks, it is his costume for this light hearted event," Mr. Coleman said. "The photo was taken moments before the Senator went on stage. Sadly, Krazy Katz must be pretty desperate to attack a fun event for a children's charity, where the Senator was asked to be involved. Krazy Katz should apologize immediately to the community and make a donation to this wonderful organization."

Senator Greg Ball (Photo: Facebook)

In a move likely to disappoint Democrats hoping for a contentious Republican primary for Hudson Valley Rep. Nan Hayworth, State Senator Greg Ball said today he'll simply run for reelection instead.

"She makes it so tough to not run against her because she is disconnected from the district she represents. But this Senate seat decided the balance of power in the previous election and will be similarly important in the next election," he said in an interview with Yossi Gestetner. "So I am focused on reelection to the State Senate."

Mr. Gestetner then pressed Mr. Ball specifically on whether he was ruling out the Congressional campaign. Mr. Ball responded that he's "totally committed on reelection to the State Senate."

Mr. Ball had long encouraged speculation that he would challenge Ms. Hayworth by regularly hammering her and her record.

Three Democrats have declared their campaigns for the seat so far:  Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander, Tuxedo Park Mayor Tom Wilson, and Cortland town Councilman Richard Becker.