Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long said he’s making calls in the race for Yonkers mayor, where the declared Republican candidate John Murtagh is pro-gay marriage and is trying to seek the Conservative line.

“I’ve spoken to people about it,” Long said. “Let’s put it this way, I’ve spoken to a lot of people about this.”

The Murtagh nod would be a second test of the blanket declaration given by Long, who has said his party would not endorse any candidate supporting same-sex marriage, a measure that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is trying to get approved by the end of June.

The Erie County Conservative Party did endorse pro-gay marriage candidate Mark Schroeder, a Democratic assemblyman who is running for Buffalo comptroller. County Chairman Ralph Lorigo said he didn’t “draw a line in the sand” on the issue. However, Long did not become involved in that decision or make any inquiries into the nomination.

The Westchester County Conservative Party is set to vote on its candidate for mayor on Monday.

Republican senators may be disinclined to back the measure since many rely on the Conservative Party line to win re-election.

Long added that it’s not up to him to decide who ultimately gets the nomination in Yonkers, but pressure is being applied to Murtagh to alter his stance.

“Naturally there are certainly thinks I can enforce and things I can’t enforce,” Long said. “There are some people who have said they’re trying to get him to back off support of such legislation.”

Also at play here is Westchester County Conservative Party Chairman Hugh Fox, a close political ally of County Executive Rob Astorino. Fox also works in the Astorino administration.

Share|