Lalor will not face Primary

Westchester Republican Legislator George Oros has dropped out of the race for the 19th Congressional District, leaving political newcomer Kieran Michael Lalor with a clear path for taking on the Democratic incumbent.

Oros of Cortland sent a letter to his supporters over the weekend. In it he explained his reasons for not forcing a GOP primary for the chance of challenging Rep. John Hall, D-Dover.

"From the information and data we have gathered, it is most likely that we would win a primary," Oros wrote. "However, my goal throughout this process was to defeat John Hall and return this seat to a Republican; not to defeat a Republican. If this were any other year, a primary might be in order, even healthy for our party, but clearly not in 2008."

Oros noted three Republicans have lost special elections to fill open seats in Washington since he announced his congressional aspirations in February.

"Several of these candidates faced primaries and runoffs. Those extra challenges may have drained resources and cost the Republicans a chance to hold some seats," he wrote.

Committees make choices

His decision came about a week after Republican committee members from Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess and Orange counties backed Lalor to take on the freshman congressman. Monday, he declined to comment beyond the letter.

Lalor Monday said he welcomed the chance to concentrate on the general election and added he was confident he would've won the primary. Oros, he said, was endorsed by former Gov. George Pataki and former U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly and yet couldn't gain the backing of the committee members.

"It's going to be great to have five months to campaign mano a mano with John Hall," said Lalor, a Marine Corps reservist and Pace University Law School graduate.

Hall defeated Kelly, a six-term Republican incumbent, with 51 percent of the vote in November 2006.