There is now officially 4 Republican candidates for Governor.

Just moments ago, M. Myers Mermel officially launched his bid for the office, via press release. We knew this was coming after State GOP Chairman Ed Cox told us last week that Mermel had contacted him and expressed interest in being on the top of the ticket.

The former investment banker is touting his financial experience as a reason he should be the GOP nominee. And he says a recent poll he commissioned shows that New Yorkers prefer a candidate with his background, over one with Andrew Cuomo’s background.

“New Yorkers are barely hanging on after years of economic turmoil,” Mermel said, “We need a new team to tackle economic issues head on without conflicts of interest or ethical baggage that would hinder or prevent real reform.”

Mermel will be a guest on Capital Tonight. You can catch Liz Benjamin’s interview with him at 8:00pm and 11:30pm on YNN.

NEWS RELEASE

MYERS MERMEL ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK

Poll Shows Support for Conservative Business Leader Mermel 2-to-1 Over Cuomo

NEW YORK, NY – Armed with a recent poll showing him the strongest Republican threat to presumptive Democrat nominee Andrew Cuomo, conservative businessman Myers Mermel announced today he is running for Governor of New York.

“As a businessman you learn that there is no secret to success, it is only dedication, hard work, creative ideas and the willingness to take risks that produce success;” Mermel said. “ We all know how poorly our incumbents have fared, it is time to vote them out and for the people to have their voice heard. There is no secret to resolving our economic crisis, we must vote the current team out and start our reforms.”

Mermel’s top priorities include:

• Creating jobs – Recognize that government cannot create jobs, only businesses can.New York State government has prevented job creation and ignored and overtaxed job creators; this must be reversed.

• Reducing spending – Eliminate waste, fat, and fraud in state government, and trim government payrolls.

• Cutting taxes – Lower school and property taxes, and lower capital gains to incent business growth.

• Uniting people statewide – Bring all people together toward a common goal of growth.

“New Yorkers are barely hanging on after years of economic turmoil; Mermel said. “We need a new team to tackle economic issues head on without conflicts of interest or ethical baggage that would hinder or prevent real reform.”

During his campaign for Lieutenant Governor, Mermel attracted close to 20,000 Facebook followers, almost double that of Rick Lazio and Steve Levy combined. His grassroots support has made him one of the 40 most popular politicians of either party online. These supporters represent the strength of Mermel’s message and potential of his fundraising.

A poll conducted by Dresner, Wickers & Associates LLC May 13-15 among 502 residents of New York both registered and considered likely to vote in the general election for governor revealed Mermel to be the biggest GOP threat to Cuomo this November – based on a composite description of both candidates.

According to the poll, 53% of all voters statewide support a successful conservative businessman and social conservative who has brought jobs to New York like Myers Mermel to be their next governor. Only 24% picked the Democrat candidate Andrew Cuomo who comes from a New York political dynasty and served the Spitzer and Paterson Administrations as well as HUD Secretary.

To see the poll go to www.myersmermel.com

“I’m a conservative who is beholden to no one except the will of the people; said Mermel. “My composite beat Cuomo 53 to 24, if people hear my message and learn about me, then we do not have to accept continued failure in State Government as inevitable. I bring good news. For those who say it is too late or too difficult to change our government, I say to them it is never, never too late to do the right thing.”

About Myers Mermel –

Myers Mermel graduated from the St. Albans School, received a BA from the University of Vermont, an MA from Columbia University and attended Yale Divinity School. Myers moved to New York City after college and began work as a commercial lender and then an investment banker. In 1994, he started a company to help advise businesses on relocation efforts. Mermel’s firm was the exclusive real estate advisor in 2001and 2002 to Gov. George Pataki in the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of 9/11. In addition, he now works in commercial real estate. In his career he has advised companies in the relocation of over 200,000 jobs into and around New York State. His mother’s family, the Myers, have roots in upstate New York that stretch back to the Revolution. His father’s family came to the United States through Ellis Island in the late 19th century. Politically, Myers served as an intern for then Vice President George HW Bush in the White House. He was New York State Chair for Mike Huckabee for President, and later served as New York State Grassroots chair for Sen. John McCain’s Presidential campaign. In 2009, he served on the New York GOP’s reform committee known as the Eristoff Commission. Mermel is married and has two children.

For more information on NY Gov. Candidate Myers Mermel, including the poll and crosstabs, please go to: www.myersmermel.com

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