Mike Long steps down as Conservative Party chair; Jerry Kassar a leading candidate to succeed him
In a move that took his party’s leaders by surprise, Mike Long, who has served as chairperson of the New York State Conservative Party for 30 years, suddenly announced on Jan. 28 that he was stepping down from his post.
Long, 78, made his announcement at the conclusion of the 52nd Annual Conservative Party Political Action Conference in upstate New York, a mini-convention during which party leaders from all over the state hear presentations from elected officials and candidates, and map out the party’s agenda for the year.
Long told party leaders that he had “a heavy heart,” but that he firmly believed “the time has come for me to step away as chairman” and that he felt “the time for new leadership is upon us.”