ALBANY, N.Y. — Reports by the Washington Post and the New York Times this weekend reported the state's vaccine czar Larry Schwartz, a longtime friend and former top aide to the governor, had been calling around the state asking county executives if they would continue to support Andrew Cuomo as he faces separate investigations into alleged sexual harassment and mishandling of nursing homes.
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said Schwartz briefly asked where he stood.
"I wouldn't say he judged my loyalty to the governor," he said. "I've had a lot of conversations and we've agreed to disagree on a lot of topics. We agree to disagree on a lot of topics. I'd say we kind of argue back and forth more than anything else over the last couple of months on a variety of issues."
McCoy said he feels he's already answered any questions about the governor in calling for a full independent investigation. He was complimentary of the work Schwartz has done for the state.
In Rochester, State GOP Chair Nick Langworthy took a different stance.
"These measures are too important. Lives are truly on the line. Andrew Cuomo did not protect the most vulnerable, and we have no reason to believe that he won't play games with our local governments as he's done time and again in order to hold on and cling to the power that he holds," Langworthy said.
According to the reports, one executive filed notice of an impending ethics complaint with the state Attorney General's Office, fearing Schwartz could be tying vaccine resources to loyalty to the governor.
Langworthy called on Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and all county executives to take questions from the media about their interactions with Schwartz.
Bello, in a statement, recounted a similar story as McCoy's, a brief conversation with Schwartz on the topic last week in which he felt no pressure to back the governor. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said he had no conversations with the czar about the governor's troubles.
Republican Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said Schwartz never asked him about Cuomo, but says the reports are troubling.
"I'm more concerned now," Wendel said. "Yes. The leadership needs to be in control, not at the hands of a political ally of the governor to dispense the vaccine, and now to hear that he's asking who's going to be loyal to the governor? Wow. I don't know what else to say."
In a statement, the governor's active counsel said vaccine distribution in New York is based on objective criteria and Schwartz would never link political support to public health decisions. She said any suggestion he acted in an unethical way is patently false.