The New York State Republican Party has named former Congressman Rick Lazio the party’s sole candidate for governor, beating out three other nominees.

The Long Island politician appeared to have the most support coming into today.

During his acceptance speech Lazio railed against the Democratic Party.

“We’re going to tear down the culture of incompetence and corruption,” Lazio said. “The last four years of Democrat control: [former Comptroller Alan] Hevesi, [Governor David] Paterson, [former Governor Eliot] Spitzer, [Attorney General Andrew] Cuomo, they have had their chance and they have failed.”

As expected, Lazio fended off three competitors to garner 59.63 percent of the votes. The delegates then voted 57.07 against a motion that would have also placed Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy on the ballot and forced a primary.

Levy, a Democrat turned Republican who had the backing of State Republican Chairman Ed Cox, did carry 28.12 percent of the first round of votes.

Conservative Carl Paladino, an upstate businessman, got 7.89 percent of the delegates’ support. Paladino, who has the backing of the Tea Party movement, is a Buffalo millionaire who has said that he might fund his own independent campaign to get on the ballot.

Manhattan real estate entrepreneur Myers Mermel got 4.36 percent of the votes. He, too, can campaign for a spot on the ballot.

Levy is not able to petition because of his recent party change.

The GOP yesterday nominated hedge fund manager Harry Wilson for comptroller. The comptroller is in charge of public workers’ pension funds and auditing the government.

Wilson says his background will allow him to remedy Democrats’ wasteful spending.

“I spent my career as a businessman,” said Wilson. “I know a thing or two about accountability, and accountability that is all too often absent in government, and as New York’s comptroller I plan to hold everyone in state government accountable for every dollar of yours that they spend.”

Wilson will face Democratic Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who was appointed to the post after the disgraced Alan Hevesi resigned.

(Source: NY1)