By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ELLICOTTVILLE — Joseph Hernandez, the Republican candidate for New York state comptroller, met with state and local GOP leaders Friday at the Ellicottville Town Center.
Hernandez immigrated to the U.S. at age seven with his parents during the Mariel boat lift of 1980 when Castro allowed more than 125,000 Cubans to migrate to Florida.
He said his father, who was a political prisoner in Cuba, washed dishes and his mother cleaned homes when they immigrated to the U.S. He studied at Yale and Oxford and is a successful Wall Street tech entrepreneur. He ran for New York City mayor as an independent candidate .
Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, State Sen. George Borrello and Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt preceded Hernandez in speaking to the small group of Republicans including GOP Chairman Mark Heberling, former Republican chairman Bob Keis, Ellicottville Mayor John Burrell and Olean Alderman Joseph Keary.
Each speaker referred to Hernandez’ story and his desire to give back. “Within one generation, he’s lived the American dream,” Ortt said. “I’d trust this guy with my own money.”
In his remarks, Hernandez said the lack of freedom his family experienced in his native Cuba fostered a deep appreciation for American freedoms.
“I’m humbled to be here,” Hernandez told the small group of Republicans. He said he often reminds his children how lucky they are to be growing up in America.
He didn’t mince words on the small but increasing number of Democratic socialists and progressives in elected office or running as candidates — including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed, a progressive.
“Socialism is one degree from communism,” he said flatly.
In discussing what he would do if he defeated incumbent Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in November, Hernandez cited the importance of modernizing local government operations through new technology.
Hernandez was critical of DiNapoli for running the comptroller’s office like an antiquated 1980s office and lacking basic technological tools. New technology and AI tools will help improve efficiency in municipalities across the state, he added.
Hernandez also acknowledged the difficulty of getting elected to statewide office as a Republican.
“We’re outnumbered and outgunned,” he said. The number of Upstate Republicans can’t overcome the advantage Democrats have in New York City.
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