Conservative governor hopeful Ralph Lorigo representing Buffalo-area strip club Rick's Tally-Ho

Kenneth Lovett New York Daily News 09/01/2010 17:42

Owner of jiggle joint Rick's Tally-Ho got help from 'real conservative' Ralph Lorigo.

A strip club owner trying to get his liquor license back after the joint was busted as a hooker haven has hired an unlikely ally: Conservative gubernatorial hopeful Ralph Lorigo.

The little-known lawyer, whose website extols his "real conservative leadership," began representing the owner of Rick's Tally-Ho this year, the Daily News has learned.

The Buffalo-area club lost its liquor license in March after the FBI charged its exotic dancers were prostitutes who sold heroin to its customers.

Lorigo represented owner Richard Snowden in an unsuccessful fight to regain the license. Snowden now runs an all-nude juice bar catering to customers as young as 18.

The Erie County Conservative Party chairman's association with the club "boggles my mind," said stunned state Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long.

"When clearly he is claiming the mantle of moral authority of this year's gubernatorial race, it doesn't bode well to represent such a sleazy type of operation," said Long - a supporter of Lorigo's opponent, Rick Lazio.