NEW YORK (AP) — To the ranks of Martha Stewart wannabes add Rhona Silver, a Long Island caterer who has offered to contribute $1 million toward Stewart's legal bills in exchange for the opportunity to run her company for $1 a year.

"I don't have to be Martha," said Silver, proprietor of Rhona Silver's Huntington Townhouse. "I could be Rhona and help run that company."

Stewart, the longtime guru of gracious living, was convicted last week of lying to investigators about why she sold 3,928 shares of ImClone Systems stock.

A spokeswoman for Stewart, who faces sentencing on June 17, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Silver, whose clients have included Hillary Rodham Clinton and Billy Joel, said she has the expertise to preside over each component of Stewart's empire including TV shows, magazines and KMart housewares.

"I have been in the industry since I'm 10 years old. I run thousands of events a year," said Silver, flashing a $1 million check at a news conference Thursday. "I also hold a law degree from Hofstra Law School, so on the business side I have the wherewithal, the intelligence and the smarts to run a company."

Silver called Stewart her mentor but has so far admired her idol mainly from afar.

"I've met her on several occasions at parties," she said. "I don't know her personally but I would love to have the opportunity to know her better."