Contrary to the assertion made by the Weprin campaign (Little Neck Ledger, “Mark Weprin touts record in Council run,” June 18), I am a lifelong Democrat and will always be one.
But I do not play the party label game, which is the typical “politics as usual” stuff that is wrong with politics today. As a civic leader, I engage both Democrats and Republicans in our community on many issues. My fellow civic leaders who come from both parties see me as an independent and pragmatic constituent services civic leader.
So when the Republicans offered to endorse me, knowing I am a Democrat, I accepted. Just like state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Little Neck) has accepted the endorsement of the Working Families Party, he is still a Democrat. Inferring I am a Republican and then calling Republicans anti-women is more about politics as usual than community concerns.
Identity politics, pitting one group against another, will end when civic leaders are elected to the City Council. If I win the Democratic primary, I will walk into the Council representing all the people in our district in true form with my campaign of transcending party labels and ending politics as usual.
Bob Friedrich
President
Glen Oaks Village
