By Dee Richard
The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Apparently we have survived another winter. There are unmistakable signs of our spring flowers coming back to life so we can all rejoice in that good feeling.
The week was a busy one, though not a spectacular one. On Wednesday night, the Northeast Queens Republican Club held its monthly meeting at the Reception House in Flushing, where it announced state Sen. Frank Padavan was pleased with the results of his first Queens fund-raiser last week at the Douglaston Club.
Janet Malone, the NEQR club president, announced she will be the office manager for Padavan’s campaign headquarters this election cycle, as she has been for the past several campaigns. They have secured the same bank building on Bell Boulevard City Councilman Dan Halloran used as his campaign headquarters when he ran for the Council. They will move in April 15 and are planning a grand opening May 15. More details later.
On Thursday, Tom Long and his Queens Conservative Party held their monthly meeting in the VFW on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills. The club membership unanimously agreed to support Democratic state Assemblyman Michael Miller in his run for the 38th Assembly District. Miller was elected in a special election; this time he is running in a general election. Apparently, Miller is well-liked and respected by Democrats and Republicans.
Friday was a combo fund-raiser/St. Patrick’s celebration and Halloran’s birthday party. It was a fun crowd. Halloran in his kilt was a sight to behold and not one to be missed. The Halloran group needs to raise money to pay for some of their campaign bills. They will get the money from campaign finance. Due to some irregularity in Democratic opponent Kevin Kim’s filing, it may take quite some time.
On Saturday afternoon, the state Conservative Party selected its choice for governor. The potential candidates were former Republican Congressman Rick Lazio, Buffalo Republican businessman Carl Paladino and Suffolk Democrat County Executive Steve Levy. The party voted 14-5 in favor of Lazio.
A lot of Republicans are not happy with Levy as the party’s choice, although to Levy’s credit he said he intends to change parties and re-register as a Republican.
Levy running as the Republican choice would please the Democrats no end. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will undoubtedly be their choice. In essence, you would then have Cuomo, a strong Democrat, running against, if he changes party lines, RINO Levy. To all extents and purposes a rather weak Democrat. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in New York. If you are a Democrat, what could be better than two Democrats running?
The above scenario does not sit well with the general, bona fide members of both the Conservative and Republican parties. They are not satisfied with the status quo of their leader’s choice at this time. As a matter of fact, a group has already formed on Facebook suggesting that Ed Cox should step down due to his support of Levy while there are at least two Republicans running. The electorate believes a Republican leader should support a Republican candidate if one is running.
The general consensus of opinion among the political pundits is perhaps what influenced Cox’s choice of Levy is that Cox’s son, Christopher, is running for a Congressional seat in Suffolk County and perhaps believes there is a mutual benefit to be gained.
In any event, Chris Cox comes from an extremely wealthy family and is engaged to the daughter of John Catsimatidis, an equally wealthy family. That being the case, I guess they won’t have to have the usual proliferation of summer backyard barbecues to finance the campaign of Christopher Nixon Cox for Congress. What a fun political summer this one promises to be. You know, you just can’t make this stuff up. It’s wall-to-wall, nonstop fun where speculation reigns supreme.
Congratulations to dear friend Joann DeMartino on her promotion as group director and senior vice president of Signature Bank in Jackson Heights. Joann had worked for HSBC for 28 years and felt it was time for a change. Good luck, Joann, as members of your fan club Debbie Markell, Janet Malone, Myra Baird-Herce and I are rooting for you.
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to hearing from you with information on people, parties and politics or gossip.
I like to receive your voice mails at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
Till next week, Dee.
