By Dee Richard
Just when you thought Queens politics couldn’t be more convoluted, guess what? It is! This time it involves the Queens GOP in its decision to endorse Steven Levy over its previous endorsement of Rick Lazio. After giving its word, how do you un-endorse someone?
Some time ago, the Republicans as well as the Conservative Party unanimously announced Lazio was their candidate and that he had their full support.
Apparently one’s word is not always one’s bond. On April 28, the Queens GOP held a meeting at its headquarters on Francis Lewis Boulevard and 24th Avenue in Whitestone. The purpose of the meeting was to change its vote on naming Levy as its candidate for governor rather than Lazio, whom it had formerly announced as its gubernatorial candidate.
How does one un-endorse a candidate without appearing rather indecisive? But then again, as the French always say, there are only two reasons for everything. One is “look to the woman” and the other is “follow the money.” Take your choice!
From what we understand, Democrat Levy needs 50 percent plus one to qualify for a Wilson Pakula in order to get on the Republican line.
There does not seem to be unity in the Republican Party as far as support for Levy is concerned. In fact, from all the phone calls and feedback we have received, the opposite seems to be the case.
According to one local pundit, “Let the numbers speak for themselves.” Twelve yes votes, two no votes and four abstentions do not add up to 100 percent support for Levy as a candidate or Phil Ragusa as Queens chairman.
According to state committee members of the 35th state Assembly District, Myrna Littlewort and her co-leader, Kevin Kim, said among those present who cast their votes do not add up to a sufficient number for a quorum. If that is true and there was no quorum, does that make the vote null and void? The small number that voted would not seem to be sufficient to enable Levy to carry Queens.
According to City Councilman Eric Ulrich, “The party is not unified behind Levy no matter what Ragusa says.”
Ulrich also said that in his district Republicans want a Republican to run on the Republican line. Other VIP Republicans agreeing with Ulrich are state Sen. Frank Padavan, former state Sen. Serf Maltese and Councilman Dan Halloran as well as Bart Haggerty.
A spokesman for Halloran said Halloran was disappointed in the process the Queens GOP chose in removing Lazio and substituting Levy as its new choice. All of this was without notifying any of the Queens elected Republicans of their intentions, which meant none of the electeds had the opportunity to voice their opinions and state their positions.
This promises to add up to a contentious summer. How does all of this affect the inter-party conflict between Ragusa and Haggerty over the leadership of the Queens GOP? From what we understand, Haggerty and his Republican followers as well as the Long brothers of the Conservative Party will support Lazio 100 percent. The Republican Convention is scheduled for June 1-June 3 in New York City. That should be an interesting convention with lots of sparks flying.
From the bits and pieces we received, not all of the committee members were made aware of the meeting and its plan to vote Lazio out and Levy in. If true, that doesn’t seem fair.
I spoke to Haggerty Sunday and he assured me his support for Lazio has not wavered. I saw Ragusa Friday night at a fund-raiser for Vinny Tabone at Maggie Mays in Bayside. But as he did not speak to me, I do not know firsthand what his reasons for supporting Levy are.
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to hearing from you with information on people, parties and politics or gossip.
I like receiving your voice mails at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
Till next week, Dee.
