By Karen Frantz
Mayoral hopeful John Catsimatidis, a grocery store tycoon, opened a campaign office in Whitestone Sunday with a large barbecue that drew in Republican Party regulars and other supporters from across the borough.
“I believe the outerboroughs make a difference in New York,” Catsimatidis told the crowd.
He said it is important for the mayor to have representatives in every borough to get a pulse for the local communities. He contended that Mayor Michael Bloomberg does not know what is going on in the outerboroughs.
“That’s wrong,” he said.
Catsimatidis is one of just a few Republicans who have entered a mayoral race largely dominated by Democratic candidates. Former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief Joseph Lhota and Doe Fund founder George T. McDonald are the other two Republican candidates in the race.
The mood was festive and reminiscent of a block party at the Queens office opening, at 24-55 Francis Lewis Blvd., with tables and a tent set up on the street and many supporters lining up for hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on a grill. Musician Joe Fuoco also played for the crowd.
Catsimatidis spoke into a microphone as he addressed the crowd, his voice amplified through the streets.
He said he grew up in Harlem but crawled his way up the ladder through hard work. He now is the owner of the Gristedes grocery chain.
“One has to remember where they came from,” he said. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from.”
He also spoke about the public education system, saying young people are graduating from high school without having the reading, writing or math skills needed to excel in a college environment.
“It’s broken,” he said of the public school system. “We have to fix it.”
Several Republican fixtures, such as Queens Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa and former Republican state Sen. Serphin Maltese, also spoke in support of Catsimatidis’ campaign.
“This is a race that we can win,” Ragusa said.
He said Catsimatidis is not the typical politician, having a background as a business creator rather than in politics.
“He’s the kind of guy that we need in City Hall,” he said.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
