Advice to Chairman Stephen Minarik

Dear Chairman Minarik,

I know I come across as a nobody, someone who hasn't held a political office and really has minimal political pull in the Republican Party. But as a New York Republican, I feel the avenues our party seeks for big elections has been misdirected.

In Sunday's New York Daily News I read a report about hand selected candidates for next year's Big Four offices. I am a bit concerned that if those in power simply select candidates for us, we will suffer even greater losses than we did in 2004 (US Senate candidate) and in 2002 (Attorney General candidate). We should be energizing the registered republicans of this state by giving them choices for primaries in races for US Senate, Governor, Attorney General & State Comptroller.

We need to allow the process to work as it did in this year's New Jersey Gubernatorial GOP Primary. Seven candidates wishing to run a State with two front runners. I am not saying we need to field as many candidates for the Big Four, but what I am saying is we need to energize republicans throughout this State to be interested in who wishes to hold statewide office.

If Tom Golisano, Randy Daniels, Pat Manning and John Faso all want to run for Governor, let them do so.
If Adam Brecht, William Brenner and Ed Cox want to challenge Sen. Clinton, they should be given the chance.
If Jeanine Pirro chooses A.G. instead of US Senator, and Rick Lazio also chooses the A.G., let them battle it out statewide.
If John Faso chooses Comptroller, but so does Mr. Lazio and maybe someone like Peter King, it is all their choice.

See who gets the support from the voters. See who registered republicans want for each office. Don't throw us hand picked candidates selected behind closed doors by those in charge. That is not democracy!

Those I've spoken to in the club I'm a member of and fellow republicans I'm aquainted with, see Ms. Pirro more suited for Attorney General. Why choose her for Senator? Is it because it would be woman vs. woman? Didn't Republicans try something like this, Black vs. Black in Illinois? How did that go? Why not have Randy Daniels run for US Senator? A black man against the wife of the "first Black President?" Why not make the second black Senator of the United States a Black Republican? Is Rick Lazio really that strong a candidate to go up against Mark Green or Andrew Cuomo? Wouldn't he be better suited for Comptroller?

In my opinion, it doesn't matter which office any of the above Republicans choose to run for, but it is important that they all be given a chance to win us over. US! The Voter! Not the State Party Committee.

Sincerely,

Daniel Peterson
Urban Republican & Conservative Party candidate for NY City Council D2.