23 Assembly District - Queens
Stu Mirsky (R,I,C) is a man on a mission in his district and I whole-heartedly endorse Stu. His main reason for running is because the incumbent has gone unchallenged election after election and though she's well liked, she has not been a force in Albany for the district. She positions herself on insignificant matters that are almost comical. Mirsky has a background in government and is the type of reform-minded Republican that can win in the district. It all comes down to the GOTV in the area. His Assembly District has voted for Pataki (2002), Bush (2004) and Bloomberg (2005) even though the odds are greater than a 2 to 1 Democrat to Republican. The reason is many of the working class Democrats are conservative in nature and understand security and low taxes are more important than social policy. They aren't conned into voting for someone based on matters that don't affect them that greatly.
44 Assembly District - Kings
Yvette V. Bennett (R,C) gets my endorsement for the 44 AD, because she will bring the conservative message of school choice, lower taxes and individual freedoms to Albany. Bennett ran for City Council last year and did better than anyone expected. This year, with a smaller district, she will be able to target her message and certainly connect with the family person in the area. Bennett is in a district with a career politician as well, and change is always good. When you elect change for a two year term, you are telling the establishment of entrenched incumbents that enough is enough. By picking up an Assembly seat, we area bringing the Republican Party that much closer to blocking an Assembly override of a governor's veto. With Democrats and Republicans spending our money in Albany, an independent Republican who opposes pork-barrel spending will be important.
60 Assembly District - Kings/Richmond
Anthony Xanthakis (R,C) is the candidate for the 60 AD in Staten Island and it is a traditional Republican seat in Albany. to lose this seat will be a disaster for the Republicans in our minority status in the Assembly. With Matthew Mirones retiring, Xanthakis would make the perfect replacement, because he has served for Mirones for more than five years.
64 Assembly District - New York
Michael Imperiale (R,C) receives my endorsement, because his opponent, incumbent Sheldon Silver, is currently part of the
Three Men in A Room that has ruled New York State politics the last twelve years. He has opposed transparency in the budget process, tax reductions, spending reductions, favored pork barrel projectsthat have inflated the budget to $112 billion, opposes School Choice, hampered development in Manhattan where he says he wants projects like the WTC and Farley Station to benefit NYers, but also feels companies like Madison Square Garden have a piece of the pie, and finally, Silver opposes Tort Reform and strong laws against criminals. He has been in the State Assembly representing Lower Manhattan for 33 years and it's time for a chnage. For many years, Silver had challenged the petitions of the Republican Party and ends up with either no opposition or a candidate from the Independence or Libertarian parties. This year is different. He finally will face a Republican and I implore every Republican to go out and vote for Imperiale and every anti-Silver voter to do the same. It will be a good test to see the strength Silver really holds.
73 Assembly District - New York
Robert Heim (R,I) is a former high level prosecutor with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has served his district in community and business affairs. He is a life-long Republican who believes the way to bring change in Albany is divided goverment and reform-minded officials. Heim likes to champion himself as a
Bloomberg republican but in fact, he is more Republican than even Bloomberg. He has been endorsed by Henry Stern and the Liberal Party organization because he favors good-government policies that should reduce government waste, corruption and transparency. As a Republican, he will champion tax relief and reform the anti-business policies that hurt small businesses from surviving in New York City.
74 Assembly District - New York
Frank Scala (R) has a difficult rode ahead to win his race, but there is a chance for victory and that is why it is so important for every Republican, Conservative and independent to come out and vote the establishment candidate on the Democratic line. Like the race in the 64 AD, the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is a major impedement, but unlike the 64 AD, Frank Scala is running in a race where the liberal vote will be split. The incumbent lost the Democratic Primary, but will be on the balot as the Working Families candidate, because she secured their line. It's a three way race. This is a race that is is winnable and I go more into detail with the numbers in my next entry. Frank has years of experience with the neighborhood volunteering with the local community board and being nominated President of the 13th Community Council. He has fought for Quality of Life issues and would be a fine addition to the State Assembly.
82 Assembly District - Bronx
Raymond Capone (R,C) is running in a district that has the potential of building a strong Republican Party. Of all ten Assembly Districts, this is the one I am comfortable issuing an endorsement in, especially if the Bronx is successful in winning back the 34 Senate District race. The 82 AD included City Island, which started the City Island Republican Club earlier this year. By having an elected Republican in the Bronx, the Republican Party could once again build from the ashes created by the corruption under former Senator, Guy Valella.
25 Senate District - Kings/New York
Ken Diamondstone (WF) will be the first Working Families candidate I wil vote for. I was asked to be the (R) in the district, but could not devote time to a candidacy, even if I was going to simply be a name. If I'm on the ballot, I run. I don't sit idle with an unfunded campaign. I agree that no incumbent should go unchallenged and that is why I'm glad Diamondstone remains on the ballot fighting on the Working Families line. Diamondstone received 44% of the vote in the Primary. He received the endrorsement of the New York Times, a paper I clearly think is biased and faulty, but has championing major reform up in Albany. Clearly the incumbent, Martin Connor, is vulnerable. The incumbent is the democratic
Go To guy when an incumbent fears opposition and the democratic process. Connor was the attorney in the court challenging petitions of his primary opponent, and of the Republican candidates Michael Imperiale in the 64 AD and Robert Heim in the 73rd AD. The man is not for reform, he is not for change and should be retired the democratic way. By electing Ken Diamondstone. Though I disagree with Diamondstone in nearly all the issues, his election would be a sign that New Yorkers need new blood in Albany. And who knows? If I still live in the Senate district in 2008, I'll have a reason to run against him.
26 Senate District - New York
Philip Pidot (R, Growth) would be a breath of fresh air in the Senate Majority up in Albany. Though his opponent, the incubment Liz Krueger, is a strong and well-liked Democrat, favoring Pidot is a no-brainer. Philip Pidot has the
background of someone who will fight for changing how we do business in Albany. The
positions he takes on all the major issues are the right positions for the Republican and Conservative voter and they even impress Liz Krueger immensely. If every Republican running for office this year in New York City had the background Pidot has and had the the ability to finance a strong campaign, we would see some strong competitive races and possibly many victories.
29 Senate District - New York
Dan Russo (R) gets my endorsement because he is a middle class New Yorker who is against anyone making politics a career. He is displeased with both Sheldon Silver and Joseph Bruno. The odds of victory are not in the cards for a Republican in this district, but by simply making the effort of getting on the ballot and making an incumbent go unchallenged in a district that is historically hostile to Republicans is an impressive and commendable act.
34 Senate District - Bronx/Westchester
Joseph J. Savino (R,I,C) is running a well financed and a very winnable race in the Bronx and Westchester. Savino wants to bring back the Republican message to his constituency and wants to bring a stronger Republican majority in the State Senate. Savino gives the voters an impressive resumé and the potential of strengthening the Republican voice in Albany if a Democratic landslide occurs on Election Day. Just above him, Nick Spano is at risk of losing his seat to the Democratic challenger, so by securing a seat in the area with a Republican would be helpful for our party. Unlike Spano, Savino has shown he is more conservative and not as easily persuaded by the left (Spano has received the Working Families in the past and with it, damaged Republican credibility).
- - If you're a registered Republican, or a right-leaning voter living in the above districts and considering candidates for this November Election, I encourage you to vote for the slate I've listed above. A well balanced divided government is important and if Democrats win the Governorship, Attorney General Office and the Comptroller seat, we will need to hold and gain as many seats as possible. We will still be in the minority in most situations, but as we see in Washington, one-party rule doesn't help the people as much as it helps the party in power. New York is the opposite in Washington, so voting Republican should be the preferable thing to do.