Queens GOP plans effort to recruit 2008 contenders

By John Tozzi

03/22/2007

The Queens GOP wants Republicans to go back to school!

Candidate school, that is!

Queens Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa announced this week that the party will offer workshops in May to recruit potential candidates and campaign workers. The event is part of a broader effort to grow the GOP's presence before the 2008 state-level elections and the 2009 cycle, when all but one of the 14 City Council seats in Queens will be open because of term limits.

"I believe in taking baby steps," said Robert Hornak, the GOP consultant who is leading the county party's new recruitment and development committee. "I don't think we're going have a full slate."

Queens has only three local Republican elected officials: City Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village), and state Sens. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) and Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), the former party chairman who stepped down in February. The lack of candidates, particularly running against incumbent Democrats, has long been a sore point for the borough's Republicans.

In 2006, only five of the borough's 18 Assembly seats had candidates on the GOP line, according to state Board of Elections records. One of those was Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill), who ran on both lines, and another was Morshed Alam, who challenged Rory Lancman, now the Assemblyman representing Fresh Meadows, in the Democratic primary.

Aside from Padavan and Maltese, only one other Senate candidate, Jereline Hunter, ran on the Republican line in 2006 for the open seat now occupied by Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica). Of the 57,105 votes cast in Queens Assembly and Senate races on the GOP ballot line that year, 38,145 were cast for Padavan and Maltese.

Ragusa and Hornak want to tell a different story in 2008. One way to recruit solid candidates, Hornak said, is to look outside the usual Republican clubs.

"I think we need to look at other avenues, such as local civic organizations, business groups, the chamber of commerce," he said.

Both say it is important to start small, but have serious candidates in districts where they can compete against incumbents.

"It's a little difficult to run candidates in every single district," Ragusa said. "Wherever we can, we're going to try to run someone."

Hornak said he hopes to have potential candidates lined up by this fall, so they will have plenty of time to raise money and get organized before they need to get petitions for the ballot in the spring.

Reach reporter John Tozzi by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 174.

Queens Republican revival

Republican blogger, consultant and true believer Robert Hornak has been tapped by the Queens County GOP boss, Phil Ragusa, to chair the party's Candidate Recruitment and Development Committee:

The announcement of Hornak's appointment was accompanied by the unveiling of plans for an ambitious "Candidates' School," to be held by the County scheduled for May, as aspiring candidates, prospective campaign managers and treasurers are instructed on the fundamentals of ballot access and campaign organization by leading experts from the Republican delegations in the State Senate and Assembly, as well as party leaders.

"We have not decided yet specifically what races we are targeting in 2008; however, it is clear that our number one priority is the successful reelection of Senator Padavan and Senator Maltese. We are also keenly interested in fielding a slate of candidates to challenge incumbents.

Ragusa's also trying dispel fears of business as usual in Queens by undertaking (and announcing) a fairly strenuous round of meetings:

Newly elected Queens County Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, as part of his pledge to focus his energies on rejuvenating and growing the Queens GOP's grassroots infrastructure, has been tirelessly touring the County visiting local Republican clubs, stopping by to discuss and share his plans for the future of the Party with the Queens Village, Northeast Queens, Whitestone, and Frank Kenna Republican clubs, with visits to the Rego Hills, Women's Club and Rockaway clubs already scheduled.

In a whirlwind of activity the Chairman also met with Senator Marty Golden and NYC's other four GOP County Chairs to discuss State Senate strategy. The Chairman then met privately with America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani before the Home Team Fundraiser at the New York Sheraton this Wednesday. On Thursday, the Chairman had a powwow with Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco and his New York City Reginal Director, J.C. Polanco. With 18 Assembly Districts and seven State Senate Districts in Queens County and populations exceeding that of most cities in New York State and indeed the nation, Chairman Phil Ragusa is off to an impressive start.

Posted by Errol Louis on March 19, 2007 5:15 PM

Queens GOP Seeks Moderate, Eloquent Money-Raisers

The Queens Republican Party has tapped Republican consultant Robert Hornak (of the independent Young Republican Club) to head lead the candidate recruitment effort for the 2008 and 2009 cycles.

"Aside from ideology," Hornak told me, describing the type of talent he's looking for, "somebody who is comfortable with public speaking" who also has "the ability to raise money."

"On the ideological side," he continued, "generally Republicans who will be reformers and fiscal conservatives. Moderate on social issues. Pro-choice, but against gay marriage. The ideal candidate is somebody in the middle."

-- Azi Paybarah

"Dear Friends,

I would like to call to your attention this press release the Queens County Republican Party sent out yesterday, in part to announce my appointment as the head of the newly formed Candidate Recruitment and Development Committee. While I am excited to take on this challenge, I recognize this is a huge task, especially for 2009 when we will likely have 15 open council seats, thanks to term limits, up for election. I have already begun to form a committee to work on this project with me, and am committed to challenging the democrats where ever we can find viable candidates.

We hope to have some good candidates lined up for 2008, however, my emphasis will be on 2009 and developing a strong slate of candidates for city council, where we have our best opportunities to pick up seats. Also because I believe in planning ahead and will get as many candidates as possible started on both '08 and '09 campaigns this year.

Lastly, if anyone knows of a good potential candidate in Queens, or someone already thinking of running for office, please put me in touch with them as soon as possible. I will also be spearheading the formation of our Candidate School, which will kick off this May, and want to make sure that every potential candidate is included in this important first step toward creating a campaign for public office.

If anyone has any questions I can be reached at (646) 827-3818.

Best,

Robert"

Posted by The Politicker on March 19, 2007 4:00 PM

# # #

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Republicans have spent too much time pleasing special interests instead of being a voice for their constituency. The message of fiscal responsibility has been lost and playing along with the status quo has been the way of our leaders.

The Urban Republican Platform was created to give our Party a message of hope. A message of reform and conservative values within the great city of New York and the great state of New York. Unfortunately, our message has been ignored and the Party tapping into our message has been the Democrats.

The policies of Ronald Reagan and Rudy Giuliani have made New York what it is today. We need to formulate strong messages that fit within the Republican agenda and that resonate with the voters. We will not win every campaign, but we can unite behind issues that distinguish us from Democrats and messages that will encourage voters to pull the lever for us.

The NY Republican Party doesn't have a message right now. In New York City, the voter ratio has gone from a 3.5 Democrats to 1 Republican in 1965 to greater than 5 Democrats to 1 Republican today. In order for us to reverse the current course of voter registration, we need to work at it. And we need to start now.

2006 - 72 HOUR GET OUT THE VOTE PROGRAM

The Urban Republican Coalition is proud to announce its 2006 72-Hour Get Out the Vote program.

Modeled after the highly successful Republican National Committee program of the same name, the URC has analyzed and selected key races in targeted areas of New York City upon which to focus our attentions. We are promoting and coordinating volunteers to assist in these races in the crucial final 72 hours of each campaign.

You are invited to participate.

CHRISTOPHER CALLAGHAN
New York State Comptroller

VITO FOSSELLA
United States House of Representatives, 13th District

STU MIRSKY
New York State Assembly, 23rd District

ANTHONY XANTHAKIS
New York State Assembly, 60th District

The targeted regions are:

SOUTHWEST BROOKLYN
(Bay Ridge / Dyker Heights / Bensonhurst)

SOUTHERN QUEENS
(The Rockaways / Howard Beach / Broad Channel)

To participate in the Urban Republican Coalition 72-Hour program, send an email to 72Hour@urban-republican.com with your name, preferred contact info and your area and race(s) of interest. Any questions and comments can also be directed to this email address, or you can reach URC Chairman Robert Hornak at (718) 358-2848.

Thank you and don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 7th!

Sincerely,

Robert Hornak & Luke Vander Linden
Urban Republican Coalition

The wife of rival candidate Robby Mahadeo told police that Baldeo pointed a gun at her last week from a car in Queens, and threatened to kill her and her family if her husband didn't drop out of the race.

Of course, this is Alan Jennings district, so scum is the name of the elected game apparently. I see a Republican named Jereline Hunter listed. Does anyone know her or if she is truly running?