Category Archives: 2017 Mayoral Race

Massey Supported Stringer



Scott Stringer’s a nice guy.  That’s how Republican mayoral candidate Paul Massey and Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner replied when I asked them about Paul Massey’s past substantial financial contributions to Faulkner’s expected general election opponent, Democrat and incumbent City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Continue reading Massey Supported Stringer

Queens GOP Dinner



Republican mayoral candidates Nicole Malliotakis and Paul Massey crossed paths at the Queens Republican Party’s Spring Dinner, working the crowd separately and each speaking during dinner Wednesday night.  In a bit of fortuitous timing Massey walked into the dinner as Malliotakis explained her late entry into the race as motivated by the fact that “I haven’t seen the passion, I haven’t seen the energy” from the other candidates.  That was as close as they came to any direct debate or confrontation, however.

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Conservative Party Nomination?



With a decision on the Conservative Party nomination for mayor expected in less than a week, Nicole Malliotakis’ prospects appear increasingly strong.  Last night the Queens County Conservative Party informally lined up behind Malliotakis after hosting her for a screening interview, according to Queens County Chairman Tom Long.  A formal vote by the Queens County Committee is not expected until May 18th, however.   (Our report from the recent Queens County Conservative Dinner is available here.) Continue reading Conservative Party Nomination?

Malliotakis Moving Massey Endorsements? (Updated)



At a City Hall press conference Friday Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis suggested that she may cause a change in two significant endorsements received by rival candidate Paul Massey.  Massey has received the endorsement of the Queens Republican Party and Staten Island Assembly Member Ron Castorina.  Queens Republican Party Chairman Bob Turner was an early supporter of Massey and his Queens Republican Party endorsed Massey last week.  Castorina, expected to be elected chairman of the Staten Island Republican Party soon, was the first elected official to have endorsed a Republican mayoral candidate (our report from his February 22nd endorsement is available here).

Friday I asked Malliotakis how she plans to overcome Massey’s early advantages of the two endorsements and significant fundraising.  Before criticizing Massey Malliotakis addressed the endorsements, saying that “perhaps that will change now that I’m in the race.”

Continue reading Malliotakis Moving Massey Endorsements? (Updated)

Faulkner Moves To Comptroller Race (Updated)



The man formerly known as Republican mayoral candidate Michel Faulkner is now Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner.  Faulkner, who’s been running hard for mayor, announced today that he’s changing his focus and running for comptroller.

Paul Massey has long sought to convince Faulkner to get out of the race, and Faulkner has spoken about that in some recent appearances.  In a brief phone conversation today Faulkner expressed optimism at his prospects, but declined to discuss his decision in detail.  Faulkner plans a significant media rollout of his candidacy tomorrow.  Stay with us for more.

Manhattan Republican leader Adele Malpass confirmed that she and the other Republican county leaders support Faulkner’s move.  Malpass has frequently expressed her preference for avoiding Republican primaries in the three City-wide races.  She and Faulkner both expect that Faulkner will not have a primary in the comptroller’s race.  On the mayor’s race, Malpass and the Manhattan Republican Party executive committee plan to meet on May 15th to consider backing a mayoral candidate, now selecting between Paul Massey and Nicole MalliotakisContinue reading Faulkner Moves To Comptroller Race (Updated)

Malliotakis Kickoff



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis held a campaign kickoff press conference Friday at City Hall.  Malliotakis became a candidate and began campaigning about two weeks ago, so the news in her appearance comes from her comments rather the fact of her candidacy.

In her fourth term in the New York State Assembly, and one of only seven New York City Republicans holding city or state office,  Malliotakis is fairly well-known to New York City Republicans.  She’s a fairly late entry in the race, but with an established Staten Island electoral base and a fair amount of name recognition among City Republicans she’s an immediately viable candidate.

Malliotakis fielded a wide range of press questions, covering her candidacy and prospects and rival Paul Massey, City policing and crime, her recent condemnation of Linda Sarsour, the American Health Care Act, Mayor de Blasio and her position on continuing to allow carriage horses to operate.

Video:

Opening statement:

Q&A:

Malliotakis & Massey Mix It Up, Moderately



Republican mayoral candidates Nicole Malliotakis and Paul Massey mixed it up a bit Thursday, with Massey issuing a statement critical of Malliotakis for receiving campaign contributions from Linda Sarsour.  Malliotakis has recently criticized Sarsour, a Palestinian-American political activist, and demanded that CUNY rescind an invitation to Sarsour to speak at commencement.  State Board of Election records show that Sarsour gave Malliotakis two contributions of $150 each, one in 2011 and one in 2012.

Malliotakis dismissed Massey’s criticism, suggesting that “he should be focusing on actually proposing something for the voters.”

Malliotakis on ConCon



“I’m actually very torn on it.”  That’s Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis on whether she supports holding a New York State constitutional convention.

The 2017 general election will present voters with a ballot question of whether to hold such a constitutional convention, often referred to as a “ConCon.” The state constitution requires that voters be presented with such a ballot question every 20 years; it was voted down in 1997 and 1977. Should voters approve a ConCon, convention delegates would be elected in the 2018 general election and the convention would convene in the spring of 2019.

Malliotakis, who is her fourth term in the state Assembly, described potential positives from a convention as including reducing the power of the Assembly speaker, legislative term limits and more equitable treatment of legislators.  She expressed concerns about stripping or reductions of public employee pensions.  Malliotakis is, for a Republican elected official, unusually supportive of public employees and public sector unions.

Here’s what Malliotakis had to say:

Update – September Statement:

Malliotakis’ statement taking a position is available here.

Malliotakis On AHCA



“I don’t know because I haven’t read it.”  That was Republican mayoral candidate and Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis’ final answer when asked whether she supports the American Health Care Act, approved Thursday by the House of Representatives.  Malliotakis expressed general support for a replacement of the Affordable Care Act while emphasizing the importance of considering the precise terms of any proposed legislation.  The AHCA text was released only the night before the House voted and few if any members had actually read it.  I spoke with Malliotakis following her appearance Thursday night at the Metropolitan Republican Club.

Here’s what Malliotakis had to say:

Candidates Court Conservatives (Updated)



Queens County Conservative Party Chairman Tom Long listens as mayoral candidate Paul Massey speaks to Long’s members. 4/28/17

Mayoral candidates Bo Dietl, Michel Faulkner and Paul Massey appeared in Howard Beach Thursday night, courting support at the Queens County Conservative Party Spring Dinner.  The Conservative Party will select its mayoral candidate shortly, with the  individual county organizations commencing discussions this week and a final selection expected by the end of May.  Their appearances and quest for the Conservative Party nomination had an additional subplot; Dietl’s controversial remarks on Mayor de Blasio’s wife the night before, Massey’s statement condemning those remarks and Dietl’s demand for an apology from Massey.  Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis is also seeking the Conservative Party nomination, but did not attend this dinner.

Bo Dietl addresses the Queens County Conservative Party Dinner. The audience includes rival candidates Paul Massey (far left) and Michel Faulkner (center, blue tie). 4/28/17

Continue reading Candidates Court Conservatives (Updated)

They Can’t Control The Bo



“They can’t control the Bo” said Bo himself, speaking today at a press conference on 34th Street, answering his own question of why “they” do not want him to run for mayor.  Bo Dietl continues trying to extinguish the firestorm that erupted following his Wednesday night comment that a judge who heard his lawsuit against the Board of Elections “looked like Charlene de Blasio (sic) and as soon as I saw her … I knew I had a problem.”  He made a similar mea culpa last night at a Conservative Party dinner in Howard Beach.

Dietl began his press conference by reading a lengthy statement denying that he is a racist, recounting his humble origins and work as an NYPD detective, touting his business success and attacking the New York Post and the New York Daily News.  The Post editorial board has called for Dietl to drop out of the race and a Daily News columnist has been harshly critical of Dietl.  Dietl unambiguously asserted that he’ll stay in race through November, even if he does not get a Wilson-Pakula allowing him to run in the Republican primary.

Continue reading They Can’t Control The Bo

Hashing It Out



Bo Dietl and Paul Massey discuss Dietl’s comments, during the Queens County Conservative Party Dinner on April 27, 2017.

Three of the four Republican mayoral candidates appeared together Thursday night, with Bo Dietl seeking to address the contretemps generated by his Wednesday night comment equating two African-American women, Chirlane McCray, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife, and a judge hearing Dietl’s election related lawsuit, based on their physical appearance.  Dietl has faced significant criticism in the 24 hours since making his comment.  The episode may drive voters away from him, although it anecdotally appears at this early stage Republican voters are only moderately concerned about.  More immediately, and more significantly, it may push Republican leaders away from granting Dietl his sought-after waiver to run in the Republican primary, a Wilson-Pakula. Continue reading Hashing It Out