Category Archives: Bo Dietl

Ulrich Fundraiser



The Bo Show rolled into Howard Beach Saturday afternoon, adding some sizzle to Eric Ulrich’s reelection campaign fundraiser.  Ulrich, who seriously pursued running for mayor before opting to run for a third and final term on the City Council, has endorsed Bo Dietl for mayor and Dietl returned the favor appearing at Ulrich’s fundraiser.  Dietl encountered fellow mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis and Queens County Republican Chairman Bob Turner, an early and enthusiastic backer of mayoral candidate Paul Massey.  Massey, who has been endorsed by Turner’s Queens County Republican organization, did not attend.  Continue reading Ulrich Fundraiser

Conservative Party Nomination Preview



The Conservative Party is poised to select its mayoral candidate tomorrow.  Here’s a look at what’s likely to happen along with my prediction of the winning candidate.

Continue reading Conservative Party Nomination Preview

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

Friend Friction



Republican mayoral rivals Michel Faulkner and Paul Massey have often proclaimed their affection for one another, but Faulkner has been increasingly critical of Massey.  At the Manhattan Republican Party mayoral candidate forum last night Faulkner had some harsh comments about Massey.

Massey started the evening with a kind word for Faulkner and Bo Dietl, saying “it’s been great getting to know you” and “developing a friendship with you.”

Continue reading Friend Friction

Republicans Rassle



It was a Republican wrestling match as four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for mayor came together last night, participating in a forum hosted by the Manhattan Republican Party at the Upper East Side’s Metropolitan Republican Club.  Smiling, joking and mostly making nice, they harshly attacked Mayor Bill de Blasio as the four engaged in their first group forum.  They threw a few barbs at each other, and one managed to draw harsh condemnation afterwards for a comment involving Mayor de Blasio’s wife, but they mostly tried to push past each other as they sought audience and press attention.

Michel Faulkner, Nicole Malliotakis and Paul Massey are Republicans seeking their party’s nomination while Bo Dietl is a former Republican seeking a party waiver to run in the Republican primary.  The forum was important for all four, but especially critical for Dietl as he seeks a Wilson-Pakula; dispensation from at least three of the GOP county chairs to run in the Republican primary.  All five were present, part of an overcapacity crowd and large press contingent.

Video:

Here is the full forum, including the introductory remarks of Manhattan GOP Chairwoman Adele Malpass:

Dietl & McCray (Updated)



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl provoked outrage last night with a seemingly offhand comment at the Manhattan Republican Party’s mayoral candidate forum.  Dietl, who muffed an attempt last year at shifting his party registration from Republican to Democratic and is now seeking Republican Party permission to run as a Republican despite not being currently registered as a Republican, filed a lawsuit against the Board of Elections.  As he tried to explain the saga during his closing comments last night, Dietl blamed “de Blasio’s tentacles” as responsible for the adverse Board of Elections ruling.  Of the judge who heard his lawsuit Dietl said “the judge looked like Charlene de Blasio (sic) and as soon as I saw her … I knew I had a problem.”

Here is Dietl’s closing statement:

Speaking with reporters afterwards, and here responding to Politico’s Azi Paybarah, Dietl defended his comment:

Update – Faulkner:

Michel Faulkner was asked (by Politico’s Azi Paybarah) about Dietl’s comment during a post-forum press Q&A, terming it “offensive” and “could be borderline racist.”  Faulkner nonetheless unambiguously expressed affection for Dietl, concluding his remarks by saying “put that down, make sure you say ‘I love Bo.'”  The brief exchange also featured a interruption by a Dietl staffer, which Faulkner brushed aside.

Ulrich For Dietl



New York City Council Member Eric Ulrich today endorsed Bo Dietl for mayor, supporting Dietl in a race that he may not get to run.  Dietl’s hope of running in the Republican primary depends on receiving a waiver, known as a Wilson-Pakula, from the Republican county committees in at least three of New York City’s five counties.

This was a good get for Dietl, attracting a decent amount of press interest in a race that has attracted limited attention.  There’s a very small pool of Republican elected endorsements available, as Ulrich is one of only seven nine elected Republicans (excluding President Trump) from New York City.  He’s the second to endorse a mayoral candidate, with Assembly Member Ron Castorina having endorsed Paul Massey.

Continue reading Ulrich For Dietl

Dietl Q&A: The Labor Edition



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl spoke with the press today following an appearance at District Council 1707/AFSCME.  Labor Press and AM 970 The Answer hosted a “Labor Appreciation Day” which included a panel on the future of Rikers Island.  Dietl, along with Michael Palladino of the Detectives Endowment Association, Elias Husamadeen of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association and Gregory Floyd of Teamsters Local 237 were panelists and former police and corrections commissioner Bernard Kerik moderated.

Although Dietl’s press advisory promised a joint press conference with Kerik, Kerik departed immediately after the panel and did not participate in the press Q&A.

Topics included Kerik and how Dietl reconciles his criticism of Mayor de Blasio’s “corruption”, Kerik’s comment that children should be specifically taught how to safely interact with police, the continuing possibility of Dietl running in the Republican primary and possible union support, the “raise the age” initiative and mayoral control of schools.  Here’s the wide ranging post-panel Q&A with Dietl:

Dietl’s Wilson-Pakula, Continued



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl continues his effort at seeking a Wilson-Pakula, which would enable him to run in the Republican primary.

Under New York election law candidates may seek to run on the line of a party that they’re not registered in only with the permission of the party, granted via a “Wilson-Pakula” waiver. Dietl, who initially wanted to challenge Mayor de Blasio in the Democratic primary, ended up as a man without a party after the Board of Elections rejected the form he submitted seeking to change his registration from Republican to Democratic as improperly completed. Dietl now plans to run on a self-created ballot line, “NYC Cares” while also seeking the Reform Party and Conservative Party lines.  (Prior reports are here and here.)

Speaking after a panel discussion on Rikers Island at a “Labor Appreciation Day” at D.C. 1707/AFSCME Dietl didn’t offer much detail but he did make clear that he continues to seek a Republican Wilson-Pakula.  He also distances himself from political parties, however, calling himself a “moderate conservative Democrat” who has “evolved” away from the GOP.  Today he said that he envisions himself in a position “where I don’t have to kiss Democrats or the Republicans butts, you know what I’m saying, I wanna kiss the peoples butts.”

Here are excerpts of Dietl’s comments to me and Laura Nahmias of Politico:

Dietl & A Wilson-Pakula



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl continues seeking a Wilson-Pakula and the ability to run in the Republican primary.  (Background is here.)  I asked Dietl about his ongoing effort during a press conference on Thursday.  He made clear that he’s still seeking one, but offered little on how he’s progressed in obtaining the support of at least three of the five Republican county committees.