Category Archives: Michel Faulkner

2017 Mayoral Race Photo Retrospective



The 2017 mayoral election is over, but the photos live on.

Our photo retrospective covers the race from a 2016 endorsement of Bill de Blasio and a January 2017 appearance by Paul Massey through election night.  I’ve chosen this selection from the more than 100 campaign events I attended.

Four aspiring Republican mayoral candidates at a March forum hosted by the Columbia College Republicans. None of the four made it to the Republican primary or general election.

Continue reading 2017 Mayoral Race Photo Retrospective

Republican Candidates Pledge Civil Debates



Republican candidate for public advocate J.C.Polanco and Republican candidate for comptroller Michel Faulkner each pledged that their respective debates this week will be far more civil and controlled than last week’s mayoral debate.  That debate has been widely criticized for its raucous tone.  Speaking just ahead of a Queens County Republican “unity breakfast” Saturday both candidates criticized the mayoral debate and expressed confidence that their debates will be different.  Polanco and Faulkner debate their respective Democratic opponent this week. Continue reading Republican Candidates Pledge Civil Debates

Queens GOP Unity



The Queens Republican Party held a “unity breakfast” Saturday, drawing all three citywide Republican candidates, Nicole Malliotakis, J.C. Polanco and Michel Faulkner, Borough President candidate William Kregler and City Council candidates Joe Concannon, Bob Holden and Konstantinos Poulidis.  The breakfast drew a small audience primarily composed of Queens GOP district leaders.

Continue reading Queens GOP Unity

Dietl For Faulkner



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl offered a seemingly impromptu endorsement of Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner last night.  Both candidates had just exited a candidate forum at St. John’s University, with Dietl headed off after speaking to a few reporters.  As Faulkner stepped forward to speak with the press Dietl returned and made his statement.

Faulkner did not reciprocate with an endorsement of Dietl’s independent candidacy.  After ending his mayoral campaign and switching to the comptroller’s race Faulkner initially endorsed Paul Massey.  He has not formally endorsed Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis, but he has expressed support for her.  At a joint August 4th press conference Faulkner said that “we all hope and pray [that Malliotakis] will be our next mayor.”

Queens Trib Forum Lightning Round



The Queens Tribune and St. John’s University hosted an unusual candidate forum Tuesday evening, putting Democratic and Republican mayoral, comptroller and public advocate candidates together on stage for two hours.  Participating candidates included mayoral candidates Nicole Malliotakis, Bo Dietl, Sal Albanese, David Bashner and Mike Tolkin, comptroller candidates Scott Stringer and Michel Faulkner and public advocate candidates David Eisenbach and J.C. Polanco.

We’ll begin near the end, with the Lightning Round questions:

Update – Full Forum:

Here is the full forum:

Malliotakis Matching Funds?



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis said that she is closing in on qualifying for matching funds from the Campaign Finance Board, but has not yet met one of the two required thresholds.  According to Malliotakis she has surpassed the requirement of receiving contributions from at least 1,000 City residents, but she has not yet received qualifying contributions of at least $250,000.  (Qualifying contributions are contributions from City residents, but limited to$175 per contributor.)

Qualifying for matching funds is very important for Malliotakis: as of her July 15th filing she had raised $344,000 but an analysis by Politico estimated that she could additionally receive slightly more than $600,000 if she qualifies for matching funds on the contributions reported through July 15th.  (Subsequent contributions would generate additional matching funds.)  The Campaign  Finance Board will make the determination of whether she qualifies based on her filings; the next is due August 11th.

Faulkner faces deep financial challenges in his campaign, as his campaign committee is insolvent.  His campaign is $90,000 in debt (in addition to loans of about $150,000 from Faulkner) after raising just $93,000.  I asked Faulkner about his campaign’s financial condition.

Video:

Here’s what Malliotakis and Faulkner had to say:

Malliotakis & Faulkner Press Conference



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis and Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner held a joint press conference Thursday, condemning Mayor Bill de Blasio for what they termed “pay-to-play” and his administration’s engagement with Harendra Singh.  Singh is enmeshed in a variety of legal troubles, including criminal charges that he bribed Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and accusations that he improperly sought assistance from the de Blasio administration while operating the restaurant Water’s Edge.  (Prosecutors declined to bring any criminal charges after reviewing the Water’s Edge accusations.)

Malliotakis and Faulkner are likely to be the Republican nominees for their respective offices, without having to run in a primary.

Video:

Here is the full press conference:

Massey & Faulkner Cross Endorse



Republican mayoral candidate Paul Massey and Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner exchanged endorsements today at a City Hall press conference.  Faulkner had been a mayoral candidate competing against Massey, but announced a switch to the comptroller’s race just over a week ago.  Faulkner does not currently face any other Republican comptroller candidates and he and party leaders expect that he will not have a primary.  Massey currently expects to face Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis in a Republican mayoral primary. Continue reading Massey & Faulkner Cross Endorse

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

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)

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)

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