It is common knowledge that super market mogul John Catsimatidis is planning to run for mayor in 2009 as the Republican Party representative. A few other names have been floated around but none of the others seemed very serious or viable.
One of the names occasionally mentioned was Bruce Blakeman, a Long Island republican virtually unknown in NYC and who has close ties to the Bush family. For a variety of reasons, Blakeman was never considered a serious contender due to his being a recent transplant to the city, for being too conservative, and for not really having the personal resources that would give a republican the advantage in this race.
However, he has been considered a potentially good candidate for comptroller - a position republicans rarely run for even while this position is far better suited to a republican and is a race we could be more competitive in.
Now the Blakeman for Mayor rumors have resurfaced in a blog entry on the Newsday site Spin Cycle (scroll down a way). No other detail is provided which makes one wonder if this isn't the old rumor just being recycled.
After all, Catsimatidis has been preparing to run for many months now, has begun putting his political team in place, has almost unlimited resources for the race which gives him a major advantage over the dems (and any potential republican challenger), and is much more in line with the social positions of most NYC voters, being more moderate than Blakeman (and which is necessary for a republican to win a citywide election like Rudy and Bloomberg).
Meanwhile, Catsimatidis business success shows an acumen for management that city voters have come to expect in their chief executive - a strength that none of the dems nor Blakeman can demonstrate. Blakeman has not exactly been a slouch in the business field, and would make a very respectable candidate for comptroller and working with Catsimatidis would be two-thirds of a very strong ticket.
Add in a candidate like J.C. Polanco for Public Advocate and the republican would have their strongest citywide ticket..... ever.
Let's hear some republican feedback on the Catsimatidis-Blakemane-Polanco ticket.
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written by Daniel Peterson , September 09, 2008
Is JC thinking of running? There's already a candidate for PA out there.
Alex Zablocki.
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written by Reaganite , September 09, 2008
My info is that Polanco is seriously considering a run and would be an excellent candidate. He has much more seasoning than the guy from SI. He's a lawyer and works well with many dems. He's also a commissioner at the BOE and works for Tedisco so he has tremendous experience.
He is sort of like a republican Obama, except he is actually qualified for the position he seeks.
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written by Reaganite , September 09, 2008
Catsimatidis is far more than a bored rich guy. He is a man who meets challenges head on and knows how to run many successful businesses at the same time, making him more qualified than mayor Mike.
He is also more conservative than Mike, having been close to Reagan in the 80's. That he is friends with some dems is not a character flaw nor a disqualifier for office. In fact, that he can work with people across the aisle is a testament to ability as a leader (not to mention some dems greed).
If anyone has any doubts they should meet his family, a bunch of serious rock-ribbed republicans if ever there were any.
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written by Reaganite , September 09, 2008
First I agree that Bloomberg has not been a terribly good mayor. He ha spushed th elevel of government intrusiveness to an all time high and lied about his tax inceases being a temporary measure after 9/11.
I do not see that John C will be the same. His roots are much more down to earth and he is not the elitist that Bloomberg is. I strongly believe that he values things like loyalty and will be true to the republican party.
One clear indicator is who each surrounds himself with. Bloombergs top advisors were and are almost all dems. John C is surounded by republicans. That is a HUGE difference to me and indicates clearly where his leanings will be.
Besides there are no other respectable local candidates. Who could we run that would have any chance? Blakeman is surely not the answer.
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written by Jay Golub , September 09, 2008
"Besides there are no other respectable local candidates. Who could we run that would have any chance?"
How true that is, Reaganite, but that is the fault of the GOP itself in New York State.
NY state's GOP was sold out by Pataki and his crowd in an effort to be the only game in town for NY Republicans - Andrew Mills is a perfect example of that.
NYC's GOP was sold out by hundreds of thousands of dollars from Bloomberg. He, as Robert aptly points out above, did not allow, with GOP party leadership's assistance, any candidate to run for Comptroller or PA - the place where your "talent" at the local level grows.
Both did little or nothing to support local candidates, which is the main reason why the GOP has to look for non-GOP billionaires.
Yet, John C. is very different than Bloomberg. he's a real NYC person with outer-borough tendencies - not the elitist type that Mayor Mike is. If he can just garner the energy of the Urban Republican spirit, he can win and can do a great job for the city of NY. Part of that energy can be found within local GOP candidates and the efforts of those of us who Blog in places like UE.
I hope he's listening...
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written by Daniel Peterson , September 09, 2008
I still would like to hear a bit more from John C. His support for the Clinton's in the 90s isn't a big surprise, since Clinton ran as a "moderate", and with Newt's Congress, accomplished many good conservative issues.
Republicans can support a Reagan Democrat, as a Republican against what we'll get on the Democrat's side.
John Catsimatidis Mayor
Bruce Blakeman Comptroller
JC Polanco Public Advocate
The GOP needs a "TICKET" to work on building the party. You can't leave a citywide seat empty.
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written by RRR , September 10, 2008
This is going to sound harsh but Blakeman lost so badly to Mccall I really want to hear more about him akthough Comptroller does seem more logical. Stil he has somethings to overcome. As a former legislative leader in Nassau County he oversaw the demise of Nassau County Republican control. Why doesn't he run against Suozzi? I am not saying that he is a carpetbagger. I am just saying he has not done the spade work that either Johnny Cats or JC Polanco have done. Johnny Cats has been a major business leader and supported worthwhile NY charities for decades (like the Boy Scouts, Guardain Angels and Law Enforcement Foundations) and has been helping the 5 county organizations rebuild for well over a year. JC Polanco has build a solid record of public service as a Commissioner and Legislative Aid to the Republican Leader of the Assembly and he has worked with all 5 NYC County GOP organizations. Note that after seeing Blakeman's cheezy NY commercials I think it is unliklely he will accept the number two spot which really is strange since he has not even met with Republican leaders befroe making tis annoucement.
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written by alice Lemos , September 10, 2008
HOWARD MILLS but I can see how people would forget his correct name. I am distrustful of any millionnaire, especially one who suported the Clintons and I don't want to hear what a "moderate" Bill Clinton was. He was forced to sign welfare reform - he would not have done it on his own. The GOP line should not be bought or sold regardless of what bad shape the local party is or it will remain a joke.
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written by alice Lemos , September 10, 2008
for mayor on the GOP line: have big bucks. The only requirement, in fact.
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written by Reaganite , September 10, 2008
You keep talking about John C as if I didn't say anything abou thim previously. You seem obsessed with his wealth and his friendship with Bill Clinton (it is pretty common knowledge that he can't stand Hillary).
Do you think John would be a better candidate if he were not wealthy? Or if he never made friends with any democrat? Many Republicans and and always have been friendly with people on the other side. Reagan was good friends with Tip O'Neil. Bush is friends with Kennedy. And on and on. Friendship has nothing to do with beliefs or ideology.
And if not Cats then who? Blakeman? He's beyond a lightweight and has no chance at winning. Do you really want to see Mayor Weiner. Wouldn't Mayor Catsimatidis be much more palatable?
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written by RRR , September 16, 2008
Johnny Cats thinks like a small businessman's even though he has made billions through smart investments because he first cut his teeth in buisness running low margin supermarkets. (Ultimately Not where he made his fortune) - so he hates taxes and excess regulation as much as any shop keep. He knows how to make a payroll and how to make a profit. He grew up on 135th street so he has a New Yorker's street sense and nose for bullshit too. Anyone who has chatted him up at a Republican or Conservative Party event over the past few years (and he is that accessible - just walk on over and pul up a chair) will appreciate that to the bone on taxes, quality of life issues, job creation, law and order and core values he thinks like a Republican. A guy does not fund the Boy Scouts and Guardian Angels for over two decades if he isn't basically conservative. Samething with all the law enforcement charities he supports (see http://jacny.com/Charities.html ).
Bloomie was a marraige of convenience and ultimately we got divorced because we did not have common values. People in the outer boroughs are going to take to Johny Cats because he gets it and won't wan't to shove gov't down their throats either.
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written by S.H. Walden , September 22, 2008
I have seen John C. in person and he seems like a nice guy, but someone should tell him his supermarket STINKS, especially the store on Roosevelt Island!! GODDAMN that is the WORST STORE IN THE CITY!!!
The NY GOP is only interested in someone if they have MONEY. They REFUSE to develop a farm team, therefore the likes of BLOOMBERG are able to buy the Mayorlty. They will remain a minority party in this town until they genuinely reach out to ALL segments in the city and put IDEAS over MONEY!!!!
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