By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
The Bayside Republican Club, one of the oldest organizations of its kind in Queens, is expanding its focus under a new name: the Northeast Queens Republican Club.
The Republican Party club, established in 1894, officially registered its new name last month in recognition of the group’s present-day membership base that stretches from Flushing to Little Neck.
“Under the Bayside Republican Club name, the people outside of Bayside felt they were not part of the Republican club in their area,” said Janet Malone, the club’s president, who lives in Flushing.
“To me, it’s a big step,” she said of the name change.
Beyond the moniker, the 230-member group hopes to unify a large area of council, Senate and Assembly districts under the common goal of getting Republicans elected to political office.
“There’s very little representation of Republicans in Queens,” said Malone, who pointed out that her club had successfully supported state Sen. Frank Padavan, former Councilman Mike Abel and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The club is helping Phil Ragusa, an accountant from Beechhurst and a member of the organization, run against City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) in the next election for the Council seat.
The club gets candidates on the ballot through petition drives, raises funds and campaigns for them on election day, said Malone.
Sitting in her Bayside office surrounded by photos of herself and fellow club members with the city’s most prominent Republicans, Bloomberg and former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Malone said she hoped to channel the spending power of the growing Asian community into a politically savvy movement that could get its candidates elected.
The Bayside Republican Club backed candidate Meilin Tan in the last Assembly race against Barry Grodenchik (D-Flushing), who ultimately won.
Despite the setback, and the often fractious relations between Chinese and Korean groups, Malone saw the borough’s Asian population as a natural constituency to receive what she saw as the Republican Party’s message of self-reliance.
“They believe in our ideals,” said Malone, who has been invited to speak to an Asian group in downtown Flushing about how to run political candidates.
“They want somewhere to go. They want to be a part of this system,” said Malone. “A lot of them are quiet Republicans.”
The Northeast Queens Republican Club will celebrate its new name and expanded mission with a party at the Reception House in Flushing on Thursday, May 22.
Between her vice presidency of the East Flushing Civic Association and her membership on the boards of Community Board 7 and several other organizations, the busy Malone has not slowed in her dedication to the Republican club even after the death three weeks ago of her husband Tim.
“He was always behind me,” said Malone. “That’s why I’m going on with this.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 1-718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
