By Howard Koplowitz
The Queens GOP’s executive committee unanimously voted to endorse Mayor Michael Bloomberg for re−election on the Republican line after there was initial reluctance to back the Democrat−turned−Republican−turned−independent.
“It was never about the mayor’s competence as a mayor. It was the politics of it – how he left the party. But that was smoothed over,” Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Bloomberg, who was a registered Democrat when he switched to the Republican Party in 2001 to run for mayor and then became an independent last year as he flirted with entering the presidential election, needs a certificate called a Wilson−Pakula to run on the Republican line because he is not registered with the party. The five county GOP executive committees have to hold a convention to vote on granting the mayor a Wilson−Pakula.
Before the Queens GOP’s unanimous vote April 28, Bloomberg had the support of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island executive committees. The Manhattan GOP was scheduled to vote Tuesday.
Bloomberg became the clear choice for Queens after two potential mayoral contenders – former City Councilman Tom Ognibene and John Catsimatidis, the owner of the Gristedes chain of supermarkets – told the organization they would not run, Ragusa said.
Ragusa said it would have been tough not to support either Catsimatidis or Ognibene if they chose to run.
“If we had a credible Republican, that’s who we would back,” Ragusa said. “It’s very difficult to give a Wilson−Pakula to someone (if a Republican is in the race). It doesn’t make sense.”
Ognibene said in a voicemail message that the Queens GOP asked and he agreed that he would have been available to run for mayor if they did not attempt to grant Bloomberg a Wilson−Pakula.
“I have no intention of running against Mr. Bloomberg,” Ognibene said. “The fact that they endorsed him is perfectly acceptable and all right with me. I’m sure if the party is getting behind him then I’ll be his No. 1 supporter.”
No other candidates besides Bloomberg were nominated at the meeting, Ragusa said.
Ragusa said Bloomberg will help Queens Republicans running for City Council, including incumbent Councilman Eric Ulrich (R−Ozone Park), Auburndale resident Dan Halloran and Ognibene, who is running for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D−Middle Village).
“The mayor’s not just a fill−in,” Ragusa said. “He’s hopefully going to bring other people to our line and vote for our City Council candidates.”
While the Queens GOP mentioned city Comptroller William Thompson as the likely Democratic nominee in a news release, he is being challenged by City Councilman Tony Avella (D−Bayside). U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D−Forest Hills), who ran in the 2005 Democratic primary for mayor and forced a runoff with former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer but withdrew before the runoff was to take place out of party unity, said he would make a decision on a mayoral run in the summer.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
