Handing Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy a discus-sized campaign button, Independence Party officials last night officially gave their endorsement to the Democrat they spurned four years ago.
Levy, who has not formally announced for re-election, accepted the minor party backing at the Blue Restaurant in Blue Point in front of nearly 200 politicos, including leading Republicans like new Brookhaven GOP chairman Jesse Garcia. It was the monthly merting of the Third Party Club, a melange of major and minor party people. Levy was originally supposed to receive to the endorsement -- his first for re-election -- a month ago, but a last-minute schedule change forced the delay.
A gracious Levy did not menion the past. Instead he noted that his administration has both Republicans and Democrats, and he keeps his eye only on keeping costs down, preserving crucial lands and providing safe streets. "People elect us to make the tough decisions and leave things better than they were before," he said.
Rick Brand
Frank MacKay, state and county Independence Party chairman, kidded it was party activist Philip Goldstein, a perennial civic gadfly, who kept the party from backing Levy four years ago. In reality, Goldstein unsuccessfully pressed the party to back Levy back then and personally gave Levy's campaign $1,000.
MacKay also praised Levy for his serious interest in reform, recalling a visit to Levy in Albany when the latter was as a state Assemblyman. "It was in the middle of a snowstorm and all the other legislators had left, but when I walked into Levy's office he had 70 to 80 reform bills spread out on the floor--some of them sponsored by Republicans. He was on his hands and knees reviewing each one saying 'This one is great' or 'You'd love that one,'" said MacKay. "He was a kid with his baseball card collection."
Comments (1)
once again, Frank Mackay rushes to the front of the line so that onlookers may think he is leading. No Pete McGowan this time to pull his strings and force him ti endorce the puffer pigeon Ed Romaine.