Nearly 400 from both major and minor parties showed up last week for a record-breaking Independence Party fundraiser that brought in a record $78,000.
The event, held at Venetian Shores catering complex in Babylon, exceeded the $60,000 raised by the minor party last year. Chairman Frank MacKay credited for the overflow turnout both new party vice chairmen -- Anthony Manetta and former Smithtown Conservative chairman Jimmy Tsunis, who's also finance director of the Independence Party of America.
Rick Brand
Below is ABC's Diana Williams interviewing MacKay last year:
MacKay said Tsunis alone raised more than $12,000, bringing in such new donors as apartment mogul Harvey Auerbach, former Gov. George Pataki fundraiser and developer Ronald Parr.
Also among the throng was Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius, District Attorney Thomas Spota, Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and former Suffolk GOP chairman John Powell, whom MacKay introduced from the podium.
MacKay said he had no qualms about introducing Powell, who served time in federal prison for taking bribes and involvement with an illegal truck chop shop. “Whatever mistakes he’s... made he’s paid for,” said MacKay, who called Powell “a friend and an amazing” former political leader. “He deserves to be shown respect.”
Comments (4)
AND THAT IS WHY CHAIRMAN MCKAY IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED LEADERS TODAY----DOING THE RIGHT THING IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT--YOU MAKE ME PROUD FRANK--LENNY
AND THAT IS WHY CHAIRMAN MCKAY IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED LEADERS TODAY----DOING THE RIGHT THING IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT--YOU MAKE ME PROUD FRANK--LENNY
LENNY FRIES.....FRANK MCKAY is a joke, are you the last one to hear ? Raising this money is the result of hard`work by Tsunis who has a knack in this regard. When did MCKAY do an honorable thing ? He is an opportunist, where is his candidate for President ? The latest scam to blow up in the face of the Independence movement. Watch this money disappear into his pocket while he goes on some phoney trip.
THE Independence movement..................a land from which no traveler ever returns......................