Republicans have filed petitions for candidates who have never voted to run primaries against freshman State Sen. Craig Johnson on the Independence and Working Family party lines.
But Nicole Gadaleta, 23, of Manhasset, who filed 531 signatures to get on the Independence ballot line, more than double the 255 she needed, declined the nomination just before the end of the day Friday, leaving it to a party committee on vacancies to fill the line. Democrats say her Facebook listing indicates she is friends with Republican candididate Barbara Donno’s daughter.
The GOP also circulated petitions for Patrick Lilavois of Westbury to run on the Working Families Party line. He filed 44 signatures, and needed only 17. Among those who circulated petitions in an attempt to deny Johnson the minor parties' lines were GOP heavyweights, including North Hemsptead GOP leader Frank Maroney, Nassau GOP elections commissioner John DeGrace, former town supervisor John Kiernan, and Mineola Republican leader Jacki Carway, whose husband John ran for North Hempstead supervisor last year.
“I am very disappointed if the Republicans tried to do this,” said Bobby Kumar, Nassau Independence chairman, who supports Johnson. But it is state chairman Frank MacKay who has the power authorize for non-party members to run on their ballot line. MacKay said he “will follow” Kumar’s lead on who to back.
Dan Cantor, the WFP executive director, called the move “the start of a new Republican dirty tricks campaign” and said the GOP “should be ashamed of themselves.“
Rick Brand
Comments (5)
Dan Cantor makes me laugh. He is a walking dirty trick.
Dan Cantor makes me sick. He has perverted the political process. I'm no fan of Republicans but I'm also no fan of dynastic entitlement and pay-to-play politics. I hope Cantor gets taken to the woodshed on this one.
Do you really think the GOP would have gone to this trouble if they were not encouraged by MacKay. Bobby Kumar is just being exposed to Frank's philandering ways in a clumsy manner.
We have the same situation in Staten Island. When the WFP first achieved permanent ballot status, the Republican Party had a few people register, and they tried to help get Councilman Oddo our line through the "Opportunity to Ballot" procedure, which was voided by a technicality. They are still registered today, and all live at the same address. They always refuse to sign WFP petitions, and sport Republican signs on their fence during elections. My answer to Dan Cantor are "You should know better that the Republicans have no shame, never had it, and never will!"
We have the same situation in Staten Island. When the WFP first achieved permanent ballot status, the Republican Party had a few people register, and they tried to help get Councilman Oddo our line through the "Opportunity to Ballot" procedure, which was voided by a technicality. They are still registered today, and all live at the same address. They always refuse to sign WFP petitions, and sport Republican signs on their fence during elections. My answer to Dan Cantor are "You should know better that the Republicans have no shame, never had it, and never will!"