Nassau Republicans skip state party dinner
Newly-elected Republican Bob Turner speaks at the New York Republican State Committee Annual dinner at the Sheraton hotel in Manhattan. (Sept. 14, 2011) Credit: AP
Most top Nassau Republicans skipped Wednesday's state GOP dinner, which became a celebration of Queens resident Bob Turner's Congressional win the previous day.
Key exceptions: Nassau Comptroller George Maragos, who's seeking the 2012 nomination to face Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who was one of the featured speakers.
Anthony Santino, spokesman for county chairman Joseph Mondello, said: "Nassau Republicans were busy campaigning to expand the Republican legislative majority that we won under Joe Mondello's leadership two years ago."
Mondello and company's absence surprised few if any who have followed party doings in recent years. Relations run between cool and cold with Edward Cox, who succeeded Mondello as state chairman two years ago. During Mondello's state tenure, he remained county chairman.
Members of the Suffolk organization also were scarce at the $1,000-a-plate Manhattan gala, which organizers said raised several hundred thousand dollars. But county chairman John Jay LaValle made clear that no snub was involved.
"I am 1,000 percent behind Ed Cox," LaValle said -- explaining he was busy that day with vote-tallying issues stemming from machine glitches. LaValle was coming off a sweep of primary wins for organization-backed candidates on Tuesday. To one observer, it would make sense that if LaValle were selling $1,000 tickets, his priority would be funding the legislative races and boosting Angie Carpenter for county executive.
FROM THE STAGE: Skelos hailed the Turner win, saying, "Our message was there, but as a party we have to remember to be inclusive." Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus at one point acknowledged Lawrence Kadish of Old Westbury, developer and Republican donor. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, urging focus on the 2012 campaign, drawled: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
ANOTHER TRY?: Maragos might not have been the only potential Senate candidate in the room. David Malpass, who ran second last year in a GOP primary for the seat, said: "I don't know. The thing that would make me do it is to see New York State hurt even more by the current representation in Washington." Malpass has been working for Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president.
