Craig Eaton
Carrion says he'll keep going, even if Independence is all he's got
Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion said today he'd continue to run for mayor, despite the loss of the Republican line on this year's mayoral ballot. More
(1)A Lhota ally resigns, creating a possible opening for Carrion
Robert Scarmadella unexpectedly resigned this morning as chairman of the Republican county organization on Staten Island, providing a potential opening for Adolfo Carrion Jr. to get into the Republican primary contest for mayor. More
(1)Republican chairs: Kelly hasn't started yet, and the Democrats aren't exactly running away with it
For the chairman of the New York City Republican County organizations, it's hard to imagine a more disheartening headline than the one from the Associated Press today.
"Who would beat NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly in a mayoral race? Any Democrat, poll finds." The poll the were referring to was from Quinnpiac University, and it showed Kell losing to Christine Quinn 48-33, Bill de Blasio, 46-34 and to Bill Thompso 46-34.
But the chairman from Manhattan, Daniel Isaacs, wasn't bothered one bit. In fact, he said they were "encouraging."
"To be polling under 50 percent," Isaacs said of the Democrats, "I think that sends red flags out and I think it firmly supports our contention that this will be a competitive race."
The Republican chairman from Brooklyn, Craig Eaton, said Kelly's poll numbers against Quinn, de Blasio and Thompson weren't indicative of the support he would garner in an election.
"He's not a candidate right now," Eaton said in an interview "I would assume that if and when the police commissioner throws his hat in the ring, it'll pick up a lot of traction." More
(1)G.O.P. chairs shift, bluntly, from Ray Kelly to John Catsimatidis
After issuing what amounted to a plea to police commissioner Ray Kelly last week to run for mayor in 2013, New York City's Republican county chairmen now seem determined to move past that idea, and are playing up alternatives like John Catsimatidis. More
As Cuomo waits for Obama, New York G.O.P. chairs scramble for 2013
Four of New York City's five Republican County chairmen appeared on New York 1 last night discussing their plans to find a mayoral candidate for next year's race. They spoke approvingly of Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx borough president who happily veers from Democratic orthodoxy, and State Senator Marty Golden -- though it's doubtful he'd risk it, giving the G.O.P.'s narrow majority in his chamber.
Until now, the main candidate recruitment strategy has been to beat the drum for New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to drop his long-held reluctance and enter the race. The push has come from former New York State Republican Chairman Bill Powers, and some newspaper columnists.
Craig Eaton, the chairman from Brooklyn, seemed indicate that the unofficial draft Kelly movement has run its course: "Until he reaches out to us, says I'm interested, I want to talk, there's really nothing we can do."
Today, the Republicans will focus their attention on President Obama, who is visiting upstate New York and appearing with Governor Andrew Cuomo. More
Young Republican says Brooklyn G.O.P. abandoned Grimm; Brooklyn chair says it isn't so
The Brooklyn Republican Party enthusiastically backed Michael Grimm's primary opponent in 2010, but the county's chairman, Craig Eaton, told me there's no truth to a rumor today that the party has declined to carry petitions for Grimm's re-election. More
(1)G.O.P. chair predicts Storobin's 143-vote lead over Fidler will grow, despite partisan disadvantage
Republican David Storobin has a 143-vote lead over Democrat Lew Fidler, after election officials recounted votes cast on Election Day, with more than 700 paper ballots still to be counted. More
(1)The hot, angry weekend of the Brooklyn Young Republicans
“We are gathered to celebrate our independence from foreign domination,” said Judge, a compact young man with bright orange hair and, like most of the men in attendance, a thick goatee. "And our independence from corruption and for reform.”
Judge and fifteen club members and guests had gathered atop the roof of former congressional candidate and vice chair of the King’s County Republican Party Susan Cleary, simply to celebrate, they all said. Also in attendance were Lucretia Regina-Potter, the B.Y.R.-backed candidate running for State Assembly against Peter Abbate in the 49th district, and Joseph Hayon, a N.Y.-9 Congressional candidate who is running on religious values. (Hayon says his candidacy is not supported by the B.Y.R., but that he is a member of the group, meaning he is on its email-invite list.) More
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