Catsimatidis Endorsed By Liberal Party; Gets No from Conservative Party

The Liberal Party, without a line, is backing Republican mayoral hopeful John Catsimatidis.

“John Catsimatidis understands history and respects the power of a successful Republican-Liberal Party fusion in New York City electoral politics." said LP Chairman Jack Olchin. "John also understands the concerns and aspirations of all New Yorkers, and we feel he will be a people’s Mayor just like the first Republican-Liberal Party fusion Mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia in the 1940’s." 

“A member of the Liberal Party recently described John Catsimatidis as an ‘uncommon common man,’ an individual who will speak to all New Yorkers in a language they understand; with a genuine feeling and concern for their well-being that will be recognized in every neighborhood in the city and by all of us who care about New York’s present and future,” he added in the statement.

LP Executive Director Martin Hassner called Catsimatidis "a real businessman and manager who will open the city’s books as he would at any business so as to find the waste, the mistakes, the bad judgment and the total lack of oversight that has caused the budget to go up 55% in the past eleven years and forced the raising of taxes and fees to meet those expenses…mostly at the cost of our middle class."

“I am proud to accept the nomination of the Liberal Party and with their support and the support of the Republican Party create the coalition needed to win in November,” Mr. Catsimatidis said in a statement released.

Apparently, Catsimatidis earning the Liberal party line might now rule out any hope of Catsimatidis also carrying the Conservative party line, according to Chairman Mike Long. "Anybody who takes the endorsement of the Liberal Party does not get the endorsement of the Conservative Party. It makes no sense at all," Mr. Long told the Daily News. Seeking both lines would be "sending a mixed message, for sure," Long said. "You can't have it both ways."