A Republican Will Run in Vallone Country
Welcome Republican operative Robert Hornak officially to the 2009 race for City Council.
Hornak, who has been raising money to run for the Astoria seat that Peter Vallone Jr. will be term-limited out of, is having a kick-off event on February 2 featuring: Niger Innis, Herb London, Queens G.O.P. leader Phil Ragusa, and the unmistakable Curtis Sliwa.
Astoria has been electing the Vallone family—generally conservative (like on the graffiti issue!) Democrats—for generations, which has exposed Peter Jr. to some criticism from the left.
But in 2009, there won't be a Vallone on the ballot in Astoria, since Peter’s brother Paul is running for a City Council seat in Bayside.
Hornak has been diligently toiling away in Republican circles for years and currently works for Republican Assemblyman and Minority Leader leader Jim Tedisco.
The question this race won’t be whether Hornak is Republican enough, but if a district that has elected right-leaning Democrats will vote for a someone with similar views, who happens to be in the other party.
Here’s Hornak’s announcement, which he emailed to supporters this morning:
Our very own Robert Hornak, former NYYRC President, Chairman Emeritus and valued YR advisor has declared his candidacy for City Council in Astoria, Queens. This is a very exciting event for this Club as one of our most prominent members sets out to seek public office in a race where he will be a very competitive candidate and has a very good chance of winning. This seat, currently held by the term-limited Peter Vallone Jr., is the most conservative district in the city currently represented by a democrat. Please give Robert your support in this challenging endeavor as he will surely need all our support in order to be victorious in this race. His kick-off fundraiser is on Monday, February 4th and we are urging all the members and supporters of the NYYRC to turn out in force to help send Robert to be our voice in the NY City Council!!
Please join special guest hosts
Hon. Anthony Coles
Niger Innis
Dr. Herbert I. London
Hon. Phil Ragusa
Curtis Sliwa
and the entire host committee* at a cocktail reception in honor of
Robert Hornak
as he officially kicks off his campaign for City Council and introduces the 2009 Urban Republican Platform.
Monday, February 4, 2008 Woman's National Republican Club
3 West 51st Street
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Suggested Contribution
$100 - $500 per person
($50 - $100 special rate for Young Republicans)
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.1
- 41.9
- Obama +4.2
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 32.7
- +23.0
- McCain
- 52.4
- 34.7
- +17.7
Wow, what a city council candidate he'll make!
His "billing" and "consulting" got 2005 Council candidate Vivianna Hernandez a $22,000 fine from the CFB.
Can't wait to see what kind of creative stuff he does with his own CFB filings. The CFB attorneys will be laughing for years to come!
In case anybody hasn't noticed - Astoria has changed. It is quite vibrant with many young socially progressive voters moving into what they consider to be a "cool" 'hood. So a Republican candidiate will probably be as out of step as they are 90% of the time in NYC...
Looks like things haven't change dmuch since the Tammany days, Plunkett. And you still don't know what you're talking about. Hornak was only marginally involved in Hernandez campaign and was not her treasurer or involved in any way with her filings.
The campaigns where Hornak was treasurer all did extremely well in compliance. The record speaks for itself.
For God's sake (oops, I hope you're not offended), grow up! This city's been dominated by the Democrats for how long, and what has that wrought?
City Council slush funds;
City Council scandals;
padded payrolls with cronies and family in various offices as well as organizations receiving public funds;
development that squeezes the middle class out of its homes and neighborhoods;
multi-million dollar subsidies for the likes of Goldman Sachs;
construction sites that are "death-waiting" for anyone walking by, or kids playing sports on nearby fields;
sellouts to corporations and the rich and the powerful elites (e.g., congestion pricing; Olympics; West Side Stadium; Atlantic Yards; Willets Point).
Should I go on?
We need CHANGE! Enough of the status quo. We as New Yorkers can do better! It's time to try new things so that we can save this city for ALL who live here, not just the rich and self-appointed elite.
I, for one, will support Mr. Hornak wholeheartedly.