Queens Republican Party

Queens County Republicans held a seminar on Saturday for prospective candidates looking to run for office.

And, according to the organization's director Daniel Eger, there were two surprise guests.

"Unexpectedly, also there were two Democratic office-holders who have at times been at odds with the Queens Democratic organization, Council Member James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and former Senator Ada Smith (D-Jamaica)," Egers wrote in an email to supporters.
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The Queens Republican Party has tapped Republican consultant Robert Hornak (of the independent Young Republican Club) to head lead the candidate recruitment effort for the 2008 and 2009 cycles.

"Aside from ideology," Hornak told me, describing the type of talent he's looking for, "somebody who is comfortable with public speaking" who also has "the ability to raise money."

"On the ideological side," he continued, "generally Republicans who will be reformers and fiscal conservatives. Moderate on social issues. Pro-choice, but against gay marriage. The ideal candidate is somebody in the middle."

Hornak's email pleading for candidates to step forward, is after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

It appears that Mike, having lost the Queens Republican Party's endorsement to Tom Ognibene, is mounting a coup attempt in the borough.

The people carrying Bloomberg's petitions are also petitioning for an alternate slate of county committee members led, we guess, by John Haggerty, the Queens GOP maverick on Mike's staff.  read more »

This appears to be a bold attempt to unseat the county leader, Serph Maltese, whom these new committee members would presumably vote out. But our Queens sources warn that the move could generate more interest and higher turnout in the Republican primary than the mayor might actually wish.