Although it’s still a year away, three Republicans, who are expected to go at it in next September’s primary for term-limited City Council Member Vinnie Gentile‘s 43 District seat, are already jockeying for position.
The three candidates are Liam Ambrose McCabe, who currently works in the office of GOP Congressman Dan Donovan, Bob Capano, who works for Republican Supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis, and John Quaglione, the communications director for State Sen. Marty Golden.
McCabe, who is currently a member of the Conservative Party, but is strongly weighing a run for the city council seat on the GOP line, recently spoke before the Brooklyn Young Republican Club’s monthly meeting at the No Quarter Tavern in Bay Ridge.
According to BYRC member and KCP friend Raimondo Ranalletta, McCabe shared his personal story about growing up in Bay Ridge and addressed some key issues he feels the City Council has failed the Bay Ridge Community. The issues include illegal housing conversions, transportation and the R train express, policing and community safety.
Of the three, Capano, who grew up in Bay Ridge, but now lives in Staten Island, is by far the most far to the right politically, and is a strong Donald Trump supporter. He regularly puts out press releases attacking far left Palestinian-American Linda Sarsour, who also lives in Bay Ridge and is reportedly thinking about running for Gentile’s seat as a Democrat.
Capano also delights in taking Quaglione to task for his support of John Kasich in the Republican Presidential Primary, and less then wholehearted support of Trump.
Quaglione, who ran against Gentile in 2013, responded that he is considering a second run for the 43rd City Council seat next year, but has not officially decided.
“Right now, the voters throughout the community are focused on the 2016 November Presidential, Congressional and New York State Legislative election, as it should. However, if I do decide to run and face a primary challenge, I will be a candidate focused and understanding of the issues facing the neighborhood,” said Quaglione.
