The Queens County Republican Party and Queens County Conservative Club endorsed earlier this month newcomer Simon Minching over Vickie Paladino, who are both running in State Senate District 11.
Minching, a Douglaston resident with a vast background in technology, government finance, and education, thanked the parties for their endorsements and anticipated the upcoming election.
“I am honored to have the endorsement of both the Republican and Conservative Party,” Minching said. “By focusing on issues and running a positive, data-driven campaign, we will overcome the tribalism and corruption that has beset Albany.”
The 30-year-old candidate is running with a platform that includes smart regulation, improving the education system, and reforming government ethics and transparency.
The two challengers are challenging incumbent State Sen. Tony Avella (D-College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Fresh Meadows, Bellerose, Floral Park, Jamaica, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Kissena Park, Briarwood). Avella will face the winner of the Republican primary held on Sept. 13 (Disclaimer: The author is a former staffer for Tony Avella).
Avella self-proclaims himself to be an untraditional politician who works as an outsider within the system.
“Throughout my career in government, I have prided myself on being an outsider who made it to the inside and got things done,” Avella said. “Unfortunately, in a race like this, being an outsider doesn’t get you much.”
A representative from Queens County Republican Party explained that Minching was endorsed for his bipartisanship.
“Conversely, the incumbent is a politician in the worst sense of the word. He changes like a chameleon from Democrat to caucusing with the Republicans as a member of the IDC and then slithering back to the Democrats again,” stated a representative from Queens GOP.
Minching highlighted this ability to work with people from both sides of the aisle. He pledged to work with City Councilmember Paul Vallone (D-Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, East Elmhurst, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Little Neck, Whitestone) if elected.
“I would seek to have a collaborative relationship with Vallone, which I don’t think Senator Avella has,” Minching said.
Vickie Paladino, known for her comments against Mayor Bill de Blasio for a controversial trip to Germany, pledged to stay in the race despite the lack of endorsements. In fact, the campaign released a statement noting the local GOP’s “credibility with the voters is on the line here.”
“We would not accept their endorsement even if it was offered. The individuals running the Queens GOP represent everything wrong with politics today, and I call on all Queens candidates who’ve received an endorsement to demonstrate their commitment to good government by immediately disavowing the corruption within their own party,” the statement read.
