Congressman Michael Grimm and BYR Treasurer Glenn Nocera

Michael Grimm’s election in the 13th Congressional District on November 2, 2010 was a showcase of fine Republicanism and grassroots activism. This was the target race in all of New York City, if not New York State. What made Grimm’s campaign important was that he was part of the Republican insurgency of the House of Representatives to defeat Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and introduce a different breed of conservatism in Congress. The seat, formerly held by Michael McMahon, is strategic to conservatives in New York. Why? Because it covers vital Republican strongholds located in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights. The location was the decisive factor in helping Michael Grimm get elected, which included Brooklyn Young Republicans who, by pounding pavement, helped spread the word.

Michael Grimm’s election, however, was one of the very few Republican victories in Brooklyn. While he and Nicole Malliotakis claimed victory Tuesday night in large part due to many Republican votes from the larger Staten Island portions of their districts, other Brooklyn Republicans went back to their homes to no avail. Phyllis Carbo lost with only 34% of the vote in the 47th Assembly District.  Brian Doherty lost with 38% in the 48th AD.  Peter Cipriano also lost with 38% in the 49th AD.

The 58th and 59th Assembly Districts had no Republican candidates running.

And, my favorite: the 46th Assembly District attempted to run a Republican Candidate against Alec Brook-Krasny, but was swiftly knocked off the ballot and Brook-Krasny ran essentially unopposed. Needless to say, those District Leaders in the 46th have some explaining to do.

The numbers can be upsetting.  After all, Republicans do have a lot to offer to New York City and to Albany. Free markets, low taxes, a revamped welfare system, and transparency all contribute to good government. But with election numbers this low in Brooklyn in one of the best years for Republicans in quite some time, a few things come to question.

1) How does the Chairman allow Democrats to run unopposed in districts, especially Democratic Chair Vito Lopez’s handpicked State Supreme Court judge nominees (whom Brooklyn Republicans always cross-endorse)? Republicans are some of the best and brightest in the borough. The question begs, why is there no effort being made to tap into and cultivate a Republican intelligencia?

2) The 46th AD leadership is weak. Not running a candidate is one thing, but dropping a candidate off the ballot is another. With the fervent anti-incumbency feel running rampant throughout the country, District Leaders Clorinda Annarummo and Simon Shamoun had the opportunity to surgically remove a career politician. The question begs, why didn’t they?

3) The low voter turnouts, lackluster campaigns and candidacies, and low vote percentages are unacceptable. For far too long, the Republican Party has been receiving far too few votes in virtually any election. The question begs, why is the Chairman doing nothing to change this?

And so, the question ultimately begs, what are Brooklyn Young Republicans willing to do to fix this?

Source: Edward Isaac-Dovere / City Hall News

A collection of elected officials in Brooklyn are backing candidates running against Vito Lopez’s preferred choices for state committee spots, putting them at odds in a race that could ultimately determine who holds the title of county leader in the years ahead.

Jumaane Williams, Tish James and Diana Reyna are endorsing Lincoln Restler, the 26-year-old activist seeking the male state committee spot in the Assembly district represented by Joe Lentol, which covers Ft. Greene, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Restler is running against Warren Cohn, the son of Lopez ally Steve Cohn, who retired shortly after Restler announced his candidacy earlier this year.

Restler is one of several people hoping to unseat long-serving incumbent members of the state committee in Brooklyn in what amounts to proxy opposition to Lopez’s leadership.

“If there was ever a moment where voters are disgusted with the status quo, it is right now, right here in New York City, in New York State, in Brooklyn,” Restler said Wednesday, during a break from campaigning. “We’re coming full force.”

In addition to the three Council endorsements, Restler has also gotten an unofficial nod of support from Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who, along with James and Reyna, serves on the committee on vacancies Restler has appointed for the petitions he is carrying. Running on a platform of reforming the judicial selection process and getting the county committee to back more committed progressive, Restler said he hopes to repurpose some of the field success and voter engagement of the 2008 Obama campaign in his and other state committee races.

The three endorsements, Restler said, fit with that approach, which he said he hoped would eventually lead to a win in September and, eventually, a replacement for Lopez at the head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Read the rest here.

In the letter of nomination, Mrs. Regina-Potter, was informed that she had been selected for her “passionate devotion to the welfare of those in need and your outstanding leadership in establishing positive alternatives for our youth. You are much admired and respected as an exceptional role model in our community. Your acceptance would provide much needed inspiration for our youth and volunteers in their continued work to improve quality of life.”

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at The Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn. For further information and reservations, please call (718) 256-4414.

Congratulations to Mrs. Regina-Potter on this tremendous honor!