For distinctively Republican Staten Island and southwest Brooklyn, this has not been an election season to remember – from Vito's stunning downfall to the staggering inability of Republicans to convince a Lanza, an Oddo or even an Ignizio to pick up the mantle to a bruising primary that pitted an uninspiring doctor against an outcast and liberal wanna-be against a rare conservative Democrat.
This is a race we're not likely to win. We've finally done it – we've hit rock bottom.
In the morass that is now the 13th Congressional District – where Staten Island Conservatives spurn their Republican counterparts so they can cozy up to whoever the anointed winner is while in Brooklyn, Conservatives are the tail that wag the GOP dog – there is finally an interesting candidate to watch: Timothy Cochrane.
I first met Tim when he was co-chair of the Brooklyn Republican Victory Committee and I was a newcomer to Bay Ridge politics, not having even conceived of restarting the Young Republican club there yet. He always seemed to have an energy that everyone in the party hierarchy lacked. Now I know why.
He grew up one of eight, was an active Marine in the early 80s and has since been an entrepreneur, first on the New York Stock Exchange and more recently, in starting a support services firm that employs dozens of New Yorkers. He's also the chief fundraiser for Xavarian High School in Bay Ridge, working to provide a quality yet affordable education for working class families.
I wholeheartedly support Tim. As "Cranky Young Man" rather inelegantly put it yesterday evening, Mr. Straniere isn't exactly the most charismatic of individuals. Tim is the opposite. He remembers names, speaks intelligently and is truly memorable. And he's been involved in the community – and the Republican Party – for a long time.
You can learn more about him at his campaign website here: http://timcochraneforcongress.com/
My only regret – and possibly his too – is that he didn't get in earlier. Although a registered Republican, he only has the Conservative nomination. He'll be called a spoiler for Straniere's Republican line, although I suspect that Tim would have gotten more votes if he was the GOP nominee than the former Assemblyman will.
It will have been 28 years since this seat has been in Democrat hands. Back then, 17 of New York's 39 Congressional seats were represented by Republicans. Today, only 6 of 29 are. All of the statewide posts are held by Democrats; we're way outgunned in the Assembly and our hold on the State Senate is tenuous at best.
The next several years will be rebuilding ones for us. I believe Tim Cochrane is in this for the long haul. This is only the beginning. I encourage all my fellow Urban Elephants to support Timothy Cochrane for 2008 and for the future.
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written by alice Lemos , October 14, 2008
the election to the Demos! And have a nice day. What a shame this is.
written by Jay Golub , October 14, 2008
this situation is all part of the neglect the leaders of the GOP have inflicted on NYC and NY State.
What an interesting point you made, Luke, BTW.
"It will have been 28 years since this seat has been in Democrat hands. Back then, 17 of New York's 39 Congressional seats were represented by Republicans. Today, only 6 of 29 are."
has anyone ever really thought about WHY NY's Congressional delegation has shrunk from 39 to 29 over the last 30 years?
This is the biggest "shame" of the GOP and for the State of NY.
NY hasn't kept up with the same population growth going on all around the country. We've lagged significantly, destroying our ability to "get things done" in DC.
NY needs to change it's policies both to bring people in to the state and to keep people from fleeing the state. Mainly, we need to change our tax policies and our economic development efforts to make them competitive with the rest of the country.
The GOP, sadly, has as much to do with this prohibitive environment - 11 of the 12 years of Pataki/Bruno were an overspending, over-taxing and increasingly regulatory burdensome period.
To help NY increase it's status and strength as a state in this country, NY's next generation of leaders need to make these changes...and quickly...
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