Bronx Republican county leader Michael Rendino (l) and former Election Commissioner Juan Carlos Polanco, Esq. (r)
Bronx GOP Gears Up To Compete For Votes
Hey Bronx Democrats, the Bronx GOP is looking to end one-party rule in the borough. At the party’s monthly membership meeting, Republican county chairman Michael Rendino tapped Robert Giuffre as the party’s full-time Field Director to organize party building activities in a borough where Democrats enjoy a 13-1 enrollment advantage. According to a party insider, Giuffre will aid Rendino in party-building activities said to include setting up voter registration drives and a state-of-the-art call center with the logistical support from the New York Republican State Committee and the Republican National Committee. Rendino reportedly made the move because he wanted to “stop people from snickering” when the Bronx Republican party is talked about in GOP circles.
Giuffre starts his new gig next Monday at Bronx GOP county headquarters at 3029 Middletown Road in Pelham Bay. The party’s next monthly membership meeting is February 9.
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13th Council District Race Gets Testy
It’s not even August and the race to replace the term-limited Councilman Jimmy Vacca, is heating up as community activist John Doyle is already calling out his competitors. Late last year, community activist John Doyle accused fellow Democrat John Marano of borrowing parts of his campaign website “without asking.”
Then last week, Doyle’s campaign posted a 81-second YouTube video attacking Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj asking “Who’s the Real Democrat?” The female voiceover asks, “What does Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj think of progressive Democrats?” before cutting to an animated Gjonaj saying, “when we have elected Democrats in this country, that is the most democratic country in the world, that use the word Socialism. It’s an insult to every man and woman that has served this great country.” Gjonaj states his anger and frustration with those Democrats calling themselves progressives because they “undermine who we are as a country.” The voiceover intones, “John Doyle believes we can disagree politically yet still be good Americans.” Progressives, moderates, conservatives and Republicans are said to support Doyle for City Council. The Bronx Chronicle was unable to get a response from the Gjonaj campaign before press time.
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Chair of the Assembly’s Ways & Means Committee Backs Blake’s DNC Bid
Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell Jr. Endorsed Fellow Assemblyman Michael Blake for DNC Vice-Chair.
On Wednesday, Manhattan Assemblymember and DNC-member Denny Farrell endorsed Assemblymember Michael Blake in his campaign for DNC Vice-Chair. Farrell’s endorsement follows those of Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper and Vice-Chair Rhine McLin, Michigan Party Chair Brandon Dillon, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum, current Vice-Chair R.T Rybak and the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC.
Blake was in Chicago on the eve of President Obama’s farewell address for a fundraising event in support of his DNC Vice-Chair bid. As a former staffer Blake was seated in the McCormick Place Auditorium for the President’s final speech. Blake attended college in Chicago and worked there as a sports producer before heading to Lansing, Michigan to work in the House of Representatives.
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Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz Commends Legislative Leaders’ State of the State Boycott
In a press statement State Senator Ruben Diaz congratulated New York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Democratic Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for declining to attend Governor Andrew Cuomo’s six regional State of the State Addresses next week. Diaz snidely insinuated that Governor Cuomo won’t allow Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein “to be too busy to attend.”
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That Infamous Chin Tilt Used By So Many Pols Solved
A Bronx political insider sent an email to Political Buzz asking why so many politicians, including the President-elect Donald J. Trump, use the same upward chin tilt in photographs. Not knowing the answer, Political Buzz made some calls. One wag who asked not to be identified said, “Electeds and candidates jut out and tilt their chins upward to hide their double chins.” Hmm…
Benito “Il Duce” Mussolini (left), John Doyle (right).
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Thanks for checking out this week’s Political Buzz. Next time, The Political Buzz looks at the campaign fundraising numbers for elected officials, candidates and pretenders running for office.
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