Bay Ridge

Donovan endorses Malliotakis for mayor

June 20, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has picked up two new endorsements in her quest to become the Republican nominee for mayor. Photo courtesy of Malliotakis’ campaign
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Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, waging a fierce battle to garner the Republican Party’s nomination to run for mayor, has picked up a key endorsement from a one-time rival.

U.S Rep. Dan Donovan announced his endorsement of Malliotakis on Tuesday.

“I’m proud to endorse Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis for mayor. As our friend and neighbor, Nicole deeply understands the issues that matter to our community and she has a proven track record of fighting for them. Whether it’s her work to make government more efficient and accountable, her strong support of the NYPD or her ongoing efforts helping residents rebuild after Superstorm Sandy, Nicole is the kind of common-sense leader we desperately need in City Hall,” Donovan (R-C-Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island) said in a statement. 

Donovan, the former Staten Island district attorney, won his seat in Congress in a special election in 2015. At the time, Malliotakis had also expressed a strong interest in running for the same seat, but backed off when it became clear that Republican Party leaders were supporting Donovan.

On Tuesday, Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) said she was grateful for Donovan’s support.

“Congressman Dan Donovan has dedicated his career to making our community a safer and better place to live. I am proud and honored to be endorsed by someone who has always puts his constituents before politics. As mayor we will work together to ensure New York City gets the resources it needs from Washington to improve infrastructure, transportation, education, healthcare and more,” she said.

Malliotakis has also been endorsed by former Brooklyn state Sen. David Storobin, who called her “the type of mayor our city desperately needs.”

Storobin, a lawyer, served in the state Senate for six months in 2012 representing the 27th Senate District. At the time, the district included Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach.

Storobin, who emigrated to the U.S. from Russia at the age of 12, predicted that Malliotakis would represent the interests of immigrant business owners.

“As a daughter of immigrants and a first generation American, Nicole Malliotakis understands the hopes and dreams of so many New Yorkers. Her parents also showed her the hard work it takes to run a successful small business in our city and that life experience has made her a champion for the small businesses immigrants create and build in their effort to attain the American Dream,” he said in a statement. 

Malliotakis’ father George is Greek. Her mother Vera is Cuban-born.

Storobin also lauded Malliotakis’ stand against taxes. “Assemblywoman Malliotakis is also a strong opponent of high taxes. She voted against tax and fee increases 297 times, saving taxpayers a total of $20.3 billion. She also voted for tax cuts 62 times for a total of $9.8 billion,” he said.

Malliotakis is running against Paul Massey for the Republican nomination for mayor. Massey, the millionaire co-founder of the Massey Knakal real estate firm, is touting the fact that he is a non-politician.

On his campaign website, masseyformayor.com, Massey is described as an amateur boxer who has run five marathons and who was always a tireless worker at his real estate company, arriving at his desk at 6:45 a.m. every morning.

The website also touts Massey’s leadership roles in several of New York City’s charitable and cultural institutions. He is the president of NYC Pops, serves as chairman of the Board of New York City’s Tenement Museum and is chairman emeritus of the James Lenox House Association, an organization that provides affordable housing for senior citizens.

Malliotakis and Massey will face each other in a Republican primary on Sept. 12. The winner of the primary will run against Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Nov. 7 general election.

 

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