Two Republicans who are allied with the RLC are running for City Council and Borough President, respectively, in Queens (New York City) due to the lack of Republicans in city government. The Republican Liberty Caucus of New York, just this week, endorsed Dan Halloran for City Council and Robert Hornak for Queens Borough President.
“[My district] is a long-time Republican territory … the same area represented by state Sen. Frank Padavan,” according to RLC member Dan Halloran. Halloran hosted a fundraising event featuring Senator Padavan and other prominent Republicans on Saturday, April 5.
Mr. Halloran (photo at left), an Air Force veteran and former member of the New York City Police Department, is running to be the next City Councilman representing Queens, district 19. Halloran, who attended the RLC National Convention in Jacksonville, also has received the endorsement of the local GOP.
With a field of five Democrats fighting to replace Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), Halloran is the sole Republican in the race. Another candidate, Joseph Gravagna, recently bowed out of the Republican competition during a meeting of the Northeast Queens Republican Club, saying Halloran was “the ideal candidate who represents the very best in our party.”
The Halloran name is well-known in Flushing, part of the area the candidate wants to represent. His family ran a real estate business there for over 80 years. Halloran grew up in Flushing, 15 blocks away from his current Whitestone home. Halloran is a graduate of Fordham University and received his law degree from St. John’s University and advanced L.L.M. from SUNY Buffalo.
“We are in a fiscal crisis. Many city agencies could be merged, saving $6.9 billion,” Halloran said. “There are 116 agencies now and many are redundant. It contributes to a bloated bureaucracy.”
Robert Hornak, Chair of the Urban Republicans and the former NYYRC chairman and club president, is running for Queens Borough President. At his kickoff fundraiser in February, former New York RLC Board member Dr. Herb London and longtime pro-liberty activist Niger Innis were present to support Hornak’s bid. His Host Committee included RLC member Luke Vander Linden and former RLC-endorsed candidate for Senate, Michael Benjamin. RLC member Ron Lewenberg is also on his campaign team.
RLC members from across New York state will be watching these races closely, as well as the race of Westchester County District Attorney candidate and RLC member Dan Schorr.
On April 2nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Mr. Hornak Advised us all that he is not running against Mr. Vallone jr, Because term limits has been extended for one more term in NYC, so, instead he has announced that he is running for Borough President of Queens, against the incumbant, Helen Marshal, A Guyanese American two term Borough President, and Democratic District leader from southern Queens
On April 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Best of luck to Dan Halloran. I met him at the RLC convention in Florida last week and he impressed me as serious about promoting liberty in the GOP and in New York and as a skilled campaigner with a lot of good ideas. I hope that once he wins he’ll still have time to help grow the RLC in New York and share ideas with other chapters around the nation.
Dave
RLC Chair