Hoffman quits Yonkers GOP
Say what you will about politics in Yonkers, but it is never dull.
This was proven true again this morning, when Richard Hoffman, executive director of the Yonkers GOP, announced his resignation from the party, saying in an e-mail that he could no longer stand the “degeneration of the political process.”
“I can’t stand by and watch what I call politics at its worst,” Hoffman said in his statement. “There are too many Ward Leaders and Republican elected officials who have put their own self-interests ahead of the Party’s.”
Hoffman, who twice ran against Rep. Nita Lowey and suffered landslide losses, did not specify which elected officials and ward leaders he was upset with in his e-mail. But in a telephone conversation a few minutes ago he singled out Republican Councilman John Murtagh and Mayor Phil Amicone.
“We work really hard to elect thesee guys and then they get in office and act like Democrats,” Hoffman said. “I guess I’m an idealogue.”
Hoffman said he has no set plans for the future, except to spend the summer “with my family and focusing on my business interests.” He also hopes to play an advisory role in a few campaigns this year, including Jodi Mosiello’s bid for City Council and former City Council President Vincenza Restiano’s primary challenge to Amicone.
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I really think Richard owes an explanation of which office
holders he is talking about..it appears that richard believes that an elected officiai owes some sort of
fealty to the party..when in fact the party should be
choosing the best candidates and then allowing them
to funciton because good policy is good politics…
I doubt any of the elected officials in yonkers who are
republicans would consider themselves “acting like democrats
and as republicans we really don’t need idealogues in\ the
party that’s the reason we got into Iraq through
ideolgues like richard whose agenda was not based
on america;s best interests
well thank you Mike! I don’t think it necessarily appropriate for me to talk inside baseball, but we have ward leaders and a councilmember who have political appointments from democrats – probably will be a conflict at some point. Others who flip flop and stand wherever they can get a pay check or a political favor. We have elected officials who talk like conservative republicans but then spend and tax like there is no tomorrow, stand with those who wish to suppress our constitutional rights, give away the store in the name of development. I don’t even need to go to the social issues so you can save that for later.
If you are going to pretend that no one owes any allegiance to their Party you are crazy. You say good policy makes good politics. Yes but I am waiting for the good policy. As you might have noticed all of these bloggers here and elsewhere are not using voting records to defend their candidates. They instead resort to personal attacks. That usually means they can’t stand on their record.
And by the way ideologues like me still matter in national politics, maybe not in NY but then again I don’t care.
Maybe you are missing the point. Elected officials are free to do as they please, correct. They just don’t have the right to say one thing and then do another. The voters will handle that part. I am stepping down because I don’t want to be obligated to support people that I don’t trust and who don’t represent the same basic tenants of the GOP that I believe in.
I suspect you are stepping down because as executive director of the yonkers repubican city committee you
would be subject to a lot of criticims if you worked
against the mayor…but I believe that you need to
consider what the basic tenets (not tenants) of the GOP
are..development for example, is exactly what republicans
have believed in if the development means a broadened
tax base, more jobs, and more tax revenues…Phil Amicone
for example is going to run precisely on his record, and
it is one of independent leadership that does not
depend on the “party” for approval but rather, depends
on the people’s approval at the polling boot…actually
that was john spencer’s strength when he was mayor
until he went off the deep end after phil fired kathy.
And of course I do respect your recognition of your
conflict if you stayed and attempted to work against
phil
But I do believe you are a bit misguided about republican
ideology…which has wandered far astray from the
original republican positions on lots of issues
to quote barry goldwater…you don’t have to be straight
to shoot straight..which of course pertains to the
army’s policy on gays…and abortion was never ever
a part of traditiona republicanism…More importantly
republicans over time would never have committed this
nation to a war for the sole purpose of toppling a
regime that posed no iminent threat…that is the
product of the thinking of neocons..who are the
ideologues of today and who have driven the bush
war policy…for reasons only they know…but if you read
stephen Sniegoski, you will understand why the
neocons are a danger to america…but good luck
on your retirement…and maybe we will get to see
your choice for mayor in the near future…but
if you think that either dennis robertson a democrat
or vinny restiano a former democrat would make
a better mayor that phil, I believe you are making
a big mistake
Consultant,
We will agree to disagree then. I am sure the voters will decide at the polling booth (not boot).
I agree that neocons influence on the war should have been curbed. Many mistakes were made. That being said I am familiar with Republican history and the traditional platform. I am also very familiar with the neo cons and the conservative writers out there. Goldwater made good points but so did Reagan. You can go back a little ways and read Schlafly on social issues as well.
By the way, I keep seeing this reference to Restiano being a former Dem. Who switched first, Amicone or Restiano?
Vinny switched to get elected..ie she was an active
democrat…phil was not an elected official when
he switched…I hear Vinny may switch back!
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