State Republicans Pondering Mondello’s Future

November

Speculation around the Capitol is heating up over whether state GOP chairman Joseph Mondello will stay on after this year.

The party’s seven regional vice-chairmen held a conference call with Mondello Monday to discuss the party’s future after its Election Day losses, with Mondello asking the chairmen whether he still has their support, sources said.

Mondello received their support, but some Republican leaders are saying that the party may further discuss whether to keep Mondello when it meets in Albany on Dec. 3.

Some Republicans said privately that there are no immediate plans to replace Mondello of Nassau County, who has vowed to stay on through the end of his term, which expires in September 2009, but that a change could be made early next year after the Senate majority issue is settled.

Some of the names mentioned include Erie County GOP chairman James Domagalsk, Niagara County Chairman Henry Wojtaszek, former state Sen. Raymond Meier of Utica and Andrew Eristoff, the Manhattan coordinator for the McCain-Palin campaign.

Domagalski, though, said he wouldn’t discuss the position, saying “I think Joe is someone who has worked hard and has a lot of years in the party and I respect him.”

Others said they support Mondello and do not blame him for the Senate losses. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee controlled those races.

“I’m very satisfied with Joe,” said Rockland County GOP Chairman Vincent Reda, who added, “I haven’t heard any talk of removing him.”

State GOP Executive Director Matt Walter said he has received no sense from county chairmen that they want Mondello out.

Walter said that the conference call was to discuss “lessons learned and how things could move forward more positively in the future, but there was no major calls for wholesale changes and there was support for Chairman Mondello and support for the party structure over the past two years.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 at 4:46 pm by Joseph Spector.
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11 Responses to “State Republicans Pondering Mondello’s Future”

Jacob November 12th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Reda is as much a part of the problem with the NY GOP as Mondello is. The GOP needs to clean house and toss these bozos out.
the consultant November 12th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
you bet these are the “mustache petes” from the old
days…
tony November 12th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Speaking of mustache, Anthony Scannipieco would serve as a great Chairman of the NYS Republican Committee.
future of GOP November 12th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I would agree with with that.
Bob Fois November 13th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Republicans need to think beyond the concepts of positional power to reverse their plight in New York State.

Taxation is the issue.

It may not have worked for Liz Feld in this election but issues of municipal finance will matter at some point.

In the meantime, neither money nor a new face will save the State GOP. The state needs a maverick, someone like Tom Suozzi, and it’s shameful that the Democrats were able to bring forth such a reformer rather than the Republicans Then again, liberal Democrats turned their backs on Nassau’s conservative county executive in 2006 during his gubernatorial bid.

Would Suozzi have been any better received by Republicans?

Reformers need not apply in the Republican Party. That’s the real problem.

Thou shalt not rock the boat (ie. Greg Ball).
daniel November 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Rumor has it that Anthony Scannipieco will run for County Executive of Putnam County. He would be an ideal state chair. Which one will he choice.
ben washington November 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Don’t know if the Republicans can get rid of Mondello, but there’s an interesting story about the Feds current investigation regarding former Yonkers Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate John Spencer @ risingtimes.wordpress
nighthawk November 13th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
John Faso. He’s not a part of the Bruno-Pataki gang; can raise the money; knows the issues; and knows how to run campaigns – in the present day and age.
tom johnson November 13th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Agreed
Bruce on the Loose November 13th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Mondello, Minarik, Treadwell, what did it matter?

There ain’t enough Republicans in NYS to win elections. The problem ain’t your party leadership…it’s the growing enrollment of Dems downstate, and the departure of upstate Republicans out-of-state. How could Randy Kuhl lose in the Southern Tier? How could Republicans have lost back-to-back races to Kirsten Gillibrand. Fuggadebout it! It ain’t Mondello, and his successor won’t make a difference either.

Your last chance is 2010 with Rudy Giuliani (your better chance was Bloomberg, but he’ll stay as Mayor). Lose then, and i t i s o v e r.

PS Suozzi’s no conservative. Ask Nassau Republicans. Suozzi is AMBITIOUS and he’s doing whatever he can do to become Governor.
the consultant November 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
all republicans need is a leader who is not checking
every five minutes with mike long to see if he
approves and who is not pro life…then just like
in nyc..republicans can win by winning some dems
and a majority of IND voters…get rid of cross
endorsments and the republican party in new york
will do just fine

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