Tom Suozzi courts Latino vote in his bid to become NY governor

[brooklynite]

Although he did not submit his name for the party’s nomination at the Democratic convention Thursday, Tom Suozzi did address members of the state committee, and introduced people to his running mate for lieutenant governor.

“I wanted to introduce Diana Reyna who is my running mate. I introduced Diana yesterday. Diana was a member of the City Council for 12 years,” Suozzi said to the crowd. “She was deputy borough president to Eric Adams. She is the first Dominican American to be elected to any office in New York City. She and I share something in common. We are both first generation Americans. My father was born in Italy. Her parents were both born in the Dominican Republic. We both share the same values.”

On Thursday night, Suozzi held a “Tele Town Hall,” where he announced to voters that former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer would be chairing his campaign for governor.

It’s part of a larger strategy for Suozzi to court the Latino vote.

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/02/18/tom-suozzi-courts-latino-vote-in-his-bid-to-become-governor

I'll observe that Ferrer ran for Mayor (against Bloomberg) on the basis of being the first Latino mayoral candidate, and lost handily. Not sure he's really got his finger on the pulse of the NY Hispanic community. I'll also observe that he didn't put him name in for State Committee endorsement because he knew he'd come in an uninspiring third.

[PJMcK]

1. Tom Suozzi is a very interesting man

For years, I lived on NY's Long Island where Mr. Suozzi was a prominent politician. Trained in law, he was mayor of the city of Glen Cove on LI's north shore. He then served as Nassau County Executive. He lost his reelection campaign and then lost again four years later. Then he made a mistake.

He decided to run for NY Governor in 2006 and ran in a primary against the eventual winner, Elliot Spitzer who would later resign in a sex scandal. His run was considered against the wishes of the state party and it was more than a long shot. His attempt also caused a rift in the local apparatus that took several years to mend.

Later, he ran for U.S. Congress from Long Island and won. Subsequently, he was reelected two more times.

His primary challenge against Governor Hochul seems like history repeating itself. I hope he isn't making another mistake.

I got to know Tom a bit in the early 2000s when I was a Scout leader and his son and mine were in my Pack then Troop. He's very smart, friendly, articulate and he listens well. Once, I asked him if he wanted to be the first Italian-American President. He looked straight at me and said, "Every politician fantasizes about becoming President." In any event, he's a good Democrat with perhaps a touch too much ambition.

I hope that he'll retain his seat in Congress. He's an important part of the Democratic team.

[Danmel]

2. I am not a fan

He is a member of the "problem solvers" caucus and cozies up to the right. When he ran his last Congressional race, he framed himself as " a Democrat who"gets it" as if the rest of us don't. I know that you have to tack a bit center for the suburban Long Island vote, but he is just too much.
I'm not in CD 3 anymore. I've been redistricted into CD 1, which was Lee Zeldin's district. It will be an interesting Democratic primary. I worked with the 2 current Suffolk County Legislators, and know the third candidate who was a Town of Babylon Councilwoman who lost in the race for Pete King's seat last go around. The new district is more favorable for Democrats but extends from western Suffolk out to the tips of the forks, a very geographically large and diverse area.
I'm on Team Hochul for Governor. I'm hoping suozzi doesn't damage her too much in his ego driven, likely futile attempt to grab the nomination.

[Celerity]

3. Just in 2017-2020, he had around 300 STOCK Act non compliances totalling $3.2 million to $11 million

I think all that needs to be cleared up before he starts thinking about such a high powered office.

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039287987/outside-ethics-group-says-7-house-lawmakers-didnt-disclose-stock-trades



https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/Suozzi_OCE%20Complaint_Final.pdf




Campaign Legal Center

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) government watchdog group in the United States. CLC supports strong enforcement of United States campaign finance laws.

snip

Activities

In 2004, it was a party to complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission against groups like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and America Coming Together, for trying to directly influence federal elections.

In 2006, CLC testified before Congress in support of reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

CLC was critical of former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards's use of charity organizations which he had founded, complaining they were being used chiefly to keep himself in the public eye in preparation for a possible 2008 presidential run.

The group filed an amicus brief in the 2007 landmark Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, unsuccessfully urging the Court not to strike down a provision of McCain-Feingold which prevented unlimited political contributions to organizations not directly affiliated with Federal candidates. The following year it again filed a brief with the Court over a rule in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that raised contribution limits when candidates faced a self-funding opponent; the group favored the rule, which was struck down by the Court.

In 2010, CLC joined with another watchdog group, Democracy 21, in asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a tax exempt social welfare group run by Karl Rove.