Capano says GOP should unite behind Malliotakis

May 4, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Bob Capano is running for City Council in the 43rd District. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

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The Republican Party should coalesce behind one candidate to take on Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio and that one candidate should be Bay Ridge Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, according to a man running for the City Council seat representing the neighborhood.

Bob Capano, a candidate for the Republican nomination to run in the election for the 43rd Council District, said he wants to see unity in the mayor’s race.

In a statement issued on May 3, Capano called for “Republicans in Brooklyn and our city to unite behind Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis in the race for our party’s nomination for mayor.”

Malliotakis, a three-term lawmaker whose district includes parts of Bay Ridge and Staten Island, confirmed that she intends to run in the GOP primary on Sept. 12.

Capano said she would make a great mayor. “She has what it takes to make a great mayor for our city!” he stated.

Capano listed what he believes are her strengths.

“Assemblymember Malliotakis’ years in the state Legislature give her a keen understanding of the issues, policies and problems that affect this city and its citizens. Her age, immigrant roots and the fact that she’s half Greek and half Cuban, will help her relate to so many voters in this diverse city and will attract many new voters to our Republican Party. She is a tireless campaigner and a strong, independent, Republican woman who’ll fight for our neighborhoods and our city,” he said.

Malliotakis is the third Republican to enter the race. Real estate tycoon Paul Massey, founder of the Massey Knakal real estate firm, and the Rev. Michel Faulkner, a former New York Jets player, are already busy on the campaign trail.

Retired detective and TV personality Bo Dietl is also running, but GOP party leaders decided not to endorse him.

Capano is one of three Republicans running for the council seat. He will face Liam McCabe and John Quaglione in the primary. The Democrats running for the seat are Justin Brannan, Kevin Peter Carroll, Rev. Khader El-Yateem and Nancy Tong.

Earlier this week, John Catsimatidis, the billionaire supermarket mogul, announced that he is not running for mayor.

Catsimatidis ran for the Republican Party’s nomination for mayor in 2013 and lost to Joe Lhota. Lhota went on to lose the mayor’s race to de Blasio.

“I have often said I have one more race for office in me. But, after careful consideration and consultation with my family, friends and advisers, I have decided the 2017 race for mayor of New York will not be it,” Catsimatidis said in a statement.

Capano, who noted that Catsimatidis is his campaign co-chairman, said he was saddened by the news that he has decided not to run for mayor. “John truly loves our city and its people. His management skills, his financial expertise and his ability to relate to New Yorkers of all backgrounds would have made him a great candidate for our Republican Party,” he said.

Capano also said that Catsimatidis is his employer. Capano is the manager of a Gristedes Supermarket Catsimatidis owns on the Upper East Side. In addition to managing the supermarket, Capano is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“John Catsimatidis’ withdrawal from the race has opened the door for another good friend to enter the race,” Capano said, referring to Malliotakis.