Republican state committee candidates Sal Bacarella, left, Anne Marie Devlin, Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, and Councilman Eric Ulrich celebrate the opening of Bacarella’s and Devlin’s campaign headquarters last week. Photo Courtesy Kevin Ryan
Republican state committee candidates Sal Bacarella and Anne Marie Devlin were joined by Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Republican mayoral hopeful Joe Lhota to open their campaign headquarters in Bayside on Saturday.
Bacarella and Devlin are running against County Chairman Phil Ragusa and former Board of Elections Commissioner Judith Stupp. State committee members, which are unpaid positions, play a number of different role in politics, including helping to decide who the county taps to back in campaigns.
“It’s very important that we change and expand the Republican Party in New York, and we’re going to start right here in Queens,” Lhota said in a prepared statement. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we get the right leaders elected.”
There are currently nine committee races across the borough, including the bid by Bacarella and Devlin in the 26th Assembly District.
“Today, we’ve come together to take the first step in not only restoring integrity to our great Queens County GOP, but to also become the new standard of fair dealing for Republicans throughout our city,” Bacarella said of the party that tends to split into two camps: one that aligns with Ragusa and another that identifies with Ulrich. Among numerous disagreements, the Ragusa camp is backing John Catsimatidis for mayor, while those aligned with Ulrich have thrown support behind Lhota.
“This is our party, not just mine and my friends,’” Bacarella said. “To make the Queens Republican Party something to be proud of again – a party in which everyone has a voice – we need to work together. We can make sure this Grand Old Party thrives in this magnificent county of Queens, for our children and grandchildren.”
