Republicans Take Center Stage at Shirley Rally

The sharp contrast between Republicans and Democrats was driven home during a get-out-the-vote rally in Shirley that featured the GOP candidate for governor and the Speaker of the House.

A stage full of Suffolk’s top officials and local hopefuls greeted Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who fired up a crowd of nearly 500 supporters looking to change the one-party Democrat rule in Albany.

“We are going to kick the communists out of New York,” Blakeman vowed. “Kathy Hochul has given us the highest taxes in the nation, and the highest utility rates. We need to stop the Socialist Democrats to save our state.”

The message of affordability was underscored by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, who reminded voters that the county held the line on taxes this year and, along with Nassau, is among the nation’s safest counties. He promised that with Republicans in charge, the county will have no increase in the general fund tax rate next year as well.

House Speaker Mike Johnson made an appearance at the Brookhaven Calabro Airport rally to stump for Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota, along with Mike LePetrie, who’s staging a rematch against Democrat Tom Suozzi.

“I’ve campaigned so much in New York that I’m afraid they are going to send me a tax bill,” Johnson quipped, reminding the crowd that the Republicans eliminated taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security. He credited Garbarino and LaLota for helping lead the fight to increase the state and local tax deduction.

“When everyone in Congress is running around with their hair on fire, I bring in Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino to settle things down,” the Speaker said.

The rally also featured countywide candidates Dan Losquadro, the Brookhaven highway superintendent running for Suffolk comptroller, and Vincent Puleo, the county clerk running for reelection.

Also on the GOP slate are Sens. Mario Mattera, Dean Murray, and Anthony Palumbo. Leading the state Assembly delegation are Joe DeStefano, Jodi Giglio, and Mike Fitzpatrick. On Brookhaven’s North Shore, Will Sussman is looking to put the 4th District back into the Republican column.

“This is the year when we turn this state around, not only for us, but for the generations to come,” Assemblyman DeStefano said. “Spending is out of control with the Democrats calling the shots in Albany. We have the highest taxes and fees in the nation, the highest utility rates, illegal immigration costing us billions. It’s time to turn this ship around.”

Joining Blakeman on the statewide Republican ticket are his running mate for lieutenant governor, Todd Hood, Saritha Komatireddy for attorney general, and Joseph Hernandez in the race for state comptroller.

Speaker Johnson said he will visit 20 congressional districts in 13 states before the election is through, but said few matter more than Suffolk. “We need to keep our country from being taken over by the communists. They want to take over our government. They want to take over our means of production. Communism and Socialism will never work; it never has. Everything is on the line.”