Posted on 09/26/2006 11:59:58 AM PDT by neverdem
In a move to keep a State Senate seat in the Republican Party’s hands, Robert J. Helbock, the Conservative candidate in a three-way race, announced yesterday that he was withdrawing from the battle to succeed longtime Senator John J. Marchi of Staten Island.
Mr. Marchi, a Republican who has held his seat for 50 years, announced earlier this year that he would not run for re-election. Earlier this month, Mr. Helbock, who was a longtime counsel to the retiring senator, was narrowly defeated in the Republican primary for the Senate seat by City Councilman Andrew J. Lanza.
Mr. Helbock decided to remain in the race, however. He stepped down as chairman of the Staten Island Republican Party to run for the Senate as the Conservative Party candidate. His move raised concerns among Republicans that he would siphon off votes from Mr. Lanza, who won the primary with 53 percent of the vote.
But in an interview yesterday, Mr. Helbock said he had been persuaded by Mr. Marchi and Joseph L. Bruno, the Senate majority leader, to drop out of the race.
Mr. Helbock said his name would appear on the Conservative Party line for a State Supreme Court justice position, a move to prevent his name from appearing on the November ballot for the Senate seat. Mr. Helbock added that there was “virtually no chance” that he would be elected to the Supreme Court on the Conservative Party line.
“I’ve spent the last two weeks looking at the campaign strategy going toward November,” Mr. Helbock said yesterday. “And I felt that there was a bigger chance that I would be a spoiler than that I would win the race outright.”
He said that he had spoken with Mr. Bruno, the leader of the present Republican majority in the Senate, which...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I grew up on Staten Island and Marchi lived a couple of blocks from me. It's been more years than I care to remember, but I don't believe I've ever heard his name mentioned on the national news. Pretty remarkable staying below the radar for that long
This is excellent news! I knew Bob's late father. I know Bob and both were/are very fine men. I didn't vote for Bob because I believed Andy Lanza was the best candidate to hold this very important seat. I wish Bob the best of luck in whatever he does.
Senate Democrats to keep Menendez on N.J. ballot Check Putzhead's comments.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
50 years in the state Senate is astonishing. It must set some kind of record.
Thanks for the ping!
Marchi ran for Mayor on the Conservative line against John Vliet Lindsay (RINO) and Mario Proccacino (Blue Collar Populist Dem with an IQ in the single digits).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.