Free Republic

As other competitors test the Republican mayoral primary waters, the party’s best-funded candidate Paul Massey says he’s in it to win it. “I’m the competitor for the current mayor now, I think people understand that,” Massey said. Massey spoke at an independent Catholic school in Flatbush not run by the city — a week after having hip surgery, touring the building while wearing tapered maroon sweatpants, slip-on shoes, and with the help of a cane adorned with a silver-colored lion as the handle.

The Republican field for the mayor’s race has winnowed down to two major candidates -- real estate executive Paul Massey and state Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis -- and a few longshot contenders with a minimal presence on the campaign trail. With just four months till the September primary and Malliotakis only in the race a few weeks, early signs indicate Republican Party officials may be split on Massey and Malliotakis while a contentious primary battle has quickly emerged.

In hopes of denying Mayor Bill de Blasio a second term, some New York City Republican leaders intend to rally around a single candidate to avoid a contentious primary and present a stronger challenge in the general election. Starting this week, Republican Party leaders and members will begin the process of vetting candidates who have declared their intention to run for mayor or are exploring a mayoral bid. Party organizations will host public meetings where each candidate will have the opportunity to present their ideas to party voters and functionaries. When it fielded Joe Lhota in 2013 after a primary...

A millionaire Republican is seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Bill de Blasio for the New York City mayoralty in the mold of Mike Bloomberg. Paul Massey, a real estate executive who recently moved to the city from Westchester County, launched a campaign website and filed the requisite forms Thursday with the Campaign Finance Board for the 2017 election, according to spokeswoman Jessica Proud. Board spokesman Matt Sollars said Friday afternoon that the board had not received Massey’s filing. Massey plans to self-fund the campaign with the help of donors, and will not participate in the city’s contribution-matching program, Proud said....