14 THE QUEENS COURIER •JANUARY 24, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com politics s LHOTA ENTERS MAYORAL RACE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com It’s offi cial. Joe Lhota, former CEO and chair of the MTA, is a mayoral candidate. On January 17, Lhota fi led papers with the Board of Elections to become the 109th mayor of New York City. That morning, on his newly-created campaign website and Facebook page as well as on both his personal and campaign Twitter accounts, he made the announcement. He also tweeted an image with the slogan “A mayor for all of New York, proven leadership” and a Photoshopped picture of Grand Central’s Mercury clock with “Joe Lhota for Mayor” written below it. Offi cial White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson, (Jan 20) position at the end of 2012. Obama sworn in for second termThe ex-transit head stepped down from his MTALhota, a former deputy mayor for operations dur- ing the Rudy Giuliani administration, will reportedly run as a Republican. BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA on different Bibles during the public ceremony Among his own party Lhota is a top contender, ctumola@queenscourier.com than he did the previous day. according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Though President Barack Obama was offi cial- On January 20, he used a Bible that belonged last week. ly sworn into office on January 20, because to first lady Michelle Obama’s family. He used a Twenty-three percent of New York City voters said Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday, the public Bible from President Lincoln and another from they would vote for Lhota in a Republican primary ceremony took place on Monday, January 21. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday, which was for mayor. For the second day in a row, Chief Justice John also the holiday that marks the civil rights leader’s Coming in second was supermarket mogul John Roberts administrated the oath, but Obama swore birthday. Catsimatidis with nine percent, followed by news- percent and Doe Fund founder George McDonald Shafran’s hat in the ringBut 53 percent of those surveyed were still unde- paper publisher Tom Allon with fi ve percent, former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion with three with two percent. cided. BY MELISSA CHAN the November election if director for then-Coun- “Both George McDonald and Joe Lhota are mchan@queenscourier.com no other Republican cilmember David promising candidates who will bring sensible execu- contenders surface. Weprin. tive leadership back to the city,” said Republican A former mainstay in the Shafran is the “Working with Councilmember Dan Halloran. “McDonald has Cuomo administration has offi - Democratic lead- C o n g r e s s m a n excellent private sector experience as does Lhota, and cially announced his intent to run er in the 25th Ackerman and Lhota has done an outstanding job leading the MTA for City Council. Assembly District. Governor Cuomo, particularly in the wake of Sandy. Both have the kind Austin Shafran, 32, resigned The ESD’s I’ve developed of leadership background needed to work with the from his post as vice president mouthpiece for the experience council, business owners, unions and city agencies of public affairs for Empire State nearly two years, and the clear to get the job done.” Development (ESD) on January he also served as vision to deliver The same Quinnipiac 18 to enter what is now a four- senior advisor to better schools poll also found that vot- way Democratic primary race for the agency’s head, and safer streets ers would back several the 19th District. Kenneth Adams. and an economy potential Democratic “I’ve played a leading role in Prior, he was a com- that works for candidates, City Governor Cuomo’s efforts to munity liaison for for- middle class Council Speaker make government work better, mer Congressmember f a m i l i e s , ” Christine Quinn, cost less and produce more for Gary Ackerman and Shafran Public Advocate Bill taxpayers,” Shafran said of his communica- said. de Blasio and ESD job, “and now I want to t i o n s City Comptroller put that same record of results to W i l l i a m work for the communities I grew T h o m p s o n , up in.” over Lhota by He will take on Democratic Marc Hermann o courtesy of MTA New York City Transit/ a 3-1 margin State Committee Chair or more. Matthew Silverstein, former Assemblymember John Duane and attorney Paul Vallone — the son of former City Council Photo Courtesy of Austin Shafran Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and Austin Shafran, a for- brother of Councilmember Peter mer top offi cial for the Vallone Jr. Cuomo administration, The primary winner will is offi cially running for Phot likely face off with incumbent City Council in the 19th Councilmember Dan Halloran in District.
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