UTICA, N.Y. -- It was the aftermath of a disastrous 2006 election cycle. Steven Minarik was stepping aside as head of the state GOP. The top remaining elected republican official, state senate majority leader Joseph Bruno, was pushing for Joseph Mondello to assume the chair. Some Upstate republican leaders balked, saying the job should go to someone else, perhaps the state senator who has just lost a tough congressional race in Utica, Ray Meier.
The Upstate rebellion failed. Bruno won and Mondello took over. Now, two years later, after another disastrous election for the party, there is pressure for Mondello to step aside. And again, among the names bandied about as a successor is Ray Meier.
“Our party, particularly in New York, has tried to hang on to power by cultivating relationships with special interests and, in the meantime, they've forgotten that elections are won and lost by how much you can appeal to voters,” said Meier.
The former legislator says democrats have succeeded by taking control of the very issues that should have been at the heart of the republican message.
It's something every party seems to go through after a particularly tough election night. For republicans, it's becoming an all too familiar pattern. Bad results produce talk of a new state leader. Our Bill Carey says the latest discussion includes talk of a central New Yorker, who may be in line to take control.
“They've been talking to the middle class about the kind of tax relief that hits their pocketbook. Property taxes. Middle class income tax cuts. They've been talking about issues that people really talk about at the kitchen table. About educating kids. About the affordability of health care,” said Meier.
The focus soon moves to 2010 and the possibility that former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani might head the ticket as a gubernatorial candidate. Meier says that's only part of the answer
“When you think that one person's going to rescue you and be your savior, your focus becomes too narrow and you neglect the important business of party building,” Meier said.
He says he is interested in the chairmanship and does have some support.
“I've gotten some phone calls about some people who want to talk to me about my interest. But you know, for the time being, Chairman Mondello would have to resign before there's anything you can do about it,” Meier said.
And, so far, Mondello is staying put.
If Joseph Mondello were to refuse to step aside, the next opportunity for the state republican committee to replace him would not come until his term expires next September.