COUNTY COMMITTEE COURIER THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE RICHMOND COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE Volume 1, Issue 1 October, 2011 Telling the County Committee that, “We must be the change we wish to see in this nation,” SCAMARDELLA he also noted “We must sail sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it - but sail we ELECTED NEW must and not drift nor lie at anchor.” He exhorted the Committee to “… Do COUNTY CHAIR more than belong to this organization: Participate. Do more than care: Help. Do y a unanimous vote, Robert more then believe: Practice. Do more than Scamardella was elected Chairman of dream: Work.” In advocating unity, he the Richmond County Republican B remarked that, “Coming together today is a Committee at its recent Convention. Over 600 beginning. Keeping together is progress, people attended the event on September 26th working together is success.” at the Hilton Garden Inn. Calling for a “grand Republican Scamardella was nominated by former Renaissance,” he advocated an organized Congressman Guy Molinari and it was outreach to conservative Democrats, Latinos, Congressman Grimm who seconded the blacks, women and the young. Noting he is nomination. Outgoing Chairperson Mary “more about winning over than defeating Reilly presided over the election process. someone,” the new Chairman’s goal was to In his inauguration speech, Mr. “convince and not necessarily to conquer.” Scamardella struck on several themes. After He asked the committee to always act with thanking many, he referenced his relationship “integrity and sincerity” stating that “for me, with Guy Molinari by noting that “Guy will politics is not about big money or power have the Chairman’s ear. The Chairman’s games, it is about improving people’s lives.” brain will be his own.” He then spoke about the great unifying principle of Republicanism stating that “We I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE believe the course to follow in taxation is not 1 Scamardella Elected New to destroy those who have achieved success but to create conditions under which County Chair everyone will have a better chance to be 2 Aversa/Giovinazzo Elected successful.” He concluded by saying that “I say to those members of the middle class and New Vice Chairs the poor that as we struggle to cure the 2 County Committee Expanded illness that besets our economy, government spending and regulation is not the doctor, 3 Donovan Campaign in Stretch Run government spending and regulation is the 3 About the Courier disease and Republicanism is the cure.” After the convention, the packed 3 Chairman's Chatter house moved to an adjoining room for a reception that was attended by hundreds. County Committee Courier 1 AVERSA, COUNTY GIOVINAZZO COMMITTEE ELECTED EXPANDED VICE-CHAIRS TO 636 ursuant to party bylaws, the County LAGAZZO, PAOLERCIO Committee elected two Vice- LAUDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS P Chairpersons, one male and one he new party Chairman and his two female. At the recent Convention, Frank Vice-Chairs formed a Political Action Aversa and Lisa Giovinazzo were Committee (PAC) called the "Staten unanimously elected for those posts. T Island Political Alliance" with the express Aversa is the owner of Aversa purpose of expanding and revitalizing the Brothers Construction, a national firm County Committee. specializing in construction of food They raised money for the effort, processing plants. A relative newcomer to secured a headquarters and equipment and party politics, Aversa has been a major went about the task of recruiting County organizer and fundraiser since late 2009. In Committee candidates. They came in droves speaking of his vision for the party Aversa from a coalition that included the Molinari said, “It is time for us to usher in a new era, Republican Club, the Tea Party, existing broadening our communications strategy in committee members and many from a bevy of order to reach out to previously ignored elected officials. A few dozen came simply voters to spread our message and inspire a from reading about the effort in the new generation of Republicans.” newspaper. Giovinazzo is a former news anchor The monumental effort involved for Bloomberg News and NY1 and is now a coordinating hundreds of volunteers to practicing attorney. She has been involved in “walk” Election Districts to secure the party politics for many years and was a necessary signatures to gain County former candidate for the NYC Council. In Committee status. The endeavor began in commenting on her election, Giovinazzo said, March when Scamardella announced his plans “I have been heartened by the number of and reached its crescendo in June and July Republicans seeking to get involved in the during the petition-gathering process. Said process. The challenge is to harness this Scamardella, “We were at headquarters from enthusiasm and commitment while turning it early morning to late at night for almost two into victory for Republican candidates.” months. There were many people who Other officers elected by the County volunteered but I would be remiss if I didn’t Committee were John Shall, CPA, Treasurer mention Lillian Lagazzo and Roseann and Fran Gervasi, Secretary. The Committee Paolercio who practically lived at also elected Zone Leaders and the Chairman headquarters during the effort." The quest announced his appointments. Also introduced ended with the County Convention on at the convention were the District Leaders September 26th. and State Delegates who were selected Ultimately, 636 people were qualified through the petition signature process. More as County Committee members which more about these folks in future issues. than doubled the existing Committee. County Committee Courier 2 DONOVAN ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN IN COURIER his newsletter, The County Committee STRETCH RUN Courier (CCC), is intended to keep ith Supreme Court Judge Candidate TCounty Committee persons informed Joseph Maltese receiving a cross- about relevant committee and political news. W endorsement, the only contested It will be published and distributed quarterly race this Election Day involves District in October, January, April and July. Initially, Attorney Dan Donovan. it will be sent by snail mail. Our goal would On November 8th, we all go to the be to send it electronically beginning with the polls to vote in a very important election for 5th issue next October. Staten Islanders and the Republican Party. In this connection enclosed is a list of When Dan Donovan was elected District County Committee persons for whom we do Attorney, eight years ago, he ended a 40 year not have an e-mail address. All persons on the run during which the Democrats held the list are asked to call Committee Secretary office. The short term job of all County Fran Gervasi at 718-442-0900 and advise her Committeepersons is to get out and vote for of your e-mail address. Your anticipated Dan Donovan and make sure all their family cooperation is appreciated. and friends do the same. In seeking a third term, Donovan was CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER denied the Conservative Party nomination for reasons that still confuse. No one has doubted THE Mr. Donovan’s solid conservative credentials but, it seems, the fact that he disqualified DEMOCRATS himself from prosecuting a certain matter, involving a friend, caused the rebuke. Others ARE COMING! see the disqualification as a mark of hey're coming after us with everything exceptional integrity. they’ve got. Donovan’s office has become a Progressive Democrats (we used to prosecutorial model as it boasts the highest T call them Liberals) have made it clear they felony conviction rate in New York City. will present a well-funded and unified effort Meanwhile, Staten Island has been named by to retain the Presidency and Senate, while the FBI as the safest community with a taking back the House of Representatives. In population between 450,000 and 500,000. a recent e-mail to supporters, Nancy Pelosi As stated, Mr. Donovan’s integrity said: “Just over two weeks from now, we'll credentials are superlative. Quite simply, he is be one year out from the 2012 election. The the perfect prosecutor and a man of whom (money we contribute) today will help Republicans can be very proud. The time for determine how many Tea Party Republicans talk is ending. The time for action nears. Be we can afford to target for defeat in 2012. sure to vote for this fine man and make sure Many districts are held by Republicans who your family and friends do likewise. Also we voted to destroy Medicare to fund tax cuts are need of Volunteers to help with the Get for big oil and billionaires. With just 25 Out The Vote effort on Election Day. If you Republican-held seats between us and a can volunteer, please contact Donovan Democratic majority, (we have taken) a giant Headquarters at 917-474-4136. step down the path to victory in 2012.” County Committee Courier 3 Ms. Pelosi’s Democratic National Committee Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment? (DNC) has targeted, among other seats, that “Thou shalt not attack fellow Republicans!” of our Congressman, Michael Grimm. They he said. He never meant that we couldn’t trumpet that the Obama campaign will have a criticize - certainly we can do that, but I think record one billion dollar war chest. A recent he meant that we should do so constructively. visit to the DNC website sports a headline We live in the same Republican house; it does that reads, “Romney’s Out Of Touch Policy none of us any good to burn it down. Plans.” They are already on the attack and Our goal, when we started our quest to they are deadly serious - they want to re-energize this committee, was to bring new advance, not retreat. faces with new ideas and a strong In the face of this determined and commitment to work for and contribute to the opulently-financed effort, we Republicans party; to give our party a new start; to become have yet to rally our forces and coalesce a unified force working to advance behind a single candidate.