it appears thomas and ryan gargiulo are not up to the task either?
Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announces he will resign
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Conservative Tom Gargiulo suspends campaign for Suffolk legislative seat
Tom Gargiulo has suspended his campaign for the Suffolk County Legislature's 14th District seat. Photo Credit: Ed Betz
A Conservative Party candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature who lost his own party's ballot in last month's primary election has suspended his campaign, even though his name will stay on the Democratic ballot line in November.
Tom Gargiulo was designated as candidate for the 14th District as part of a Democratic-Conservative cross-endorsement deal to take on incumbent GOP Legis. Kevin McCaffrey, who had the minor party line in the past. McCaffrey waged a Conservative write-in campaign, winning the June 25 contest 186-146.
Gargiulo’s decision to suspend his campaign came to light after Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk County Democractic chairman, sent an email to party members last week announcing the cancellation of a $150-a-head Gargiulo fundraiser set for July 11 in Lindenhurst.
Schaffer said Gargiulo re-evaluated his campaign after the primary loss diminished his chances of winning on just the Democratic line.
Gargiulo was upset about the harshness of the political attacks during the primary especially on the issue of abortion, which he opposes because of his Catholic faith.
“It really hurt, and it was hard for me,” said Gargiulo, a retired teacher who is active in church work. He said he plans to send a letter to Conservative voters to make clear his stand.
McCaffrey said he has “no regrets” about his campaign, adding that Gargiulo — by accepting the Democratic ballot line — “had to expect some of the splatter” from the party’s liberal stands on such issues as late-term abortion and voting rights for felons.
“I never really wanted to campaign against Tom,” said McCaffrey, who has known Gargiulo for 30 years. “I’m just glad it came to this happy ending.”
He also said the move lets Democrats redirect resources to other tight races like the 8th District, where Republican aide Anthony Piccirillo also won his write-in bid against incumbent Legis. William Lindsay III (D-Oakdale).
Although he faces only token opposition, McCaffrey said he will keep knocking on doors.
“I may not out wear out another pair of shoes," he said, "but I’ll still be at the doors because that’s where you hear unfiltered what's on the minds of regular people.”
Gargiulo noted he also still has the Independence Party ballot line and he expects friends to vote for him.
“You never know,” he said.
Rick Brand has covered Suffolk life, government and politics for 37 years.
Puerto Rico’s embattled Gov. Ricardo Rossellóannounced on Wednesday he will resign from office amid mass protests on the island after offensive text messages between him and members of his administration leaked to the press.
Rosselló announced he would step down effective Aug. 2 in a Facebook video Wednesday night.
He’ll be the first governor to resign the post in the modern history of Puerto Rico.
In the messages leaked to the press, Rosselló called former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who is from Puerto Rico, a “whore” in Spanish. He has since apologized.
Rosselló’s chief fiscal officer, Christian Sobrino Vega, wrote in another message that Ricky Martin, the island’s gay superstar singer, “is such a male chauvinist that he f—ks men because women don’t measure up.”
The messages drew outrage from Puerto Ricans, who formed mass protests in the streets of San Juan, calling for Rosselló’s resignation.
The island is also reeling from damage caused by Hurricane Maria two years ago and a recession that has stretched for more than a decade.
Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez will become the new governor.
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