Island Independents attract political stars

Frank Morano and his "Independents for Reform" group attracted a who's who crowd last night during a fund-raiser at Ariana's Catering Hall in New Dorp.

Among the speakers were State Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.

"It was a tremendous way to rally the troops going into an election year," Morano said.

MacKay spoke about the party's efforts to distance itself from controversial Independence leader Dr. Lenora Fulani, both on the state level, and across the Island.

Sliwa's speech was "incredibly well-received," Morano said, particularly his three tenets -- term limits, nonpartisan elections, and integrity tests for elected officials.

Sliwa stressed that party members should make politicians from the Republican and Democratic parties earn the Independence line.

"We should not sell our line to the highest bidder," Morano said.

Weld spoke about his record as governor, and asked to be included in the Independence Party primary with Democrat Eliot Spitzer as a gubernatorial candidate for New York.

Although Spitzer is the favorite going in, Morano said Weld would like "an opportunity to take the case directly to the voters."

Among the famous faces at the event were City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore); Assemblymen Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), Matthew Mirones (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore); Civil Court Judges Philip Straniere and Barbara Panepinto, and public administrator Gary Gotlin.

Also present were Democratic congressional candidate Stephen Harrison; Assembly candidates Janele Hyer-Spencer, a Democrat, and Republicans Anthony Xanthakis and Joseph Cammarata, and state senatorial hopefuls Robert Helbock, a Republican, and Democrat candidate Matthew Titone.

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