Marchi backs ex-rival of aide he wanted as his successor
Councilman Lanza gets endorsement of retiring state senator, who
preferred Helbock until he left the race
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
By TOM WROBLESKI
Five weeks after his preferred candidate dropped out of the race,
state Sen. John Marchi has endorsed GOP City Councilman Andrew Lanza to
succeed him in the state Legislature.
Andrew Lanza has been an aggressive Councilman and will continue the
work that I have started, Marchi (R-Staten Island) wrote in a letter
sent to approximately 48,000 GOP households in the Senate district. With
Andrew Lanza in the State Senate, Staten Island will have an advocate
who will get the job done.
Marchi is retiring from the Senate following a record-setting 50
years in the Legislature.
It's a great boost, a great honor, to have Sen. Marchi's endorsement,
for him to be rooting me on to victory, Lanza (R-South Shore) told the
Advance. It's humbling.
Marchi had initially backed his longtime aide, attorney Robert
Helbock, for the seat, and stuck with him after Helbock lost a GOP
primary to Lanza in September.
Helbock had secured the Conservative Party endorsement in the race
but eventually dropped out of the campaign.
Marchi said that voting for Lanza would help ensure that the
Republicans keep control of the state Senate, and that Staten Island
will get its fair share.
As a member of the majority, I was able to bring home millions of
dollars of funding for different projects, including traffic and
transportation improvements, the Marchi letter reads. More needs to be
done and we can only do so with your support.
Lanza called Marchi the role model of all role models for public
servants, and said he had no qualms about possibly following the august
senator in the Legislature.
It's very exciting for me, Lanza said. His example should motivate
all of us. It provides fire to rise to the occasion.
Helbock declined to comment on the endorsement because he is a
Conservative candidate for state Supreme Court in Queens and is barred
from taking part in political activity.
Attorney Matthew Titone is the Democratic Party candidate in the
state senate race. Retired Defense Department worker and Air Force
veteran Charles Pistor is on the Conservative line.
Tom Wrobleski may be reached at wrobleski@siadvance.com. Read his
polit.bureau blog at http://www.silive.com/newslogs/politics/
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