FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

In unofficial results provided by the New York City Board of Elections, 49th Assembly District incumbent Republican State Committeewoman (District Leader) Lucretia Regina-Potter and her newcomer running mate Michael Bennette have won the hotly contested leadership election in the 49th Assembly District.

In spite of the fierce opposition by the County Organization that had to go to the Appellate Division of the State Supreme court to have their candidate reinstated after their removal from the ballot for insufficient signatures, Lucretia and Michael were able to withstand vicious attacks through hateful and despicable literature mailed all over the district, and malicious telephone calls.

Asked about what she thought was the reason for their victory, Lucretia Regina-Potter replied, “Their obnoxious literature back fired on them. Republican voters in the 49 AD are smarter than our opponents thought. To mention only one of the ridiculous statements in the hateful literature it will suffice to say that it claimed that Michael Bennette and I “praised the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln as a “lawful, patriotic act.” You tell me if such a statement would have been acceptable by the voter. Obviously, it was not and probably people did not read anything behind that point.

What Michael and I want to do is to rebuild our beleaguered Republican Party and to bring it back to the times when it was possible to elect Republican public officials and everyone worked united towards such objective.”

Congratulations Lucretia and Michael!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2011

Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization, Brooklyn, N.Y.

STEPHEN MARESCA ENDORSES LAGUARDIA REPUBLICAN CLUB LEADERSHIP

From left to right: Former Assemblyman and Chairman Arnaldo A. Ferraro, Lucretia Regina-Potter, 49AD Female Republican District Leader, former candidate for Male District Leader, Stephen Maresca, and Michael Bennette, candidate for Male Republican District Leader 49AD.

In the continuing saga of the hotly contested 49^th A.D. leadership fight, Stephen Maresca, one of the candidates for Male State Committeeman (District Leader) who was removed by the Board of Election for insufficient signatures, recently endorsed Lucretia Regina-Potter, the incumbent Female State Committeewoman and newcomer Michael Bennette who is running for Male State Committeeman (District Leader).

In a dramatic twist to what seems to be the most important item on the agenda of the Kings County Republican Party’s Chairman Craig Eaton, his replacement candidate for Male District Leader in the 49^th AD, Matthew Graves, was removed by a judge who ruled that the County’s petition was invalid. Graves had received the designation to run after the original candidate of the County, Marc D’Ottavio, declined the designation. This ruling was the result of court proceedings initiated by another candidate, Peter Cipriano, who also had been removed by the Board of Elections because he did not have the sufficient number of required valid signatures.

At the time of this release, it is not clear whether the judge’s decision also includes the County’s on again-off again candidate for Female District Leader ,whose name appears in the same petition that were invalidated by the judge. If this is the case, the Brooklyn Republican Party miserably failed in its intent to destroy the Republican Leadership of the 49^th Assembly District. Under the directions of Club executive Chairman Arnaldo Ferraro, a former and the last Republican Assemblyman of the 49^th AD, the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization has been able to withstand the continuous attacks of the County leadership.

The following is a copy of Stephen Maresca’s Letter of Endorsement:

Stephen Maresca

7819 14^th Avenue

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11228

August 6, 2011

Dear Friends and Supporters:

My sincerest gratitude is extended to all of you, particularly those who signed my nominating petitions for your support in my recent bid for Republican District Leader of the 49^th Assembly District. It is greatly appreciated, especially since there were four competing groups circulating petitions. Unfortunately, as the result of a recent ruling by the Commissioners of the New York City Board of Elections, my name will not appear on the ballot in this September’s primary election. However, this in no way diminishes my desire for a strong and united Republican party, not only here in the vitally important 49^th Assembly District, but throughout Brooklyn. In the important election that will take place for the 49^th AD Republican District Leaders this September 13, I strongly urge all Republicans in the 49^th Assembly District, particularly those who have supported my candidacy, to re-elect Lucretia Regina-Potter, as Female District Leader (State Committeewoman) and to also elect her running mate, Michael Bennette, as Male District Leader (State Committeeman).

The success of Lucretia’s dynamic leadership has been amply demonstrated over the past five years. Election tallies show that the 49^th AD, under Lucretia’s leadership, has not only maintained but also strengthened its position as the most Republican voting Assembly District in Kings County. Michael Bennette will be a superb addition to the Leadership team of the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization, where in the past; I have proudly served as Chairman of its Board of Governors.

The recent achievement of the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization, founded by former Assemblyman Arnaldo A. Ferraro, collecting over 1,000 Republican signatures on its nominating petitions this year, is another example of the positive energy and passion it brings to the political process in our community.

At this critical time for the future of the Republican Party in Brooklyn, we need the leadership of Lucretia Regina-Potter and Michael Bennette here in the 49^th Assembly District. Their reasoned, thoughtful , and unifying approach to political organization are a much needed contrast to the autocratic, deceitful, divisive and vengeful practices that have been consistently exhibited by the Kings County Republican Party. Between now and September 13, 2011, I will be doing all that I am able to help re-elect Lucretia and elect Michael to the posts of Republican District Leaders in the 49^th Assembly District. I strongly urge all of you to join me in that effort.

Sincerely,

Stephen Maresca