Former Assemblyman Arnaldo Ferraro, Chairman of the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization and Lucretia Regina-Potter, Female  Republican District Leader 49AD, congratulate Michael Bennette, President of the organization, on his recent announcement to run for Male Republican District Leader of the 49AD.

Michael Bennette with his wife Ermine, daughters Michele and Laura, and future son-in-law, Salvatore.

At a recent meeting of the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization, Michael Bennette, President of the Organization, announced his candidacy for Republican State Committeeman (District Leader) of the 49 Assembly District.

The self-styled Reagan Republican is a staunch opponent of  “Obamacare” and all other changes sponsored by the Obama administration. “It will erode the very fabric of our country which was envisioned by our forefathers as a capitalist country that encourages enterprise and entrepreneurship. I am opposed to big government and innumerable entitlements that continue to increase our national debt and damage our economy.”

On a local approach, Michael Bennette pointed out that he believes that the major “political” function of the Republican District Leaders is to elect more Republican members to the New York State Assembly. Mr. Bennette states that this task is already difficult to accomplish in Brooklyn because of the preponderance of Democratic registered voters over Republican registered voters. He also states that it has become even more difficult lately because of two additional reasons: 1.The lack of unity in the Brooklyn Republican Party, and 2. The complacency on the part of some Leaders and other Republican operatives to cooperate with the Democratic elected officials, thus ensuring their re-election and their perpetuation in office.

“The last time I can recollect that there was unity in the Party and a strong challenging determination from Republican leaders was obviously in 1984. In that year, not only were the Republicans able to elect a Republican Assemblyman in Brooklyn, but they were also able to defeat an incumbent Democrat with the help and support of the Conservative and Right-to-Life Parties. I strongly urge all Republicans in Brooklyn to set aside their difference of opinions and even personal interests, to better accomplish a long overdue development of a stronger Republican Party. I am also deeply honored to run as the candidate for Republican State Committeeman in the 49 Assembly District, and extremely pleased to run for such an important Party Office with the current, official and dynamic 49 AD Republican  State Committeewoman Lucretia Regina-Potter.”

As parents and strong advocates of traditional family values, Lucretia Regina-Potter and Michael Bennette understand and know very well the responsibilities and sacrifices of raising children and providing for their needs. Another difference between them and the four opponents running against them is that Lucretia Regina-Potter and Michael Bennette are not products of the Brooklyn political establishment, nor are they indebted to party bosses. Their allegiance is only to the community that they represent as Republican Leaders.

Michael Bennette is a Brooklyn native and a lifelong resident of Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. He holds a BA from Brooklyn College, and is a retired Production-Operations Manager in the garment industry. He and his wife Ermine, the daughter of Italian immigrants and a paraprofessional in the public school system, have two children, Michele, a recently engaged fifth-grade teacher, and Laura, a program support assistant.

Dear Friends,

As the conservative Republican Assembly candidate and the Republican District Leader in the 49^th Assembly District, Brooklyn, N.Y., I will always pledge to work hard for my neighbors and our community. The people deserve to be represented with fairness and dignity. All elected officials need to realize that public office is not an entitlement; it is a privilege that must be respected. It is sad to state that even with hard work and the best of intentions that I did not hold the Republican line during the recent primary elections.  

Many of my neighbors have told me that the results of the primary election do not actually reflect what the people wanted.  It has been brought to my attention that many voters “presumed success” for me and felt that they did not need to go out and vote because they were confident of my victory Many are insisting that I keep running. That they know I am someone they can trust. In the end it is obvious that the people of the 49^th Assembly District are extremely disappointed in their Assembly candidate choices.

The needs of the people have to remain the primary objective! This is especially true for the education of our children, the growth of small businesses and allowing our senior citizens to live with dignity and respect.  The voters of the 49th are faced with a serious dilemma: let things continue as they have been, or make an inappropriate change. Right now, neither option seems satisfactory. They have realized that their needs are once again overlooked for personal political gain.

Having never been a woman to sit on the sidelines and wait for things to happen, I am contemplating what the best thing to do for my community is at this time. We need to look forward to a better tomorrow. We need a good neighbor to work with us. We need a strong independent voice to speak for us. I pledge I will continue working to meet those needs.

Together, I know we can achieve our goals.

Sincerely,

Lucretia Regina-Potter

Jewish Press Endorsements

Editorial Board
Posted September 07 2010

Below are our recommendations for the contested September 14 Democratic and Republican primary races in New York. We have made every effort to identify those candidates who have shown sensitivity to the needs of the Jewish community. http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/45153

49^th Assembly District: Republican Party

Lucretia Regina-Potter

We endorse Lucretia Regina-Potter in the Republican primary in the 49th district. Long involved in public affairs, she is fast emerging as a leading spokesperson for many of the issues of importance to the Jewish community there, including school choice, tuition vouchers, tax credits for small businesses and family values.