It's early in 2016 and Bob Capano is very active on many fronts getting ready for his likely 2017 run for the City Council
Somebody is naming names and taking their numbers --- AND --- lot's of people are making sure that they have Bob Capano's numbers on "speed dial" [Don't tell me, I don't need to know about no new technology]
If you've been keeping track of my posts and comments about Mr. Capano, you'll know that even though his renewed candidacy for the New York City Council has not been formally announced, he has readily acknowledged an interest in again being the GOP-Conservative Party candidate for the 43rd Counc. Dist. seat now held by Democrat Vincent Gentile, who will be vacating it because of term limits.
It should be well known by now the extent to which Capano has stolen the early march on any potential GOP contender(s) for the 43rd District Council seat, with his repeated successes in gaining "earned media" over local police issues --- and his deft use of local "paid media" to publicize a City-wide confrontation with the City Council Speaker, again over policing issues, which also drew in some of the local Democrats,
Meanwhile, perhaps less obviously in the "public eye," Bob Capanao has been and/or will be engaged in a series of civic-minded, community related events and activities at various locations inside the 43rd Council District, in other Brooklyn venues, or elsewhere in NYC.
FORUM AT THE BROWNSTONE REPUBLICAN CLUB
COMING UP SOON: Robert Capano will be appearing at a forum as a featured speaker at The Brownstone Republican Club, talking about "The Path Forward for the NYC GOP." No doubt that Downtown Brooklyn group sought out Mr. Capano because of the recent news that Capano had been making -- taking on the local Councilman in Bay Ridge, Democrat Vinny Gentile, over proposals before the CIty Council pushed by the Council Speaker -- as well as Capano's open criticism of the Islamist activist Linda Sarsour, a member of the local Planning Board, over her anti-police and pro-Islamist outbursts and behaviors. Also, some in the Brownstone Republicans, the Downtown Republican Club in the 52nd AD, remember their prior connection to Bay Ridge and viewed Bob Capano as a very strong potential City Council candidate in a winnable Brooklyn district. The Brownstone Republicans forum will be held on February 22nd.
WAGNER/ NYU PANEL DISCUSSION
Another of these civic events was the "Careers in Elected Government: A Panel Discussion" -- hosted by the Wagner Policy Alliance, associated with The Rudin Family Forum for Civic Dialogue. As its name suggested, it was a panel discussion about careers in elected office, and it was held in the evening of February 9th, at The Puck Building in New York City. And well-selected as a learned and experienced panelist at the Wagner/NYU-sponsored discussion was no less than Bay Ridge's own Bob Capano.
SOME OF CAPANO'S RESUME
Most Brooklyn Republicans know that Bob Capano has run for public office twice in the Southwest quadrant of Brooklyn, including his 2009 run against Democrat incumbent Vincent Gentile for the 43rd District NYC Council seat. However, most people don't know how broad Mr. Capano's breadth of experience really is.
For example, many people don't know that Bob Capano had been very active for a Republican candidate in the most recent city-wide election cycle in 2013, often acting as a frontman or bodyman, especially at Brooklyn events, for John Catsimatidis, who was then running in the GOP primary contest for mayor against Joseph Lhotta. Mr. Catsimatidis now employs Bob in a variety of capacities, but one of his principal activities involves PR work on behalf "The Cat's Roundtable," a weekly political talk show hosted by Mr. Catsimatidis.
Capano was previously active in the Brooklyn-Queens campaign for GOP-Conservative Party candidate for Congress Bob Turner; and then Bob Capano became a key operative on the staff of Congressman Turner after his successful run. Prior to that Bob worked on the staff of Brooklyn-Staten Island Congressman Vito Fossella. Bob Capano also was a senior advisor for Community and Government relations under former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz; and he also worked on the staff of the prior Brooklyn BP Howard Golden.
Not selected just because he was some politico whose only exposure to world was as a losing candidate for public office, being a backbencher, or even supervisor, on various elected officials office staffs, and/or working for a nationally known political mover and shaker; no, Bob Capano was also selected to be on the Wagner/NYU panel because of academic credentials that included his being an adjunct instructor of American National Government at The John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
E. O'BRIEN MURRAY
Interestingly, another notable panelist, who was involved in the Wagner/NYU event "Careers in Elected Government..." was one E. O'Brien Murray. Mr. Murray, aka "Obi Wan...", is a Republican strategist, who had worked for President HW Bush, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor George Pataki and was picked by some as the 2012 campaign manager of the year after masterfully managing Congressman Bob Turner’s special election to congress.
In the past, Bob Capano and Mr. E. Obrien Murray have on occasion worked together closely; and an insider has told me that the two have consulted on various possibilities involving the Capano race for City Council in 2017. Whether Mr. Murray is retained for the top spot in any Capano campaign, or in some other position as a senior adviser, remains to be seen. However, it is fair to say that there is significant mutual interest in that 2017 race gong forward.
NEXT ON CAPANO'S LIST OF THINGS TO DO
The word is that somebody named "Bob Capano" has already set up a residence inside the 43rd Council District in Brooklyn. --- If that's OUR Bob Capano, then it is an unnecessary formality, since his lifelong connection to Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and lower Bensonhurst is impeccable and unimpeachable.
The next thing on Capano's "to do" list is to arrange for some "early" fund raising events. Two things at or near the top of his agenda are a fund-raising-mailing operation and a big dinner event for some important "Friends of..." from across the city and from both sides of the aisle.
Gerry O'Brien has been consulted about the former; and YKW, a big-time retailer and radio talk show host, has been mentioned in connection with the latter.
MEANWHILE BACK AT THE OLD RANCH
Recently, Capano's main potential opponent has had some cordial exchanges with Bob by E-mail or by social media.
It's a little early to say that it's JQ's act of baring his neck to 2017's Alpha Dog; but really that act has to come sometime --- sooner or later.
It should be apparent to everybody, that having a few drinks with "friends" at the new Pipin's (as had been earlier reported on this blog) isn't quite all that a real opponent needs to be doing at this time to keep pace with Bobby C. and his efforts. Lesser efforts by any potential intra-party rival(s) will just seem second-rate and not serious. That is especially true with respect to the insights and outlooks of those in charge of giving out things like formal party endorsements.
CAPANO'S OUT THERE TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS
You see, in his own small way, Bob Capano just like Donald Trump, is completely changing how things are going to be done vis a vis the selection of the 2017 City Council Candidate in the 43rd Councilmatic District by the Republicans -- and even by the Conservatives. There are lots of problems cropping up all over Bob's Brooklyn neighborhood; and he know things need to change very fast in order to fix things.
