NEW YORK—The Independence Party of New York City (IPNYC) endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a joint executive committee session in Manhattan on Sunday. The Independence Party is the first political party to endorse the Mayor’s re-election bid and secures for him line “C” on the ballot in the 2009 race.
Mayor Bloomberg spoke to the 70 member executive committee of the IPNYC on Sunday at the Avalon Hotel on East 32nd St.. Bloomberg asked for the support of their growing voter base of 106,000 members including 4,100 members involved in grass roots efforts, which Bloomberg would like to recruit as volunteers in his campaign efforts.
New York County IPNYC member and organizer Dr. Lenora Fulani spoke on Sunday of her support for Bloomberg for his work in improving NYC public schools over the past seven years.
Jackie Salit, Spokesperson IPNYC- related mayor Bloomberg to the advice given by the character Laertes in Shakespeare’s Hamlet “To Thine own self be true,” saying that when Bloomberg had declared himself an Independent, he had done just that.
“This is going to be an unprecedented partnership. This is his third run for mayor, but his first as an independent,” said Salit, a founder of the party. “We both agree that partisanship is the enemy of progress. And this partnership is about moving an agenda for non-partisan reform.”
In June 2007 Bloomberg declared himself an Independent, after party affiliations with both the Democratic, and then Republican parties, and is NYC’s first ever-independent mayor. In his opening remarks to the committee he thoroughly vetted himself as an Independent, saying:
“I’ve been a Democrat, I’ve been a Republican, and I respect both parties; but I’ve never been a believer that any political party has a monopoly on the truth or good ideas, nor have I ever been in a party where I agreed with everything they stand for”
The mayor then quoted former three-term NYC mayor Fiorello La Guardia in saying that there is “No Republican or Democratic way to pick up the garbage.” Indicating that the business of the city must be done, regardless of party affiliation.
The Mayor continued, “When I became a Republican I did not change my beliefs or who I was, nor did I change them again when I became an Independent, I’ve always been non-partisan and I’ve always been open to good ideas from everyone…working together and being open to change and when there is better idea- adopt it, and when it’s not a better idea- don’t adopt it.”
Stating clearly his intention to partner with the IPNYC, Bloomberg said, “I’m very proud to be the city’s first independent Mayor...In January of 2010 hopefully there will be first ever swearing in of an Independent Mayor of New York City. Let’s make history together!”
After Bloomberg’s 15-minute speech to the committee he met privately with the five county representatives of the IPNYC, following which the executive committees conducted a vote and Bloomberg received a 93 percent vote in favor of endorsement.
