Bongiorno fumes at Spitzer
-
- March
- 11
Michael Bongiorno was angrier than most about Gov. Eliot Spitzer being reportedly involved with prostitutes. And not too many people were happier than Bongiorno that Spitzer’s political career could end.
Talking about Spitzer angers Bongiorno, who was Rockland’s district attorney for 12 years until losing in November to Democrat Thomas Zugibe.
Bongiorno, a Republican, still blames Spitzer for costing him election. Spitzer convinced New Square leaders to recommend they give the community’s bloc vote to Zugibe, during the final days of the campaign. Even when New Square leaders offered to split the community’s vote, Bongiorno said, Spitzer demanded it all for Zugibe.
On Election Day, 1,978 New Square residents voted for Zugibe and 23 for Bongiorno, who had been promised the vote and had received it previously. The governor’s charisma helped sway New Square’s leaders, as well as their desire to build a new community upstate near Ellenville. Having the goodwill of the governor couldn’t hurt, community leaders acknowledged. In the end, Spitzer may not be around to help New Square, as a result of the prostitution scandal.
The last-minute switch by New Square was not the only reason Zugibe won. But Bongiorno has little sympathy for Spitzer’s current woes.
“This egomaniac should resigne so he cannot do to other individuals and respected elected officials what he did to me,” Bongiorno said. ” Now everybody knows what I’ve known about him since the election. He ended my career.”
Bongiorno also noted that Spitzer signed into a law last year harsher penalties for human traffickers, especially those who forced women into prostitution. Bongiorno helped write the legislation as president of the New York State District Attorney’s Association and stood with Spitzer when he signed it into law, getting a signing pen for his participation.
“He’s a phony … and a hypocrite,” Bongiorno said. ” If he was involved with prostitutes, he’s committing a crime. Many of those girls may have been forced into prostitution.”
Photo of Bongiorno on election night, with Rockland GOP leader Vincent Reda, by Vincent DiSalvio/The Journal News/LoHud.com
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 4:27 pm by Steve Lieberman.
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Didn't have a problem with it when Pataki secured you those votes in the past, did you Mike? Didn't have a problem with Sheriff Kralik lobbying to get you those votes during this past election, did you Mike? Didn't have a problem with the "bloc vote" originally being promised to you, did you Mike? Didn't have a problem s***canning sex crime cases coming from those communities while you were DA, did you Mike? Sour grapes are quite bitter. Keep your head up and out of the fray. Your career ended because you didn't get enough votes elsewhere in the County,not just your beloved New Square. Not pleasant, but deal with it.
There is no bigger cry baby in politics than Bongiorno. He got the bloc for years and it was okay. Now somebody took his "blocs" away and he is CRYING. Grow up you whiney loser.
This block vote is like an addictive drug. Use it once, and you can't shake it. Why can't our politicians take a different approach and reach out to the general public with their campaigns? Yes, it costs money,time and most of all hard WORK!
Elliot Spitzer took the election away from Mr. Bongiorno at the last minute. Further proof that the block vote is only given out to those who will accomodate them. If more people got off their duffs and spend ten minutes to vote once a year, the block vote would be powerless.
Mr. Bongiorno has every right to be mad at Mr. Spitzer. However, Mr. Spitzer's demise is the payback he could have NEVER imagined.
My advice to voters in Rockland County and the town of Ramapo… Get off your asses and VOTE! Otherwise you have no right, rhym or reason to complain about the political conditions in your town.