The following notes were sent to me this morning with a request for publication.
By all accounts (even those of Liuba's most ardent supporters) DuWayne Gregory clearly had the stronger performance at the candidate forum in Merrick Bellmore recently. Liuba started out OK, but "I'm a mom who hates Pete King" wore thin as she seemed to lose energy. DuWayne's experience and knowledge of the local issues overshadowed her anti Trump cliches.
Her lackluster performance coincides with her absence from key events. She was nowhere to be found on Tuesday, January 23 as CD2 residents came together at Islip Town Hall to protest Trish Bergin's racist tweet. In contrast to Liuba's conspicuous absence, DuWayne supported their efforts as he took the podium inside the Town Hall meeting room.
The next day, she cancelled a candidate forum which is scheduled for February 6, citing a "family medical emergency". Clairvoyant? An emergency ten days later? Curious. Topping it off, she failed to show up at the #MeToo event at Stony Brook on Sunday January 28, which was attended by women leaders and activists from across Long Island.
Makes sense that she's contemplating folding her tent. The goal of raising $250,000 by December 31 has proven to be an epic failure. She managed to raise only half that, despite the eye popping percentage that came from a wealthy developer's family members and celebrities. An overwhelming percentage of the donors were from outside the district undercutting her "local grass roots" mantra. And so much for the cornering the "women's vote." In just 5 days, 2,200 women joined the "Women for Gregory" page--almost as many as it took for NY 2d District democrats 14 months to attract.
She's thinking it over. She may be dropping out. We can only hope. DuWayne is by far the stronger candidate to defeat King.
On another note. Is Liuba planning to be part of a primary against Governor Cuomo?
Instead of talking with Second District voters in our South Shore communities - in our hamlets of Lindenhurst and Brentwood - Liuba chose to spend Thursday evening January 18 at a posh event in Manhattan with actress Cynthia Nixon of Sex in the City fame. This event was the very same day Nixon told the media that she is mulling a run against Governor Cuomo. Interesting.
Lastly, this dispatch.
While the Facebook group Liuba controls brags that it has revitalized a "dormant local political party", nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, an endorsement from NY2d District Democrats was more like the "kiss of death" in 2017 for Suffolk Democrats in King's District. And when they withold an endorsement - the candidate wins! Ironically, the only candiate Liuba endorsed who won is DuWayne Gregory, her primary challenger.
Here are the facts that the Liuba folks will have trouble admitting:
Dem Candidates Endorsed by NY 2d District Dems Who Won:
DuWayne Gregory, Suffolk County Legislature
Dem Candidates From Whom NY 2d District Dems withheld their endorsement who won:
Susan Berland, County Legislature
Tom Donnelly, County Legislature
Monica Martinez, County Legislature
Bill Lindsay, County Legislature
Rich Schaffer, Babylon Town Supervisor
Tony Martinez, Babylon Town Board
Gerry Compitello, Babylon Town Clerk
Dem Candidates Endorsed by NY 2d District Dems who lost:
Sam Gonzalez, Islip Town Board
Jason Fenley, Islip Town Board
Joe Tronolone, County Legislature
Thought provoking, huh?