Support Rockaway Voices in the Queens GOP

Dear Editor:

This week, Republicans in Rockaway have the rare opportunity to choose their own representatives in the Queens GOP. I ask them to vote for neighbors nominated by the Rockaway Republican Club (RRC).

After the 2022 elections, the RRC rose from the ashes to become, perhaps, the largest Republican club in Queens. In 2025, we are ready to have locals represent Rockaway in the GOP, rather than the current “representatives” from off the peninsula. You’d think the Queens GOP would be thrilled. You would be wrong.

The County organization attempted to have all our nominees thrown off the ballot, succeeding only in eliminating local gems Suzanne Blum and Jerry Steib. Once that effort failed, the powers that be realized their non-local proxies would lose all the primaries to RRC candidates. They desperately recruited a slate of locals for about half of Rockaway. I, personally, am thrilled.

I do not look at my neighbors and fellow Republicans as “enemies.” If a Rockaway resident nominated by the County wins a primary, I will happily work with him or her – just as I continue to work with the Queens GOP despite the profanity thrown because I support my neighbors.

Power struggles are childish. I only want what’s best for our country, the party, and our community. What’s best for Rockaway is to elect locally nominated representatives like Madeline Conway in Rockaway Point, Rob and Catherine Rose in Neponsit, Maureen Walsh and John Glynn in Belle Harbor, Catherine O’Connor and Kevin McConnell in Rockaway Park, and Kyle Wade and Rich Knott in Rockaway Beach.

A complete list of RRCs candidates can be found at https://is.gd/UGpykM. Please join me in doing what’s right for Rockaway. Vote for these Rockaway neighbors.

Paul King
Former candidate for Congress