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New GOP chief an old hand in politics

Garcia, former Grucci aide, hopes Republicans can retake Brookhaven Town

The Village Beacon Record
4/5/2007
By Lee Lutz

The Brookhaven Town Republican Committee, which has suffered setbacks at the polls and in its coffers over the last two years, has a new chairman — Jesse Garcia, 40, of Ridge. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Long a regular in the Republican Party in Brookhaven, Garcia has served as chief of staff and campaign manager to former town supervisor and Congressman Felix Grucci as well as filling numerous other partisan positions over the past two decades.

"Our committee decided to put aside past issues," said Garcia this week, commenting on his election to replace town chair Eugene Gerrard of Mount Sinai. "My main thrust? To unify the party for the goal of taking back the town for the people of Brookhaven."

Garcia's résumé includes the aforementioned jobs with Grucci, in Brookhaven and Washington, D.C., going back to 1995, and a stint as deputy campaign manager for former Supervisor John LaMura in 1993. Currently Garcia is the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator at the Suffolk County Board of Elections (BOE). Garcia said he anticipates no problem juggling his BOE and party responsibilities.

"You just need the ability to manage your time," he said, adding that he learned how to do so long ago.

Garcia said he feels the Brookhaven party is more united now than it has been in years: "Members of every [Republican] group was there," at the party meeting. He said about 340 people attended and he easily won election on the first ballot.

According to BOE records, the town party had less than $3,000 on hand as of the most recent filing on January 15, although outstanding loans reflected in regular payments indicate the party is actually in the red. The Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee, in comparison, reports a balance of $246,685 in the same reporting period.

"In November we will be in a position to run races in each district and townwide," Garcia said, indicating that fund-raising efforts are underway. He said some contributors were "on the sidelines" while the party chose a chairman and Garcia expects those sources to open their checkbooks soon. And, he said, "Candidates are coming forward. We will be strong in all districts."

In addition to races for supervisor, superintendent of highways and six council members, the town's receiver of taxes since 2001, George Davis, confirmed he is retiring, so Garcia will also be seeking a candidate to run for that open seat.

One of Garcia's immediate problems will be to find a candidate in the town's Sixth Council District, where the party's 2005 supervisor candidate and former councilman Ed Hennessey was expected to make a strong race against incumbent Carol Bissonette (D-Mastic Beach). Two weeks ago in a surprise move Hennessey switched to the Democratic Party.

Town and county Democrats reacted by questioning the choice as more of the same old Republican machine.

"A different face — same people," said town Democratic Committee vice-chair John Byrne, an aide to Councilwoman Connie Kepert (D-Middle Island), on the election of Garcia. "I thought the Republican Party was poised to start fresh. It's like 'back to the future.'" Byrne echoed Suffolk County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Schaffer, who, Byrne said, called Garcia a poster boy for Crookhaven. "Nothing has changed," Byrne said. Brookhaven Town Democratic Chairwoman Marsha Laufer was unavailable for comment.

Robert DiCarlo of Stony Brook, who ran an unsuccessful primary against Hennessey in 2005, is seeking the party's nomination for supervisor. DiCarlo said he had been supporting Steve Wilutis of Miller Place for the party's chairmanship, but has already met with Garcia.

"We had a pleasant lunch," DiCarlo said. "He spoke of his vision, I spoke of mine for Brookhaven." Reacting to the charge by some Democrats that Garcia represents the old-guard Republican machine in Brookhaven, DiCarlo said, "He was never the leader. You can't blame the soldiers for what the generals do."

DiCarlo said he expects to screen before the town's party committee "by April 15," and is "fairly confident I'll be the candidate of the party." The party's nominating convention will be held at the end of May and, if other candidates emerge, a primary race is possible. Democratic Supervisor Brian Foley is already raising funds for his reelection bid.