When Democrat Elizabeth Crowley campaigned in the June special election for former City Councilman Dennis Gallagher's seat, she avoided speaking directly to the press.Her message was crafted by the Parkside Group, a high-powered political consulting firm, and its media-savvy consultants did all the talking.
Same faces, different tactics in Elizabeth Crowley vs. Anthony Como
But as she gears up for a November rematch with Anthony Como, who won that election, Crowley has been waging a conspicuously homespun and unchaperoned campaign.
Crowley told the Queens News she parted ways with the Parkside Group in order to save money and run a "grass-roots" effort.
"I lost by 38 votes and I said, 'What can I do differently?'" Crowley said, noting her new approach is to spend her money on "direct voter contact."
"It's the way that elections should be won - knocking on doors, meeting voters at train stops, going to community organizations," she said.
Crowley said of the Parkside Group: "Their mail and their campaign stuff is a lot more expensive than if I go to the printer myself and have something made."
Maybe Parkside was actually working for the other side...
32 comments:
Maybe Elizabeth learned something from Sarah the Barracuda Palin.
MacMansion Como is incapable of learning anything, it seems.
He lives a block from the degenerate Gallagher; both worked for the easy traitor Maltese The entire trio has accomplished absolutely nothing for constituents.
This taxpayer says: Give Elizabeth this one opportunity to demonstrate her tireless service to All constituents.
If she fails the test, toss her out in November, 2009.
Elizabeth: one advance peek at part of the test: Vote correctly regarding Willets Point. Show everyone that you don't need the Commissar.
Elizabeth: Show us.
Now the JPCA is supporting Crowley, this unqualified, no-skill, ride-on-her-cousin's coattails candidate, after having insulted her time and again in the past. I guess the JPCA will take any friends they can nowadays.
- A Bigger Taxpayer
Why not give Como til 2009 for his test? She must be hurting on money because she is still handing out left over material from last election that says Vote June 3rd! That is just pathetic. I agree with grassroots and relating to the people, but how can you look someone in the eye, shake their hand and then give them a campaign flier that asks them to vote on June 3rd?
Parkside has more trouble then just losing the Crowley campaign. Here comes the feds
Juniper Civic has not endorsed anyone but I was at their last meeting and Como didn't bother to show up. Liz did, spoke rather well, and so she'll have my vote.
Elizabeth had a problem with her printer and was late getting her materials. Money is not a problem. She is now eligible for campaign financing again, having paid her fines in full.
Would love to watch a head to head debate between Crowley and Como. It would be better than Saturday Night Live.
Joe Crowley allowed the Stop & Shop Mall to be built - he blinked and they were building overnight - Forest City Rattner has loads of Lobby and campaigne dough. Markey did not even know where the stop & Shop property was! This is why Markey is endorsed by her party - do as she is told!
The fact that Como doesn't pander to the hateful JPCA is a plus for me, he gets my vote.
This race is now truely a lesser of evils choice. Its a shame that the two legitimate candidates from the special election couldn't continue to fight their own parties' poor choices, but I guess that how the Machine operates.
This is a prime example of how political parties betray the people. Don't forget this. Educate your self about individuals and try to choose the lesser of evils, but don't ever support a party. They're really just one big corrupt entity in Queens.
Showing up at a meeting to address constituents is not pandering.
Como is a Maltese errand boy. He doesn't know the first thing about how to be a councilman. Como will be another D. Gallagher.
Crowley will win the election and finally rid Maspeth of the corrupt Republicans who have had one scandal after another.
Lame excuse. Como seems to have a problem with the leadership of the JPCA. But there are hundreds of members that come to the meeting that are not on the board of directors. So why doesn't he come to talk to them? Does he think they all march in lockstep with the board? Or is he just a coward?
Brian McLaughlin was not a scandal?
What happened to the PBA backing that Liz had when she ran against
Gallagher? I could keep asking questions but what's the sense
you are running her campaign for her. Liz will be on the cover of a local magazine as "Woman of the Year".
Anthony is welcome to come to the debate scheduled for Oct 23rd at OLH which will be an unstructured debate format where the candidates ask each other questions. He can ask Liz those exact same questions and see how she answers. Last time, neither of them wanted the people to know anything about themselves and they ducked out like cowards. Now maybe we'll see who has what it takes to represent us.
Sarah "the idiot" Palin
Doesn't it seem like Parkside has also been given the boot by a few of the borough's not for profit organizations?
Maybe some rats know enough to jump off a sinking ship before it pulls them down too!
Does the FBI has its nose up Evan's ass following a money trail?
(Y-e-e-k-k,
what a disgusting thought)!
can someone please explain to me why she loves telling everyone at meetings that she is an educator. how is she qualified as an educator?
This is really interesting.
I've never seen a lobbying firm as despised by a community as the Parkside Group. As someone said, Cowley isn't the first to distance herself from them.
Is this just a client ditching an ineffective firm or maybe a small victory for the community of lobbyests and special interests ?
While she claims they're too expensive, I wonder if the real reason is that she thinks her association with Parkside and their reputation for representing questionable clients and ill conceived projects could have cost her those 38 votes?
Its very funny the they always comment on anthony como house, if the house was not in the picture what could they bash him about . Dizzy lizzy also grew up in a large home in elmhurst that housed her 15 brothers and sisters. Maybe anthony wants to have 15 kids and needs a large home. I hope the fbi starts looking in to Bob Holden the new don of organized crime. I am very proud of anthony como for standing up and not kissing butt for people you want to control you.
Why always the need to get personal like that? I don't get it.
As a regular reader of Queens Crap, I enjoy seeing differing opinions, and occasionally get a useful piece of information from post-ers, but it just wastes everyone's time when it get stupidly personal like the previous two.
PLEASE, stick to honorable methods of attack, like reminding us of past bad actions or statements.
Thanks!
Look, it's blatantly obvious by the gross misspellings and poor grammar that the previous posters are Dennis Gallagher. Cut him some slack; he can't control his compulsions. Like when he couldn't keep his hands off that grandmother in his office...
the granny molester perv is in the building.
Gallagher is helping Como, no doubt about it. It's bad enough that Como has Maltese as his mentor, but to have Gallagher as his advisor is sickening.
Dennis Gallagher is history. The guy is a convicted felon and sex offender. Why is this blog even mentioning him anymore. I love this site and I'll check it out with or without Gallagher but I think everyone would agree we all much better off WITHOUT GALLAGHER.
anyone for swinging on long island?
Go Liz!
Wattsa matter "Pinky"... don't have a real job or a real life yet?
Getting off on blogging instead of grandmas these days?
Go see a shrink (for your head not your penis. That needs enhancement)!
Okay, Lynda, I am clueless. What's the swinging on Long Island reference?
My right to a hearty "I told you so" is dwarfed by Paul Krugman's (oh, and his Nobel Prize now) but I did repeatedly lament Elizabeth's "handling."
She's an intelligent woman who sometimes stumbles over her words in public speaking, albeit far less often than Anthony Como. It drove me crazy when I volunteered for her that the campaign literature highlighted her lineage, not achievements. When voters are crying out for neighborhood preservation, why downplay the candidate's advanced degree in a relevant field?
My guess is that Parkside was trying for some misguided populism, which is insulting to voters. I don't find working people in Queens (my stock) to be anti-intellectual.
I disagree with Elizabeth about a few things, like gay marriage. But she will do much to improve her district in an inclusive and sustainable way.
Erik Baard
http://www.licboathouse.org
http://www.naturecalendar.com
What achievements? She was given a no-show job until it was time to come out of the woodwork to run for what she thought would be a cakewalk.
Oops.
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