As petitioning enters its pre-Commissioners Hearing (April 28-29, 2026) stage, I wondered how political friends and enemies, trust and distrust, games and tricks are being played. Is there a win-win solution?
A Competition Proposal: If the establishment wants to avoid a primary, have the competing candidates (insurgent or establishment) who collected the least number of valid signatures file a Declination. The Committee to Fill Vacancies would then Substitute in the winning candidate giving the Replacement more signatures against the Democrats!
During this 2026 cycle, Central Queens Republican Club petitioned for 10 candidates not on the County’s slate in Queens and Brooklyn. Three did not have enough signatures to survive a challenge so three declinations were filed giving signatures collected to the County candidate. Primary and petition challenge for those three races were avoided.
Danniel Maio’s competition agreement proposal would encourage a friendlier and more effective petitioning weeding out candidates having difficulty crossing the minimum signature threshold, but not losing the signatures collected by the Declination candidate.
I have been called a loser since I never won a race. As a perennial underdog, I support and appreciate those who tried and failed. Everyone who gave time and money to any party deserves recognition and appreciation. The Party (Rep, Dem, Wor, Con) should be accessible to guide anyone who wants to run. This competition proposal exemplifies appreciation of those who tried, while reaping the efforts they made.
Those who collected signatures should also be recognized and appreciated. I propose that those who collected at least 25 signatures will be given a 50% discount to the County’s sponsored events. Those who collected at least 100 signatures will be invited to attend for free irregardless of which Republican candidates’ petition was used.
Authorize Wilson-Pakula to candidates who are willing to change their party registration to Republican after the General Election!