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For this column I have interviewed Suffolk County
Republican Chairman, the
Honorable Anthony (Tony) Apollaro.
BACKGROUND
Age 55 and married with one child. Resident of Smithtown and a lifelong
resident of Suffolk County. Bachelors of Science Degree in Aeronautical
Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Former Suffolk Deputy
County Executive for eight years and have been Suffolk County republican
Chairman since September 1999.
SUCCESSES AS CHAIRMAN
My overwhelming success was returning integrity back to the Party. We
were in
debt when I took over and a lot of promises were made to stalwart party
members had been broken. I convened a committee of leaders and laymen
that
defined a new code of conduct. We have shown that we intend to adhere to
this
code of conduct. At OTB, there was turmoil. It was a black hole when it
came
down to dollars, and should have been turning over much more money to
the
County. In Mea Knapp's first year of leadership at OTB, we improved
monies
turned over to the County substantially.
TO RICH SCHAFFER
I think that we should continue to have both parties treat one another
with
respect. We should spend less time worrying about the minor parties.
REDISTRICTING
We picked up a good incumbent in Congressman Peter King. Israel's
district
was strengthened. It is what it is and we will play the hand we were
dealt.
good candidates and officials will never be bothered by redistricting.
MINOR PARTIES
I worry about Republicans and not the minor parties. I do not worry
about
their politics. I work best with all minor party leaders as best I can.
THE WATER AUTHORITY
Every time I turn around I find that my name is mentioned with the Water
Authority. In 3 years, I haven't talked to Chairman LoGrande more than a
handful of times about his job. When LoGrande's appointment was up in
2000,
he asked me for help to get him reappointed. All of a sudden Mike chose
to
make the Republicans the bad guys. The full page water alerts were not
done
with the best interests of the Suffolk County residents in mind.
DISAPPOINTMENTS AS CHAIRMAN
The 2000 loss of the Joan Johnson race and Leah Jefferson for the
Assembly to
Pat Eddington were disappointments. I was taken aback by the
subterranean
Archie Bunker's that emerged to hurt these two candidates.
SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE
I do not look at the Legislature as R's and D's. I see them as the
policy-setting arm of the government. They set policy and I have a good
working relationship with Presiding Officer Tonna.
TO BEAT CONGRESSMAN STEVE ISRAEL
You need Joe Finley as the candidate with a solid ticket led by Governor
Pataki. We're raising substantial sums for Finley. People have to
recognize
our candidate's passion for the voters.
FAMILY & PERSONAL GOALS
We're expecting a second grandchild, and when it happens, we will visit
my
son and his wife in Texas. I'd like to be able to take a lot of this
less
personally, keeping me on an even keel. This way it will help the
Suffolk
Republican Committee as we have entered the 21st century.
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