NEW YORK — Republicans want billionaire John Catsimatidis to run for mayor of New York City if embattled Mayor Eric Adams resigns from his current post and a special election follows.
According to a New York GOP source, the city’s five county chairmen prefer Mr. Catsimatidis over any other potential Republican looking to become the next mayor of the Big Apple.
Mr. Catsimatidis owns multiple businesses, including a chain of supermarkets in Manhattan and New York’s WABC radio station, where he hosts two political talk shows. He also heads up the Red Apple Group, a real estate and aviation company worth about $2 billion in holdings.
The New York businessman previously ran for mayor in 2013, but lost the GOP primary against former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota.
Some fellow Democrats are pressuring Mr. Adams to resign from office after federal prosecutors charged him on Sept. 26.
Mr. Adams is accused of illegally courting foreign donors, particularly from Turkey, and of receiving over $100,000 in undisclosed benefits such as upgraded flights and luxury hotel stays.
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In exchange, the indictment says, Mr. Adams offered favors such as urging fire officials to approve a Turkish high-rise consulate despite safety concerns.
Despite New York Republicans favoring his boss for the city’s executive position, WABC radio host Curtis Sliwa, who ran a failed bid for mayor on the GOP ticket against Mr. Adams in 2021, said he wants to run for mayor if Mr. Adams resigns and a special election for the city’s top post kicks in.
But if Mr. Adams resigns, before the special election could happen and a new mayor takes office, the public advocate would become acting mayor. That person is Jumaane Williams, a Democratic Socialist, and Mr. Sliwa said he doesn’t want that to happen.
“If you notice the cards I’m giving out, I’m already in it. I don’t want him to jump out,” Mr. Sliwa told The Washington Times. “Because it means we have the socialist Jumaani Williams, 60 days, 90 days — it’s way too much for a socialist.”
He said, “I’d rather have a wounded and weakened Eric Adams than a Jumaani Williams, because then it’s over. Socialism will prevail in the city.”
Mr. Williams, who has served as public advocate since winning a special election in 2019, was reelected to a full term in 2021 and ran unsuccessfully for governor the following year.
Mr. Sliwa said he would welcome everyone into the race, including his boss, Mr. Catsimatidis.
“You come in, you debate. That’s what this is about. If it’s a nonpartisan election, you probably have 50 or more candidates, but nobody has the credibility that I have in the streets,” he said.
Mr. Adams, who pleaded not guilty to five felony counts including bribery and fraud, has said he has no plans to resign and told reporters Sunday that he had a series of conversations with Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, following a slew of recent resignations from his administration.
“I just really appreciate her support in making sure that we bring the right people in, allowing the right people to continue their careers, whatever they want to do,” he said. “But making sure that we really show the city that our success has been amazing, and we’re going to continue to move forward in this city.”
If Mr. Adams resigns, Mr. Williams, as acting mayor, would have three days to call a special election, which would have to take place within 80 days of his announcement. However, Mr. Williams can schedule a snap election within 10-20 days of his declaration if he thinks it would increase turnout.
The special election would be a nonpartisan race with ranked-choice voting. Candidates cannot run under one of the established party names, which would force them to make up party names.
Only two New York City mayors resigned — Jimmy Walker in 1932 and William O’Dwyer in 1950, both in corruption-related scandals. New York’s office of public advocate was established in 1993, and no public advocate has ever become acting mayor.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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