October 05, 2005
Is it too early for Election 2009 gossip?
A little well-informed birdie told me that John Catsimatidis, Chief Executive Officer of the Gristedes Supermarket Chain, is considering a run for Mayor of New York in 2009.
What's interesting about Catsimatidis is that it is unclear on which side he will run. I had always thought he was a Republican, since I'd see him out and about at right-leaning functions, but he recently had a fundraiser for Hillary at his home and most of his donations have gone to Democrats or very liberal Republicans like Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. Still, he very well may pull a Bloomberg and bypass the Democratic party's machine if the Republicans don't have a candidate. And, of course, we probably won't.
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Sounds like a Bloomberg type and therefore should head into the GOP fold. I also think he'd have to get through, at the very least, Weiner in the Dem primary (who I will suspect look a lot better once Ferrar loses and heads for the political obscurity he rightfully deserves).
Posted by: Von Bek at October 5, 2005 12:05 PMCatsimatidis donated to Ferrer, Thompson, Carrion and Gotbaum...any one of which he could be running against in 2009.
I can see the campaign slogan now..."I want my money back!"
Posted by: anonymous at October 5, 2005 06:18 PMGotta love the Republican rent-a-party of NYC.
Posted by: someone at October 6, 2005 01:04 AMWho the hell would vote for the CEO of Gristedes???? It's a rat-infested, filthy, disgusting supermarket chain that I wouldn't go near if you paid me.
Posted by: Downtown Lad at October 6, 2005 01:31 AMI'm a Battery Park City resident. There are two Gristedes stores here that are filthy, overpriced (relative to Whole Foods even) and consistently stock out-dated meats and produce and marginal fruits and vegetables.
Mr. Catsimatidis is aware of these conditions. He is the CEO. He claims the conditions disturb him too.
Hello. This is a man we would want to put in charge of our city. What is so hard about floor mopping and checking dates? Can you imagine what would happen with budgets and systems!
No, despite all the money he gives to politicians, I don't think he can buy votes from shoppers.
