Crowley sent a chopper to pick me up, Ragusa sent a Ford. What did you think I was going to do?
Councilman Peter Koo (R-Flushing) announced he will be switching parties, according to the New York Times.
It’s not as shocking as one might think.
In a heavily Democratic district, one can only wonder what was offered to him behind the scenes. Who courted Mr. Koo, a millionaire pharmacist from Flushing?
In 2009, Koo ran against Yen Chou, a Democrat who owns a daycare facility. The primary was vicious, and Koo emerged the victor after the Dems tore each other apart. Many insiders considered it a fluke.
The switch could have been totally unexpected, and the Queens County GOP may not have known it was coming. But it still hasn’t officially happened yet.
Food for thought:
Rumors of a gerrymandered ‘Asian Majority’ district for a Senate seat could have motivated him. Is it a numbers game? Is Mr. Koo questioning the worth of being a Republican? The area is heavily Democratic and Koo could have feared a well-funded and supported Democratic challenger for Council or for the Senate seat, should he decide to run.
Koo, long considered a centrist has taken many positions favorable to Democratic kingpins like Christine Quinn that could ease the transition.
Is he angry with the local GOP party for a lack of support and constant infighting?
Keep in mind Koo is a millionaire and can self-finance his own run. After all he was originally registered as a Democrat. Just speculating, if Mark Weprin becomes speaker, Koo could be Finance chair, that’s if he’s a Democrat. If he’s a Republican, then he might be on the lowly housing committee (Republicans cannot chair committees).
Being a successful small businessman might help Koo ease through the transition.
What do you think?
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FYI, during Mr. Koo’s run for City Council in 2009, Dennis Gallagher worked on his campaign setting up stanchions that were emblazoned with ‘property of Mike Riccatto’ in downtown Flushing.
