I Miss the NYC Democrats I Used to Work With - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics

"Some referred to me as 'the only known Republican' working at Brooklyn Borough Hall. I served as a community liaison under former Borough President Howard Golden and then Marty Markowitz, where I was promoted to Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Relations. These were two of the most powerful Democrats in New York, presiding over the largest borough in the city."

"Golden, the old-school Brooklyn institution, and Markowitz, the ebullient 'Mr. Brooklyn' who turned the borough into a brand, treated me with respect and decency. We disagreed over policy, but never questioned each other's patriotism or basic humanity."

"I also ran against then-Councilman Vincent Gentile in 2009 for Brooklyn's 43rd District. We went toe-to-toe in a race covered closely by the New York press. But even in the heat of a competitive race, we remained friendly. After the election, we'd still grab coffee and talk about neighborhood issues."

A longtime Republican operative in Brooklyn describes over twenty years working across party lines in New York politics. Serving under Democratic Borough Presidents Howard Golden and Marty Markowitz, the author held positions as community liaison and Director of Legislative Affairs. Later, the author worked for Republican Congressmen Vito Fossella and Bob Turner, gaining unique perspective on both Democratic and Republican leadership. The author ran for office against Democrat Vincent Gentile in 2009, maintaining personal respect despite electoral competition. These experiences illustrate a political culture where Democrats and Republicans disagreed on policy while respecting each other's patriotism and humanity, contrasting sharply with contemporary political polarization.

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