With the Republican mayoral primary in the rear-view mirror, top GOP figures are becoming J-Lho fans.
Former three-term Gov. George Pataki and state Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos signed onto Joe Lhota’s City Hall run Tuesday.
the ex-MTA chief’s closest rival, billionaire businessman
, ahead of the Sept. 10 primary.
“Throughout his career in public service Joe Lhota has been the kind of leader who not only brings people together, but he keeps them together to get the job done,” Pataki said via the campaign.
“As mayor, Joe will reach out to all New Yorkers with a shared vision of opportunity and optimism that will unite the city to overcome the challenges we face.”
Skelos said Lhota, the son of a cop and his family’s first college grad, “has a plan that will strengthen the middle class and those aspiring to make it there so that all New Yorkers can have the same opportunities he did.”
While Pataki himself
and mailers for Catsimatidis, as I’ve reported previously, many members of the ex-gov’s inner circle
worked for Team Lhota, donated to his campaign, or both
.
On the Democratic side of the race, nominee Bill de Blasio is
picking up the backing of his ex-rivals
, but Catsimatidis has yet to formally endorse Lhota to lead the GOP into November.
Lhota
met with muncipal workers’ union DC 37
earlier Tuesday and is set for
a sitdown with the Rev. Al Sharpton
in Harlem at 7:30 p.m.
IMAGE: DAVID HANDSCHUH/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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