Top Tweets for #cd43

Dear Friends and Supporters, The final results from the 43rd District Republican Primary are in, and I lost by 33 votes (422 vs 389) out of 829 cast. While I am disappointed with the results, I do not believe that they are indicative of my broad support within the 43rd District. The sad truth is that less than 10% of Registered Republicans voted in this election and that my opponent spent over $300 per vote vs the $10 per vote that I spent. The good news is I remain in this race on the Conservative Party line. The facts of this campaign have not changed. Of the three remaining candidates I remain the most qualified. I have both the experience and institutional knowledge of policing AND education that neither of my opponents in either party possesses. I have always been deeply committed to serving our community and addressing the issues that matter most to the residents of the 43rd District. Throughout my campaigns, both last year and this, I have had the privilege of meeting so many members of the diverse communities of the 43rd District and hearing their concerns. As we move forward, I want to focus my campaign on three key pillars that I believe are crucial to the well-being and progress of our district: public safety, education, and government accountability. Public safety remains a paramount concern for all of us. Our neighborhoods should be safe havens where families can thrive, children can play in front of their homes or take the subway to school without fear. I am determined to work towards rebuilding a police department that once again addresses all of the quality-of-life issues that are making our neighborhoods less livable. I will advocate for a police force that targets repeat, and violent offenders and I will use my bully pulpit to draw attention to a District Attorney who doesn’t prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Education is the foundation upon which our future is built. I believe that every child in our district deserves access to an appropriate high-quality education that prepares them for success. I will prioritize collaborating with educators, parents, and community leaders to craft the types of programs that families want for their children. I will work to defend the SHSAT testing for specialized high schools, expand Gifted and Talented programs, provide parents with the choice of charter schools while fighting to ensure that special needs children get the education and services they need. I will address the achievement gap by ensuring that school resources like high impact tutoring are delivered to the students who need them most. Government accountability is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy. It is our responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable and demand transparency in the decision-making processes. I pledge to fight for a more transparent and accessible government and will hold myself to the highest level of integrity and expect the same from any organization, nonprofit or otherwise, that does business with the city. I entered this race at the end of April, at the behest of elected officials and members of the community. It was not easy to get things up and running and I want to express my most sincere thanks to my family, the Kings County Republican and Conservative Party Chairs and members, all of the volunteers, supporters, and donors who helped these efforts. Our new website (https://t.co/mf65pJoWIr) has been redesigned to provide voters with an opportunity to see for themselves where I stand on the issues impacting the city. I am very close to qualifying for matching funds, if you would like to help please contribute what you can. (https://t.co/VVa3Of7NV0) I firmly believe that by staying in this race, I can make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people in our city. I am fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but I am equally committed to working tirelessly to bring positive change to our community. With your continued support, I am confident that we can build a better future together. I will continue to appeal to Republican voters and now, I will be building a coalition of commons sense, moderate Democrat and Non-Affiliated voters as we move forward. I will deliver a positive message of common sense and unity and by building on my years of work in the community, and my 32 years of service in the NYPD, I will win in November to become your councilmember in the 43 District. Warmest regards, Vito LaBella