Flanagan makes his own 'Tale of Two Cities' case against de Blasio

State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan described the gulf between Republicans and Democrats as “A Tale of Two Cities,” borrowing the Dickens-novel-turned-campaign-slogan from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and seeking to turn it against his political adversary. 

“I want to juxtapose who we are versus the Democrats in the state of New York,” said Flanagan, a Republican, who then recited the first few lines of the Charles Dickens tale. “The reason I raise that is because we are at a crossroads, not only in the state of New York but frankly in the country.”

Addressing the New York delegation gathered in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention, Flanagan touched on some of the national themes surrounding Donald Trump’s candidacy for president and his race against Hillary Clinton, the presumptive presidential nominee.

But he quickly pivoted to his opposition to de Blasio and the importance of the contests looming this fall as the state Senate Republicans seek to win enough seats to maintain control of the upper chamber in Albany.

Flanagan highlighted four GOP candidates who are seeking a Senate seat for the first time, including Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs, who is running for the seat being vacated by Democratic state Sen. Marc Panepinto, and Julie Killian, a Rye councilwoman who is challenging state Sen. George Latimer.

Another candidate, Chris McGrath, will be taking another shot at state Sen. Todd Kaminsky, who won a tight special election for an open seat earlier this year. The fourth candidate that Flanagan mentioned was Elaine Phillips, a village mayor who is seeking to succeed state Sen. Jack Martins, a Republican running for Congress. Phillips will face Adam Haber, a Democrat who made a failed bid for the seat before.

The Senate majority leader also claimed that every incumbent in his conference is in “great shape,” noting that eight Republican senators are running unopposed this year.

In a repeat of the last cycle, the Republican conference is trying to capitalize on discontent with de Blasio, who spearheaded an unsuccessful bid to oust them from power in the 2014 elections. His effort has come under scrutiny, with investigators looking into questionable campaign fundraising activity, and de Blasio has indicated that he will not be as involved this cycle.

But Senate Republicans have continued to attack de Blasio, warning that a Democratic Senate would simply shift power downstate and usher in a flood of progressive legislation.

“Let’s talk about the mayor of the city of New York,” Flanagan said. “He does not share our values.”

Flanagan lashed out at criticism of people who work in law enforcement as one example, citing stalled legislation supported in his conference that would have increased penalties for inmates who spit on or assault correction officers.

“You could not believe the dialogue and debate that takes place on these issues,” he said. “That’s why I say, us vs. them, a tale of two cities. They don’t share our priorities!”