Former state Conservative Social gathering Chairman Michael Lengthy died Sunday morning on the age of 82.
AP/Seth Wenig
Former state Conservative Social gathering Chairman Michael Lengthy — a strong power in New York politics who was instrumental in getting Republican George Pataki elected governor — died Sunday morning after a protracted sickness. He was 82.
The Brooklyn-born political operative headed the Conservative Social gathering for greater than 30 years, from 1988 to 2019, and served a stint as an at-large member of the New York Metropolis Council from 1981-83.
He served within the US Marines from 1959-1961 and advocated for a robust American army.
Lengthy was a fixture in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the place he and his brother Tom owned Lengthy’s Wines and Liquors on Fifth Avenue and 79th Road. He later moved to Breezy Level, Queens.
A champion of small-business pursuits, he and his brother beforehand owned an ice cream parlor in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.
It was Lengthy’s Conservative Social gathering poll line that helped Republican Pataki topple three-term Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo, the daddy of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for the governorship in 1994. Pataki would go on to serve three phrases.
The Conservative Social gathering poll line earlier additionally was essential in electing Republican Al D’Amato to 3 phrases within the US Senate.
“Mike Lengthy was one of many best human beings I ever met,” Pataki stated in a press release to The Put up.
“Mike’s dedication to his religion, his household, and his perception in America and freedom are issues that had been inspirational to me all through our time collectively. Fairly merely, with out his assist I'd have by no means been elected governor.
“In my first race for governor, the Conservative line was the distinction between successful and dropping and with out Mike Lengthy, I'd have by no means had that line. I'm endlessly grateful for his friendship, his management and most of all his energy and braveness. He can be missed. Libby and I prolong our ideas and prayers to Eileen and all the unbelievable Lengthy household.”
Lengthy is survived by: his spouse of 59 years, Eileen; 9 kids; 24 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
He died at house in Breezy Level surrounded by his household, stated his son, Chris Lengthy.
“Not solely had been his 9 kids lucky to have him as a father, there have been numerous different individuals whose lives he positively impacted,” Chris Lengthy stated.
Present state Conservative Social gathering Chairman Gerard Kassar, a Lengthy protege, stated, “The lack of Mike Lengthy is immeasurable.
“Now we have misplaced man, an in depth good friend, mentor and excellent political chief; a void for me and plenty of has been created that can't be stuffed.
“The numerous quantity of people that discovered from Mike can at this time be discovered all through the political world and can act as his legacy for a few years to return.”
Shaun Levine, the get together’s govt director, added, “All through his life, Mike actually lived as much as the Marine’s motto, Semper Fi.
“To say Mike can be sorely missed is an understatement; his dedication to creating lives higher is a loss when wanted most.”
Lengthy grew to become a conservative activist after attending a Madison Sq. Backyard rally for Barry Goldwater, a Republican who ran for president in 1964. He volunteered for Goldwater’s marketing campaign.
Whereas Goldwater misplaced to Lyndon Johnson, the conservative motion is credited with later serving to elect Ronald Reagan to the White Home in 1980.
Lengthy’s political profession started in 1968 as a district chief, and he rapidly rose to chairman of the Brooklyn Conservative Social gathering in 1972.
In 1974, he was elected by his colleagues as a state vice chairman and in 1984 as the manager vice chairman. He was elected the state Conservative Social gathering chairman in 1988.
Lengthy by no means veered from his long-held beliefs regardless of a cultural swing to the left in New York. He opposed abortion and same-sex marriage and championed gun possession.
He additionally was lively in his neighborhood, serving as a member of the board of administrators of the Cathedral Membership of Brooklyn; secretary of the board of trustees of Daytop Village, a substance-abuse therapy program, and previous chairman of the board of administrators of Holy Angels Academy in Bay Ridge.
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