Andy Sullivan (Photo: Facebook)
Andy Sullivan, a construction worker and community activist, officially registered a committee to run against Brooklyn Councilman Vinnie Gentile today. In a brief interview, Mr. Sullivan said his campaign would be focused on helping small businesses.
“I feel that nothing he has done has helped small business within the area,” Mr. Sullivan said of Councilman Gentile. “I think the Democrats in general are more concerned about creating programs and entitlements that are being funded by taxpayers, making it inhospitable for the mom and pop small businesses.”
Mr. Sullivan’s reputation as an activist comes from his efforts against the infamous “Ground Zero Mosque.” He created the “9/11 hardhat pledge,” where “all of the construction workers pledged together to not work on that site.” Mr. Sullivan, who was deeply affected by the September 11th terrorist attacks that claimed the life of a woman he was involved with, also says he organized efforts against trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a courtroom close to the World Trade Center site.
Despite the committee for a Council campaign, Mr. Sullivan says he’s keeping his options open. “There’s an effort to get me into the State Senate race against Diane Savino,” he said. Undaunted by the prospects of going up against the Staten Island-based Senate, he said that he has “a lot of support out there,” partially thanks to his opposition to another contentious mosque.
Mr. Sullivan also briefly flirted with a Congressional campaign when Anthony Weiner resigned.
Taking on the incumbent Councilman will be no easy task, however. Mr. Gentile, first elected to the City Council in 2003, beat his 2009 opponent by 20%.
Follow Colin Campbell on Twitter or via RSS. ccampbell@observer.com
Andy Sullivan is a down to earth, tell it like it is, honest man. Someone who calls a spade a spade. He’s the type of person this country needs at all levels of government! Good luck, Andy!
This guy is hateful and divisive. His views on immigration and Islam are downright frightening. I am a Republican and a lifelong Bay Ridge resident. Andy’s got the wrong idea. Don’t bring that hateful rhetoric around here, pal.
Andy hateful? He wouldn’t hurt a fly “pal!” GO ANDY!! Peace loving, patriotic, hard working tax payers love Andy Sulivan!
I thought Mr. Sullivan was married at the time of 9/11? So he was cheating on her with another woman? That’s not a character trait I want in a councilman.
You mean like the trait of the current councilman who’s stiffing his sick dear old dad of the money he deserves from the house Vinnie has long been saying he’s going to sell?
How about the trait of the current councilman who paid the sum of $40,000 in tax-payer funded cold-cash to a lobbyist, I mean community board member, which got him in hot water with the city?Or like the trait of the current councilman who hired his latest staffer who posted a picture of the Virgin Mary to a bomb, and was part of a group who called catholicism absurd, not to mention his own checkered past?Those are definitely traits I wouldn’t in a councilman, let alone an employee, let alone a son.
Well what Mr. Sullivan neglects to mention is she wasn’t the only woman he cheated on his wife with. He should not be using the memory of someone who died for his own gain when he’s had quite a few girlfriends.
Yes, Hard Hat Andy was cheating on his wife with a single-mom who died in the Twin Towers. My heart goes out to her family but not to Andy.