Victor B. Tosi
Encyclopedia
Victor B. Tosi is a long-time member of the Bronx Republican Party. Tosi ran for office five times, including for Bronx Borough President, and briefly served as the chairman of the Bronx Republican Party from 2004 to 2005. He has also worked for Republicans such as State Senators John D. Calandra
and Guy Velella
and as the personal director and later deputy clerk for the New York City Board of Elections
.
. Before becoming involved with politics, he was a car salesman.
, the Bronx Republican leader. Tosi first ran for City Council in 1973 in the 14th district against Anthony J. Mercorella, who was appointed to the seat a few months earlier to fill a vacancy. Mercorella won 70 percent of the vote.
The next year, Tosi sought an open seat in the New York State Assembly in the 86th district. Despite a spirited campaign, Tosi, who won about 41 percent of the vote, lost to Democrat Vincent Marchiselli
, a pro-life liberal and funeral director who used a wheelchair.
In 1985 and 1989, Tosi ran as the Republican Party's "sacrificial lamb" against popular Democratic Councilman Jerry L. Crispino, who represented the 14th district.
In 1987, State Senator Guy Velella asked Tosi to run in the special election for Bronx Borough President, which was held in November of that year. The incumbent Democrat, Stanley Simon, resigned in March 1987 after being implicated in corruption. Tosi received about nine percent of the vote against Democratic City Councilman Fernando Ferrer
. (Tosi's opponent on the Conservative Party was Peggy McKeegan, who was also employed by Velella.)
, who sought the Republican primary for mayor against Rudy Giuliani
. Lauder's candidacy was engineered by U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who was determined to damage Giuliani's candidacy. D'Amato recruited Velella and newly-elected Republican State Senator Serphin Maltese
of Queens in his campaign against Giuliani. Lauder spent about $13 million in negative television ads against Giuliani. Although Lauder lost the primary, getting about 34 percent of the vote, he damaged Giuliani's image enough in the general election in which he lost to Democrat David N. Dinkins.
Four years later, Velella and Giuliani put aside their differences. Velella assigned Tosi to a key role in running Giuliani's Bronx campaign. Giuliani was narrowly elected mayor, ousting Dinkins.
Tosi opted to resign from the board. He then became a job-training director in the New York State Labor Department. In 2000, Tosi, despite the earlier controvery, returned to the New York City Board of Elections as the deputy clerk.
to succeed Velella. Members of the New York State Senate Republican Committee recruited Kaufman, a long-time Democrat, to run for the seat. In previous elections, Kaufman had the endorsement of the Bronx Conservative Party and had the reputation of being a moderate. To increase the chances of his election in a district that was becoming more Democratic, Kaufman sought both the Republican and Democratic nominations. If elected, Kaufman would caucus with the Republicans in the Senate and, in effect, allow them to keep the seat they held since 1966. However, Assemblyman Jeffrey Klein challenged Kaufman for the Democratic nomination. A Republican challenger, John Fleming, a retired police officer, abandoned plans to run against Congressman Eliot Engel and challenged Kaufman for both the Republican and Conservative nominations. On primary day, Kaufman lost both the Democratic and Republican primaries. He did win the Conservative nomination and also had the support of the New York State Independence Party. Kaufman stayed in the race as a spoiler, and Assemblyman Klein won the seat in the general election.
In 2005, Tosi resigned as Bronx GOP Chairman. Joseph J. Savino
, Velella's former deputy chief of staff, was elected the new chairman. Velella accused his two former employees, Tosi and Savino, of seizing control of the Bronx GOP illegally.
John D. Calandra
John D. Calandra, Jr. was a New York State Senator from the Bronx and chairman of the Bronx Republican Party. A lawyer and former United States Attorney, Calandra ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 1962 and 1964, losing both times to Democrat Joseph Marine.In 1965, he was elected by...
and Guy Velella
Guy Velella
Guy John Velella was a Republican New York State Senator from The Bronx.A political leader, state assemblyman, and state senator for over 30 years, Velella was indicted in 2002 with 25 counts of bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works...
and as the personal director and later deputy clerk for the New York City Board of Elections
New York City Board of Elections
The Board of Elections in the City of New York meets once a week at 32 Broadway, New York NY, on the Sixth Floor. By law, there are ten commissioners, two from each of the five boroughs of New York City. One of these two is from each of the two parties whose candidates got the most votes in the...
.
Biography
Tosi never graduated from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Before becoming involved with politics, he was a car salesman.
Campaigns
Tosi became active with the Bronx Republican Party in the early 1970s as a protege of State Senator John D. CalandraJohn D. Calandra
John D. Calandra, Jr. was a New York State Senator from the Bronx and chairman of the Bronx Republican Party. A lawyer and former United States Attorney, Calandra ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 1962 and 1964, losing both times to Democrat Joseph Marine.In 1965, he was elected by...
, the Bronx Republican leader. Tosi first ran for City Council in 1973 in the 14th district against Anthony J. Mercorella, who was appointed to the seat a few months earlier to fill a vacancy. Mercorella won 70 percent of the vote.
The next year, Tosi sought an open seat in the New York State Assembly in the 86th district. Despite a spirited campaign, Tosi, who won about 41 percent of the vote, lost to Democrat Vincent Marchiselli
Vincent Marchiselli
Vincent A. Marchiselli is a former Democratic member of the New York State Assembly from the Bronx, New York.Before getting involved in politics, Marchiselli was president of his own funeral home, Marchiselli Funeral Homes, in the Bronx. Marchiselli first ran for office in 1970, but lost the...
, a pro-life liberal and funeral director who used a wheelchair.
In 1985 and 1989, Tosi ran as the Republican Party's "sacrificial lamb" against popular Democratic Councilman Jerry L. Crispino, who represented the 14th district.
In 1987, State Senator Guy Velella asked Tosi to run in the special election for Bronx Borough President, which was held in November of that year. The incumbent Democrat, Stanley Simon, resigned in March 1987 after being implicated in corruption. Tosi received about nine percent of the vote against Democratic City Councilman Fernando Ferrer
Fernando Ferrer
Fernando James "Freddy" Ferrer was the Borough President of The Bronx from 1987 to 2001, and was a candidate for Mayor of New York in 2001 and the Democratic Party nominee for Mayor in 2005.- Background :...
. (Tosi's opponent on the Conservative Party was Peggy McKeegan, who was also employed by Velella.)
Campaign Work
In 1989, Velella asked Tosi to manage the campaign of cosmetics heir Ronald LauderRonald Lauder
Ronald Steven Lauder is a Jewish-American businessman, civic leader, philanthropist, and art collector. Forbes lists Lauder among the richest people of the world with an estimated net worth of $3.0 billion in 2007.-Life and career:...
, who sought the Republican primary for mayor against Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
. Lauder's candidacy was engineered by U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who was determined to damage Giuliani's candidacy. D'Amato recruited Velella and newly-elected Republican State Senator Serphin Maltese
Serphin Maltese
Serphin R. Maltese is a former Republican New York State Senator representing New York's 15th State Senate District, located in southern and central Queens. From 1986 to 1988, he was the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York....
of Queens in his campaign against Giuliani. Lauder spent about $13 million in negative television ads against Giuliani. Although Lauder lost the primary, getting about 34 percent of the vote, he damaged Giuliani's image enough in the general election in which he lost to Democrat David N. Dinkins.
Four years later, Velella and Giuliani put aside their differences. Velella assigned Tosi to a key role in running Giuliani's Bronx campaign. Giuliani was narrowly elected mayor, ousting Dinkins.
Controversy
In the late 1980s, Tosi began working at the New York City Board of Elections as the personnel director. His role in restoring two Bronx school board candidates to the ballot in 1993 despite the fact that they lacked the required number of signatures came under scrutiny. The Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau empaneled a grand jury to investigate charges of fraud in the 1993 school board of election. In 1995, the grand jury drew up a report on its findings, which was leaked to the press. The grand jury found that Tosi "improperly interceded" with Vincent J. Velella, a commissioner at the Board of Elections and the father of State Senator Guy Velella, to restore the two candidates to the ballot. Although the grand jury did not recommend any criminal charges be filed against Tosi and 10 other Board of Elections employees, it recommended that they be fired. A judge later sealed the grand jury report on a technicality.Tosi opted to resign from the board. He then became a job-training director in the New York State Labor Department. In 2000, Tosi, despite the earlier controvery, returned to the New York City Board of Elections as the deputy clerk.
Bronx Republican Chairman
In 2004, Velella resigned as a State Senator and Bronx Republican Chairman after pleading guilty to a corruption charge. Members of the Bronx Republican County Committee elected Tosi as the "interim" chairman. In his capacity, Tosi campaigned for the election of Assemblyman Stephen B. KaufmanStephen B. Kaufman
Stephen B. Kaufman is a lawyer and former Democratic City Councilman and New York State Assemblyman from the Bronx. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully for the New York State Senate.-External links:*...
to succeed Velella. Members of the New York State Senate Republican Committee recruited Kaufman, a long-time Democrat, to run for the seat. In previous elections, Kaufman had the endorsement of the Bronx Conservative Party and had the reputation of being a moderate. To increase the chances of his election in a district that was becoming more Democratic, Kaufman sought both the Republican and Democratic nominations. If elected, Kaufman would caucus with the Republicans in the Senate and, in effect, allow them to keep the seat they held since 1966. However, Assemblyman Jeffrey Klein challenged Kaufman for the Democratic nomination. A Republican challenger, John Fleming, a retired police officer, abandoned plans to run against Congressman Eliot Engel and challenged Kaufman for both the Republican and Conservative nominations. On primary day, Kaufman lost both the Democratic and Republican primaries. He did win the Conservative nomination and also had the support of the New York State Independence Party. Kaufman stayed in the race as a spoiler, and Assemblyman Klein won the seat in the general election.
In 2005, Tosi resigned as Bronx GOP Chairman. Joseph J. Savino
Joseph J. Savino
Joseph J. Savino is a lawyer and current chairman of the Bronx Republican Party. In 2006, he ran for the State Senate in the 34th district , but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein.Joseph “Jay” Savino practices in numerous areas of the law...
, Velella's former deputy chief of staff, was elected the new chairman. Velella accused his two former employees, Tosi and Savino, of seizing control of the Bronx GOP illegally.