Massey quits mayor race, cites $ woes
REPUBLICAN Paul Massey dropped out of the mayor’s race Wednesday — only hours after attending a debate — saying the decision was made solely because of “fund-raising headwinds.”
“I loved campaigning and I think being the mayor would be a fantastic job on two perspectives: one is that it’s a great managerial challenge, but also it is the breadth of what you can do to help people is vast, and I was excited to be able to do that,” he told the Daily News.
Massey (photo inset) told The News he made the decision Tuesday, after considering it for about a week. Nonetheless, he attended the debate out of respect for his Republican opponent, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island, and its host, Crain’s New York.
He said his exit had nothing to do with a comment he made during the debate suggesting the NYPD had “fudged” crime statistics.
After the forum, he sourced the claim to people “on the streets.”
“I don’t believe the police force are fudging the statistics,” Massey added. “I believe the people out in the streets are telling me that they’re concerned that they are.”
Malliotakis said the allegation was irresponsible and an “insult” to the NYPD.
His exit leaves Malliotakis the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination, with her three remaining opponents having little chance of success. “I will now be able to focus all my energies on defeating Bill de Blasio in the November election,” she said in a statement. “Whether it’s (Tuesday’s) A train derailment, our failing schools or an out-of-control homeless crisis, I will take these issues to the mayor.” Massey, who said he wasn’t ready to make an endorsement, announced his plans to run for mayor last August. He touted fundraising records — but he spent more than he raised, burning cash on consultants while failing to gain traction.
Through the last filing period, which ended in May, Massey had raised just over $3 million. He spent nearly $5.2 million and had loaned himself $2.7 million.
Massey said in any business or organization “the key is revenue.”
“If the fund-raising isn’t there, the expense side management matters less,” he said. “I’ll definitely say that the campaign, I would have made minor adjustments to the campaign, but nothing major. I’m not looking in the rearview mirror.”
The next deadline for candidates to disclose how much they raised and spent is in early July, which two sources said likely played into the timing. Massey, a first-time candidate for public office, never appeared to be a natural campaigner.