Bx., Qns. GOPers back Mateo for City Hall

Republican mayoral hopeful Fernando Mateo won endorsements from the Bronx and Queens Republican parties Thursday morning — just days after the Staten Island GOP gave its stamp of approval to Curtis Sliwa.

Mateo works as a spokesman for Hispanics Across America, the state Federation of Taxi Drivers and United Bodegas of America and is the first Latino immigrant to run for mayor as a Republican.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement from both the Bronx Republican Party and the Queens County GOP on the same day. As a Hispanic immigrant and urban Republican, I know that with this nomination, we are making history,” Mateo said. “I plan to live up to this incredible honor by working to fix New York by ensuring public safety and bringing business and jobs back to our great city.”

Mateo is a longtime Republican, but has flirted with Democratic causes before, perhaps the most notable being Mayor de Blasio.

In 2016, he admitted to raising campaign funds for Hizzoner, but directing the money through another donor, an apparent violation of election law.

At the time, he called de Blasio an “honorable man,” even though they “haven’t always seen eye to eye.”

“Our city needs someone who is going to bring back the quality of life we deserve, restore funding to the NYPD so that our streets can be safe again, make sure we get our fair share from City Hall and bring common-sense solutions to our problems,” the Queens GOP said in a written statement Thursday morning. “We believe Fernando Mateo is the best candidate to bring our city back stronger and better than ever.”

The Bronx GOP said in a statement that Mateo is best suited to “continue to expand the Republican coalition.”

“After eight long years of socalled progressive leadership under failed Mayor Bill de Blasio, New Yorkers are suffering through existing crises exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic,” the party added.