There’s no love between the two Republican mayoral hopefuls Joe Lhota and john Catsimatidis. The disdain between the two men, with the McDonald campaign always chiming in to castigate Mr. Catsimatidis, is one that is rare for a party in minority (in terms of electorate) questing to retain power. The latest episode, as reported by Politicker, took the race to a challenge on the character of each other, by dealing with legal issues.

On Friday, Republican mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis hinted to reporters that he had testified in an investigation pertaining to the City Council, but declined to provide any further details, according to a report by Ross Barkan. “I’m not sure I’m allowed to talk about it but there are a few investigations going on that I am privy to,” Mr. Catsimatidis said in Queens today after being asked why none of the Republican City Council members had endorsed his candidacy.

“There were certain situations going on where there were threats made with people losing their city jobs if they didn’t do certain things certain ways,” said Mr. Catsimatidis. “You ever heard about that? I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

Reached for comment, Lhota spokeswoman Jessica Proud accused Mr. Catsimatidis of dishonesty. “John consistently demonstrates a reckless relationship with the truth,” she told Politicker. “He is tossing out scurrilous claims to distract from his flailing candidacy. The only investigation going on was when his closest campaign advisor and counsel to his company was brought out in handcuffs.”

Upon seeing Ms. Proud’s remarks, the Catsimatidis campaign returned fire. “The only ‘reckless relationship with the truth’ is coming from the Lhota campaign; two of their key supporters Councilman Dan Halloran and Bronx Chair Jay Savino were led off in handcuffs,” Catsimatidis spokesman Rob Ryan told Politicker. “The Lhota campaign seems intent on throwing mud, how sad.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)