Victor B. Tosi

Victor B. Tosi (born in 1936) is a long-time member of the Bronx Republican Party. Tosi ran for public 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, Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg and as the personnel and Labor Relations director and later deputy chief clerk for Bronx County New York City Board of Elections.

Tosi became active with the Bronx Republican Party in the mid 1960's as a protege of State Senator John D. Calandra, 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 44 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 and the Bronx Republican organization 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 eleven 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.)

In 1989, Velella asked Tosi to manage the campaign of cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder, 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.

...
Wikipedia