A leading Republican running for New York City mayor is warning the metropolis would be hit with more crime and high taxes if a Democrat is elected.
"All of the advancements that have happened in the city over the last 20 years — all of the quality-of-life changes, all of the increases in jobs — I believe are quite fragile," former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota told
DNAinfo.com New York.
Lhota, who has vowed not to raise taxes and to do more with less money, added: "I'm not sure you're going to get the same type of response from anyone else running."
The Bronx-born politician served as Rudy Giuliani’s deputy mayor and budget director and recently received kudos for the MTA’s fast response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.
"As I observed and watched all of the candidates running for mayor, and knowing how important and how complex the city of New York is, I thought my background and my experience fit what's needed to bring New York City to its next level," he said.
One of his top priorities is beefing up the city’s public school system with the introduction of new teaching methods, more computer tablets, and the possibility of longer school days and semesters.
DNAinfo.com points out that Lhota is running in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 6-to-1, but the candidate says he isn’t worried.
"I don't buy into the political punditry that believes that New Yorkers vote based on party lines," he said. "I believe New Yorkers are very independent. They will vote based on the person who will help them and help their city go to the next level.’’
In his favor is the fact that it has been two decades since the city last elected a Democratic mayor.
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