Former MTA chief Joe Lhota formally announced his candidacy for mayor yesterday, saying he’s not plotting an extension of the Rudy Giuliani administration, in which he served as a deputy mayor.
“Political operatives are trying to pigeonhole me as Rudy II,” Lhota told The Post. “We are different people. We have different approaches. We have the same absolute love for the City of New York. Joe Lhota’s going to be Joe Lhota.”
Giuliani is promoting Lhota at every opportunity, even appearing on NY1, which he had boycotted for years while in office.
A Quinnipiac University poll out this week found that 42 percent of voters would be more inclined to support a candidate endorsed by the ex-mayor, but 37 percent wouldn’t.
“I think Rudy will be used where appropriate and when appropriate,” explained Lhota. “I think you’ll see him on Staten Island a lot. I think you’ll see him in some communities in Queens a lot. I understand his strengths, and I understand his weaknesses, just as I do my own.”
Most political insiders make Lhota a long shot, primarily because he’s running as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.
But Lhota, who won high grades in his brief tenure as MTA chairman, is counting on his reputation for competence in overcoming odds.
“There’s no indication that citizens of New York vote based on party label,” he argued. “The citizens of New York vote based on the person running, their ideas and what they’re going to do for the future of the city.”
Lhota had only praise for Mayor Bloomberg’s tenure, calling the reduction in crime “extraordinary” and crediting him with softening the recession’s blow.
Asked if he’d change anything, Lhota pointed to increases in city spending.
“I’m not talking about not growing the government,” Lhota said.
“I’m talking about lowering the rate of growth.”