New York State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy has received the influential backing of John Catsimatidis, the billionaire New York City businessman who has been a key figure inside the political power structure architected by former Chairman Ed Cox.
Catsimatidis owns the grocery store Gristedis and the Red Apple chain of gas stations and convenience stores. He recently purchased WABC, the New York City metropolitan area’s most well-known talk radio station. He broadcasts a weekly Sunday program on the station.
His daughter, Andrea Catsidmatidis, is the influential Chairman of the New York County Republican Committee. That the three figures met last week to discuss the strategic direction of New York’s Republican Party is a good indicator that a plan to save the party from ‘redistricting oblivion’ could be in the works.
It comes as surprise to some following Catsidmatidis’ high-profile feud earlier this year with Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa, who has pursued eminent domain proceedings against a long blighted former Red Apple property at one of the most visible intersections in the Town.
Catsidmatidis had threatened divestment from Upstate New York, and implied that the region would suffer job losses in response to the eminent domain action.
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