Stephen Minarik

Stephen J. Minarik III (born January 2, 1960 in Rochester, New York) is a New York State political figure who served as the chairman of the Monroe County, New York and New York State Republican Committees.

Minarik is the son of Stephen J., Jr. and Eleanor Minarik. He graduated from Irondequoit High School in 1978 and received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Rochester in 1982.Citation | publication-date = 2008-06-28 | title = Stephen J. Minarik III | periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | pages = A14 He credits working in his grandfather's restaurant, Steve's Treetop Inn, as key to his future political career.Citation | publication-date = 2004-12-15 | title = A Politician at Home Behind the Curtain | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/15/nyregion/15profile.html | accessdate = 2008-07-01

He began his career in government in 1983, when he was hired to be the assistant deputy county clerk in the office of the Monroe County Legislature's Republican majority. He worked on Republican campaigns, most notably those of Congressman Fred J. Eckert and County Executive Lucien Morin. In 1988, he moved to a position in the county's community development administration and formed a campaign committee in 1989 to elect Republicans to the County Legislature. In 1990, the GOP hired him to be the executive director of its county committee which led to his election to chairman in 1992Citation | publication-date = 1992-03-25 | title = New Captain Takes Helm of Monroe County GOP | periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | pages = 1B, a post he held for sixteen years.

During this time, he led the Republican Party to a takeover of the County Legislature and elected three consecutive Republican county executives: Robert L. King, Jack Doyle, and Maggie Brooks. Said Ben Smith of the New York Observer, "his record in Rochester is, in political terms, difficult to argue with: With only a slight Republican registration advantage, and working both as a paid political consultant and as county chairman, he took nearly all of the county’s important offices away from the ruling Democrats and built a formidable organization".Citation | publication-date = 2005-08-07 | title = Roll Over, Lee Atwater | periodical = New York Observer | url = http://www.observer.com/node/37435 | accessdate = 2008-07-08

His successes as County Chairman led Governor George E. Pataki to select him to be the Republican state chairman in November 2004.Citation | publication-date = 2004-11-16 | title = Leader From Rochester Area Named State G.O.P. Chairman | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/nyregion/16repubs.html | accessdate = 2008-07-01 Minarik quickly came under attack following his remarks on the election of Howard Dean as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, stating that the Democrats were now "the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart, and Howard Dean".Citation | publication-date = 2005-2-17 | title = Best of the Web Today | periodical = OpinionJournal | url = http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110006306 | accessdate = 2008-07-09. These comments set off a national firestorm, with Pataki publicly rebuking Minarik, and Dean demanding an apology or Minarik's resignation. Minarik refused, calling this "just the latest "`Dean Scream"', and stating that "the Democrats would be wise to take action on members like Lynne Stewart, rather than attacking me. Maybe then the Democratic Party can start to regain some credibility with the American people"Citation | publication-date = 2005-02-16 | title = Dean: N.Y. GOP Leader Must Go | periodical = CBS News | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/16/politics/main674583.shtml | accessdate = 2008-07-09

Minarik also earned the ire from the Conservative Party of New York and State Senator Serphin Maltese for leading a successful push to revamp the state committee's bylaws, and for pushing to include the Log Cabin Republicans on the State GOP's Executive Committee. Stated Minarik, "in the Republican Party we are allowed to have diversity of opinion. While I may agree with Serph Maltese on many of the issues, particularly with regard to the Log Cabin Republican group, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to sit at our table and be part of our party. Inclusion won, and inclusion won handily. I'm happy about that".Citation | publication-date = 2005-06-10 | title = New York GOP votes to give Log Cabin seat on executive committee | periodical = The Advocate | url = http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid17597.asp | accessdate = 2008-07-09

Minarik was a vocal booster of former Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld's candidacy for Governor, and unsuccessfully pushed for the party to run moderate Republican candidates for Governor and United States Senate. In June, 2006, the State Republican Committee proceeded to nominate a conservative slate of candidates not favored by Minarik, including Gubernatorial nominee John Faso. Citation | publication-date = 2006-06-03 | title = To Some New York Republicans, a Victor Remains an Underdog | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/nyregion/03faso.html | accessdate = 2008-07-09 Minarik prevailed on Weld to drop out of the Gubernatorial election to unify the party behind Faso.Citation | publication-date = 2006-06-06 | title = Weld Loses Key Backing in New York Governor's Race | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/nyregion/06gov.html | accessdate = 2008-07-09

Faso faced questions during the campaign regarding his conservatism, his pro-life position and his lobbying activities.Citation | publication-date = 2006-06-08 | title = Faso steadfast on opposition to abortions | periodical = Newsday | url = http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stfaso084773348jun08,0,5794841.story | accessdate = 2008-07-09Citation | publication-date = 2006-11-30 | title = Candidate for N.Y. Governor Didn’t Break Lobbying Law, Panel Says | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/nyregion/30faso.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2008-07-09 The Faso-led ticket lost all statewide offices to the Democrats for the first time in 60 years, and lost three Congressional seats. This included losses to Governor Eliot L. Spitzer and State Comptroller Alan Hevesi; both of whom would later resign their offices in disgrace.Citation | publication-date = 2006-11-08 | title = Clinton, Spitzer, Cuomo lead Democratic sweep | periodical = USA Today | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/NY/NY.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-09Minarik stepped down as Chairman shortly after the 2006 elections.Citation | publication-date = 2004-11-16 | title = Another Hurdle for G.O.P.: A New Chairman Is Needed | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/nyregion/13minarik.html | accessdate = 2008-07-01

In 2008, he stepped down as Chairman of the Monroe County Republican Committee at the request of Maggie Brooks.Citation | publication-date = 2008-06-28 | title = Minarik Out as County GOP Chairman | periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | pages = A1Citation | publication-date = 2008-06-29 | title = Minarik's Successor as Monroe County GOP Leader Remains Unclear | periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | pages = A1

Minarik is a stroke survivor who reported developing a preference for country music after the incident.Citation | publication-date = 2004-12-15 | title = A Politician at Home Behind the Curtain | periodical = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/15/nyregion/15profile.html | accessdate = 2008-07-01

He resides in Webster, New York and is a partner in a political consulting firm, Impact Communications, LLC.

References

External links

* [http://www.monroegop.com/ Monroe County Republican Committee]

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