Michael Grimm (politician)

Michael Grimm is the Republican Party nominee for New York's 13th congressional district, which represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. Grimm, a first-time candidate, is a former FBI agent, businessman, and U.S. Marine, having served in the Gulf War. He is currently facing incumbent Congressman Michael McMahon.

FBI Agent

Michael Grimm worked for the FBI as an agent for 9 years. He worked in the FBI Gambino Squad under the nickname Mikey Suits, a moniker he earned from wearing his three piece suits. In his undercover work, he was responsible for learning about the inside activities of Peter Gotti, John Gotti's brother.

2010 Republican Party primary

Vito Fossella, the last Republican to hold the district's seat, endorsed Michael Allegretti.

Michael Grimm's campaign gained national attention from Tea party Republicans and was a favorite for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which placed its maximum funding—$90,000—into his campaign. Grimm received endorsements from high-profile Republicans, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. Grimm was also endorsed by former President George H.W. Bush, who applauded his service in the Gulf War and as part of the intelligence community.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2010 § District 13*

Dov Hikind, a socially-conservative Democrat, endorsed Michael Grimm over Michael McMahon, touting his service in Operation Desert Storm as a service to "defend the security of America and Israel." Hikind was among several Jewish leaders who supported Grimm over McMahon, a result in part due to a controversial negative ad concerning "Jewish money" launched by McMahon's staff.

On October 12, the Staten Island Advance reported that the McMahon campaign had initiated negative advertising, sending emails attacking Grimm's business credentials. The ads claimed that Grimm's reals estate and restaurant investments were strong failures.

On October 28, 2010, Grimm and McMahon held a political debate. During the debate, four of McMahon's staff had stood up and offered their front row seats to Grimm's ex-wife, Susan Kim. The Staten Island Tea Party accused McMahon's campaign of playing dirty tricks, allegations he denied. The Brooklyn Eagle analyzed McMahon's move as a "serious blunder", as Grimm exhibited strong character while his ex-wife was shown wearing a McMahon political button.

Grimm clashed with McMahon on the issue of the U.S. economic stimulus, which the Staten Island Advance said was the "starkest contrast" among the two candidates. Grimm stated that the stimulus was a "huge waste" of taxpayer money and was ineffective in generating job creation and economic recovery, whereas McMahon cited improvements in the state budget and renovations on the Staten Island Expressway and the St. George Ferry Terminal as direct successes of the stimulus.

2010 Congressional Election

Grimm's campaign has become known Island-wide for it's dirty tricks, including the extremely misleading and unethical signage "McMahon raised my property taxes 18%". These signs reference the post-9/11 tax increase passed nearly unanimously by the City Council to avoid laying off thousands of firemen, police officers, and other 9/11 first responders, a tax increase which was rolled back 18 months later, as well as offset by a $400 property tax rebate. Of course, the signs make no mention of this, and Grimm has yet to distance himself publicly from these campaign shenanigans.