Republican challenger in Democrat stronghold of Queens

By Sergey Kadinsky

Taub, 45, a medical malpractice attorney and father of five who is both an Orthodox Jew and of Hispanic descent, is challenging Rep. Gregory Meeks, an African American who has held the Sixth Congressional District seat since 1998 when he succeeded Floyd Flake, and ran unopposed two years ago. The Sixth District is a longtime Democratic stronghold, largely African American, and has never had a viable Republican candidate.

“The whole district is changing,” said Taub. “Neighborhoods that were completely African-American are now becoming more diverse.”

Sensing an opportunity to reach the new residents, Taub threw in his hat as the Republican candidate. “You have to represent everyone in your district,” he said.

Taub opposes President Obama’s health care reforms and supports a controversial Arizona law that empowers police to question anyone they suspect could be an illegal immigrant.

“The standard for suing in Medicare should be recklessness rather than negligence, otherwise it will bankrupt the system,” Taub said. The reforms will drive the country further into debt, he believes, calling it a matter of national security. “That’s what got me interested in running, the indescribable deficits and debt rating,” he said. “Who’s supporting us? China! You can’t be a superpower if someone else is paying your bills.”

If Americans were reminded to get an annual physical, then long-term health forecasts would likely improve, and at less cost to taxpayers, Taub added.

About the Arizona law, Taub said, “The federal government is refusing to do its duty. The suburb towns of Arizona are becoming lawless and we have to stop it.”

Rep. Meeks has condemned the Arizona law. “As a former prosecutor, I believe there are more constitutional and humane methods of dealing with the pressing issue of illegal immigration,” he wrote in an online statement. “But a blatantly discriminatory law that targets people of Hispanic descent is beyond the pale.”

Taub, who grew up in Kew Gardens, is of Hispanic descent on his mother’s side — she is from Cali, Colombia — and said he spoke Spanish at home as a child, in addition to Yiddish and English. The intent of the Arizona law, in his view, is to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers for public services used by illegal immigrants. “We are not going to pay for someone who is illegally here.”

Taub, who has been endorsed by the Conservative Party, in addition to running on the Republican ticket, promises to reach out to all communities in the district. “I’ve spoken to many African Americans, and they’re upset. Meeks has two grand jury investigations out against him.”

The most recent subpoena, served on Meeks in early April, looks at a charity that promised funds to Hurricane Katrina victims, but failed to deliver. Meeks is also being investigated for his ties to Robert Gaskin. The Queens-based architect worked on a number of projects for nonprofits led by Meeks, Senate President Malcolm Smith, and predecessor Floyd Flake.

Meeks paid Gaskin $830,000 for renovation work on his home in October 2006 but in 2007, the city appraised the value of the home at $1,239,000, according to the New York Daily News.

In the 2008 election, Meeks ran unopposed, but nearly a third of those voting chose to vote blank over Meeks, signaling dislike of Meeks even before the grand jury investigations emerged.

In a year of widespread anti-incumbent rage, Taub is optimistic about his chances, and said that African Americans should not be expected to simply reelect an African American Democrat. “They’re growing out of that,” said Taub. “If the Democratic Party had gotten rid of Meeks, I wouldn’t be running.”