Video: Turner Makes Last Campaign Pitch During MBNA Meeting

The audience at last night’s Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association received a surprise visit from Bob Turner, the GOP candidate for the 9th Congressional District, who stopped by just hours before polls were to open to deliver his “last political speech” before today’s special election.

In an opening statement, Turner emphasized his endorsements from Democrats like former mayor Ed Koch and State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, both of whom rallied behind the Republican more as a sign of opposition to Obama’s Israel policy than as support for Turner’s positions.

Responding to concerns from multiple attendees about constituent services, Turner said he’d have an office in both Brooklyn and Queens, but refused to say if it would be in the Sheepshead Bay area, instead saying somewhere in Flatbush might be more likely.

“I fully understand this is not about winning an election. It’s about representing and serving the people of a community,” Turner said. “To do that, I will staff and I will have people interested in doing the job. The things I don’t know, I’ll learn.”

Turner’s appearance was not a surprise to everyone in the crowd. MBNA President Alan Ditchek said Turner confirmed with the group’s leadership earlier that day. Both Weprin and Turner were invited in the days before the meeting, but Weprin was unable to attend, Ditchek said.