By Rafaela Prifti, Dalip Greca /
Sunday, September 24 – MARKO KEPI, known in the community as a leading activist from the Albanian Roots, announced that he will be running for a Republican seat in the New York Assembly. Launching Mr. Kepi’s campaign from a Staten Island district, there were two former United States Representatives of New York, Joe DioGuardi and Michael Grimm. Each are taking on important roles in Marko Kepi’s race to Albany. Former Republican Congressman Joe DioGuardi also the founder of the Albanian American Civic League since 1989 announced that he will be the Treasurer and the one-term Representative from Staten Island, Michael Grimm announced that he is the Campaign Manager. Speaking as the guest of honor, Joe DioGuardi emphasized the Albanian background and the American upbringing of Marko Kepi. The census data shows that the District that will be electing the Republican Member for the New York State Assembly in November 2020 is inhabited by a sizeable Albanian community.
At the rally on Hylan Boulevard, there were hundreds of supporters, young and old, from numerous Albanian organizations and associations in New York, holding signs and cheering for Marko. During the announcements, Mr. DioGuardi acknowledged the presence of “a hero of the Albanians” at the rally, Ambassador William Graham Walker, a career US diplomat, whom he invited at the podium.