By Jill Colvin, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CITY HALL — He's taking his cues straight from a Gristedes catalog.
Billionaire supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis officially launched his bid for mayor on Tuesday, vowing to one-up Mayor Michael Bloomberg by becoming the worst-paid executive in City Hall.
“I’m going to work cheaper than Mayor Bloomberg, who's working for a $1," Catsimatidis said. "I was a grocer. I'll work for 99 cents!"
Standing on the steps of City Hall surrounded by supporters and his family, Catsimatidis painted himself as a Clinton Democrat-turned-Romney Republican who wanted to build on Bloomberg's legacy with big ideas.
“I want to give back to the city — it’s the only reason," he said of the motivation behind his bid. "Making another billion dollars doesn’t mean anything. I want to help New York stay on top."
Catsimatidis, who had considered running for mayor in 2009 but quietly dropped out of the race when Bloomberg made his move to run for a third term, praised the current mayor as someone who has "done a lot of great things for New York."
But the owner of the Gristedes supermarket chain, who ranked 132nd on Forbes' 2012 "Richest People in America List," said that he would run the city differently, proudly declaring that he is "not a Mike Bloomberg billionaire," and pointing to his dress as proof.
"I'm not wearing a $5,000 suit," he said, claiming he'd purchased his jacket for just $99 at Jos. A. Bank. (His cufflinks, he later admitted, were a little fancier: They were given to him by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly as a birthday present.)
Also unlike Bloomberg, he only wants to serve one four-year term if elected — unless, of course, “we don’t have a good replacement," he said.
Catsimatidis said he believes in gay marriage and is against congestion pricing, and considers himself a champion of both businesses and residents. He also ran through some of his plans for office, including the revival of the “big wow" — a World's Fair.
Catsimatidis also admitted that he considers himself a union guy, from his days as a member, and said that, if he were mayor, he would have been able to reach deals with the teachers' and bus drivers' union on a teacher evaluation system and new contracts to avert the school bus strike.
The key, he said, is locking both sides in a room with pizza and not letting them out.
"By four in the morning... after you eat the third pie of pizza, boy you get more reasonable,” he said.
Asked to asses his chief Republican rival, former MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, whom many see as the early frontrunner, Catsimatidis said that Lhota was well-qualified, but lacked his status as a "visionary."
“There’s a difference between a visionary and a maintenance person," Catsimatidis said.
He also defended his switch to the Republican party, and said the one thing that has frustrated him most about Barack Obama's presidency is what he perceives as a growing resentment of the rich.
“Every morning I woke up, I was being attacked for being a successful American,” he said.
Catsimatidis, who has already put $1 million of his own money in his campaign coffers, also said he's willing to spend whatever it takes to get elected, if things go well.
“If it’s going our direction, we’ll spend whatever we have to spend,” he said. “It’s my investment in New York.”
And despite his relatively late arrival into the race, Catsimatidis said he was confident.
“I’m in it to win it,” he said. "I would not be having this press conference if I wasn't going to win."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.