Turner To Rescue Panicked Queens GOP?

Things have not gone well for Queens Republicans recently. 

Two of the party's most influential names — Dan Halloran and Vince Tabone — were recently arrested, wrapped up in a corruption scandal that is likely to end both of their careers, whether or not it results in jail time.

That scandal may be the final straw for some exasperated Republicans in Queens, who are now calling for County Chair Phil Ragusa to step down.

Local Republican leaders drafted a letter and sent it to Ragusa last week, according to the New York Daily News, urging him to step down so former Forest Hills Rep. Bob Turner could take his place.

Would he be interested? On Election Night in November, Turner, obviously crestfallen after the loss of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and local political ally Eric Ulrich, Turner claimed he was done with politics. 

"I deliberately made no decision until today on what I'm going to do, and one of those things is going to be not to be in politics," Turner said at the time. "So that's part of the decision."

Turner claimed in last week's article that he is not running for the position, but he also didn't shy away from dinging Ragusa either.

Turner's district — formerly the Queens Ninth — was drawn into oblivion during 2012 redistricting, forcing him to choose between attempting the jump to statewide office and running in unfriendly territory. 

Turner chose the former, declaring his intention to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, but was unable to best statewide conservative choice Wendy Long in the primary. 

What do you think? Would Turner be the right person to turn things around for the Queens Republican Party? Or is it a lost cause in the borough altogether?

Let us know what you think in the comments.