The Daily Politics by Elizabeth Benjamin
Anthony Como, former Queens ADA, city Board of Elections commissioner and longtime aide to Sen. Serphin Maltese, has formally announced his candidacy for the seat to be vacated by Republican Councilman Dennis Gallagher next month following his guilty plea to sexual abuse in a deal to avoid jail time.
Gallagher's resignation is effective 30 days after the date he submitted his intent to depart in writing. He has said his last day will be April 18, but the Council Speaker's office indicates the date, by its calculations, will in fact be April 17.
The power to call a special election, which will technically be nonpartisan, to replace Gallagher rests with Mayor Bloomberg. But the City Charter prevents him from doing so until the seat is actually vacant. He then has three days to pick an election date that falls sometime between 40 and 55 days of the vacancy.
Como's announcement press release includes an endorsement from his boss, Maltese, who called his aide "a man of integrity" who "possesses the skills that are necessary to tackle the tough issues" that face 30th CD residents. Como is also backed by the Queens County GOP.
However, the first tough challenge Como will likely have to face is getting past the man who used to hold Gallagher's seat and now wants it back: Tom Ognibene.
The Democrats are expected to get behind Elizabeth Crowley, who ran unsuccessfully against Gallagher in 2001 and is the cousins of Queens Democratic Chairman/Rep. Joe Crowley.
Como plans to hold a campaign kick-off this Saturday at his campaign HQ in Glendale.
1 comment:
Is there any truth to the rumor that Elizabeth Crowley was at least partly responsible for X Assembly Member and now inmate Brian Mclauglin's divorce?
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