Tuesday, May 22, 2012
First six-candidate debate kicks off last month of primary campaign.
Six candidates vying to be the first representative from New York’s new Sixth Congressional District put themselves, and their conversational skills, on display Monday night during a debate at Flushing's Queens Library. Participating in the event were candidates Dan Halloran, a Republican, Elizabeth Crowley, Rory Lancman, Grace Meng and Robert Mittman, all Democrats, and Green Party candidate Evergreen Chou. Organized by the MinKwon Center for Community Action, the forum was designed to give candidates a straightforward platform from which to address the pressing issues on the city, state and national levels. The event stayed civil with the candidates — almost all of whom are very familiar with one another — joking together between …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Robert Mittman makes it onto the June 26 primary ballot.
Bayside doctor Robert Mittman became the fourth Democrat to enter the Sixth Congressional District race this week after he officially made it on the ballot. Mittman, whose office is located along Bell Boulevard, will compete with state Assemblywoman Grace Meng, D-Flushing, state Assemblyman Rory Lancman, D-Fresh Meadows, and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, D-Middle Village, in the June 26 primary. Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, is the sole Republican in the race. “I decided to run for the United States Congress because I believe that our government is no longer working in the best interest of the people,” Mittman said. “Something is wrong in Washington and as a lifelong community resident, a parent, a voter and medical doctor, I am…
Find out who's getting the nod in local electoral races.
We’ve got a smaller-than-usual group of endorsements this week, after a flurry of activity for the month of April. Assemblyman Rory Lancman Lancman, D-Fresh Meadows, picked up a handful of endorsements in the last week, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees New York chapter on Thursday. At the same event, Lancman also got the endorsement of the Civil Service Employees Association. “I’m proud to be supported by working New Yorkers looking for a champion to stand up against the Republicans’ anti-worker, anti-middle class agenda,” Lancman said last week. U.S. Rep. Bob Turner Turner, R-Forest Hills, grabbed another GOP member's backing this week in his quest to become Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's, D-N.Y., …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Sen. Gillibrand is still far outpacing Queens congressman.
Forest Hills Rep. Bob Turner is having a hard time making any headway against both his Republican opponents and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, if the latest Siena College poll is to be believed. In a poll released Monday morning, which covered topics like the presidential campaign, New York’s minimum wage and more, Turner’s, R-Forest Hills, favorability ratings actually dropped four points from one month ago and most voters still have yet to form an opinion. Turner’s favorability rating was a measly 12, compared to 16 last month, and his unfavorable number was 16, while 72 percent of voters polled had yet to form an opinion. Turner’s Republican opponents George Maragos and Wendy Long fared little better, scoring an eight and a 10 …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Silverstein, Vallone and Duane are also considering runs for the seat, a Queens Democratic Party source says.
Three Democrats are already considering a run for Councilman Dan Halloran's, R-Whitestone, seat in the fall of 2013, a Queens County Democratic Party source said. John Duane, a former northeast Queens assemblyman and brother of state Sen. Tom Duane, D-Manhattan, and Matthew Silverstein, a Democratic state committeeman, have already registered campaign committees for the seat. And Paul Vallone, the brother of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., D-Astoria, is also mulling a bid for the seat, the Democratic Party source said. "Right now, the party is focusing on the congressional race and a few Assembly races," the source said. "After that, they'll look at this race." Several other northeast Queens Democrats would likely jump into the 2013 race …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Find out who's getting the nod this week.
It's time to take a look at all the endorsements in the upcoming primary in New York's Sixth Congressional District this week. Assemblyman Rory Lancman Lancman, D-Fresh Meadows, has earned the endorsement of the New American Voters Association, a group dedicated to advancing the cause of immigrant communities in New York City. “I’m thrilled to have the support of NAVA and leaders in the South Asian community in this race,” Lancman said. “As someone who has represented one of the most diverse Assembly districts in the state, my experience building coalitions and fighting for the rights of immigrants and New Americans will be invaluable in representing one of the most diverse Congressional districts in the country.” City Councilwoman …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
POLL: Which candidate would you pick?
As New York City Republicans prepare for the 2013 mayoral race, party leadership may have some trouble recruiting their preferred candidate. The GOP's five county chairmen said in a release that their first choice was billionaire grocery store executive John Catsimatidis. But Catsimatidis has said he would prefer to support Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, according to a report in the New York Times. "I've been supporting Ray Kelly. I'm in the bullpen if Ray Kelly doesn't do it," the Times reported Catsimatidis as saying. But Kelly has said he does not intend to run and would prefer to throw his support behind Catsimatidis, according to a report in TheHuffingtonPost. GOP Manhattan chairman Dan Isaacs said they intend to stick to their …
Lancman, Halloran swap barbs over city's controversial new bill.
The general election hasn’t started in NY-6 yet, but already there’s a fight brewing between candidates Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, and state Assemblyman Rory Lancman, D-Fresh Meadows. Lancman fired the first volley earlier this week, blasting Halloran for being one of five votes against the Living Wage bill in the City Council. The bill, which would raise the minimum wage paid by businesses that except city subsidies, was widely approved of in the council, but Halloran was strongly against it, and outspoken on the subject. “Mr. Halloran’s ‘no’ vote on the living wage bill in the City Council was a slap in the face to working New Yorkers desperately struggling to get by in this economy,” Lancman said. “Apparently, the right to …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Find out who is lending their support this week.
Let’s take a look at some more endorsements this week as we merrily roll along towards the state’s Democratic and Republican primaries in June. U.S. Rep. Bob Turner — Senate Turner, R-Forest Hills, picked up the endorsement of New York City’s Republican City Council delegation on Monday, locking down a group of people who helped him campaign for the office he currently holds. The council’s Republican delegation has four members. “Bob is the symbolic fed-up American who cannot not sit on the sidelines while our country's future is being walked off a cliff,” said James Oddo. “He showed up on the scene with zero political experience, challenged President Obama's failing policies in an overwhelmingly Democratic district and won. It was a …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Long-time senator will focus his efforts on helping Councilman Halloran's congressional bid.
Update: April 25, 2:00 p.m.: Former state Sen. Frank Padavan said he would not attempt to reclaim his old seat by challenging Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside. Padavan told Patch this afternoon that he is not considering another run for office, but would support Councilman Dan Halloran's, R-Whitestone, congressional run this year. -- State Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, will not face off against former Sen. Frank Padavan this fall, a Queens County Republican source said. Padavan, who was the senator for northeast Queens for 38 years before being defeated by Avella in 2010, will not challenge Avella for his Senate seat, but will instead stump for Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, who is running for the Sixth Congressional District. “My …
Scott Webb
10:24 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
If and when there is a debate between the three candidates, Maragos will prove that he is the most knowledgeable on the issues, most notably the economy, which is the most important issue facing everybody today. As time goes on, Maragos will only rise in these polls. more ›