Assemblymember Adam Clayton Powell has represented the 68th District in East Harlem since he won the seat in the 2000 general election. He has also served on the City Council.
In recent years, Powell, who has reportedly considered running for city office, has had legal troubles. In March he was pulled over for drunk driving. He pleaded innocent to the charges on Oct. 17. In 2004, he faced rape allegations that were later dropped and managed to hold onto his seat.
Running against Powell is Republican Norma Soriano and, for the Independence Party, George L. Espada, who has been a wrestler and worked for the Board of Elections. Espada has previously run unsuccessfully for the Assembly and the City Council and initially tried to challenge Powell in the Democratic primary but was reportedly knocked off the ballot.
Little information is available about Soriano.
Powell raised no money in the period leading up to the filing of the 32 Day Pre-General report and had $12,775 on hand. Reports were not available for either of his opponents.
A Former Nadler Aide vs. a Former Nadler Opponent
Democratic Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal was elected less than one full term ago in a special election in March 2006. Before Rosenthal was elected to represent this district on Manhattan's West Side, she was an assistant to U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler.
Rosenthal's Republican challenger is Eleanor Friedman. In 2006, Friedman ran against Nadler for U.S. House of Representatives. Little other information is available about her.
In the period leading up to the 32 Day Pre-General campaign finance filing, Rosenthal collected $21,875, leaving her with a balance of $62,462. Friedman has not filed a report on her campaign funds.
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Assemblymember Micah Kellner was elected to the New York Assembly just over a year ago in a special election in June 2007. Kellner beat his Republican challenger with 64 percent of the vote. He is the first out bisexual member of the State Assemblymember.
Kellner's Republican challenger in this election is Georgiana Viest, an active member of the Republican Party who has been the manager of the Metropolitan Republican Club.
In his 32 Day Pre-General financial disclosure, Kellner reported having about $34,000 dollars in campaign funds. Viest has not filed any financial reports.
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