The following results are based on the unofficial vote tally as reported by the wire services and, as much as possible, directly from the New York City Board of Elections. The official count from the Board of Elections can take weeks to complete and will be posted as soon as they are available. The results below are subject to change as the official count is made public. The winning candidates will face opponents in the general election on November 7
Office | Winners | Date Posted |
Seat 1 | Election in 2010 | - |
Seat 2 | Hillary Clinton (Dem); John Spencer (Rep) | 9-12-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
Dist 5 - Queens | No Primary | - |
Dist 6 - Queens | No Primary | - |
Dist 7 - Bronx | No Primary | |
Dist 8 - Manhattan | No Primary | - |
Dist 9 - Queens | No Primary | - |
Dist 10 - Brooklyn | Ed Towns (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Dist 11 - Brooklyn | Yvette Clarke (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Dist 12 - Brooklyn | No Primary | - |
Dist 13- Staten Island | Vito Fossella (Inp) | 9-13-06 |
Dist 14 - Manhattan | No Primary | - |
Dist 15 - Manhattan | No Primary | |
Dist 16 - Bronx | No Primary | - |
Dist 17 - Bronx | Eliot Engel (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
Governor | Eliot Spitzer (Dem) | 9-12-04 |
Lieutenant Governor | No Primary | - |
Comptroller | No Primary | |
Attorney General | Andrew Cuomo (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
76 - Fordham, West Farms, Parkchester, Castle Hill | No Primary | |
77 - Highbridge, Morrisania | No Primary | -- |
78 - Bronx Park South, Belmont, Fordham, Bedford Park, South Riverdale, Van Cortland Village, Marble Hill | No Primary | - |
79 - Morrisania, Claremont, Crotona-Mapes, Longwood, Charlotte Gardens, Belmont | Michael Benjamin (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
80 - Pelham Parkway, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Bay, Van Cortlandt Village, Norwood, Bedford Park | Naomi Rivera (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
81 - Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, Marble Hill, Norwood, Woodlawn, Wakefield | No Primary | - |
82 - Co-op City, Throgs Neck, City Island, Locust Point, Edgewater Park, parts of Castle Hill, Westchester Square, Zerega | No Primary | |
83 - Olinville, Williamsbridge, Wakefield, Edenwald, Eastchester, Fish Bay, Baychester | No Primary | - |
84 - Highbridge, Melrose, Longwood, Mott Haven, Port Morris, Hunts Point | No Primary | |
85 - Bronx River, Harding Park, Clason Point, Hunts Point and Soundview | No Primary | |
86 - Bronx | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
28 - South and West Bronx, East Harlem, Roosevelt Island, parts of North Yorkville, Upper Washington Heights | No Primary | - |
31 - West Side of Manhattan, Northwest Bronx | No Primary | - |
32 - Soundview, Castle Hill, Clasons Point, Hunts Point, Mott Haven, Melrose, Parkchester, Morrisania, Van Nest, West Farms, Bronx River | No Primary | - |
33 - Bronx | No Primary | - |
34 - Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Throgsneck, City Island, Woodlawn, Norwood, Wakefield, Yonkers, Pelham, Pelham Manor, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon | No Primary | - |
36 - Bronx | Ruth Thompson (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
40 - East New York, Brownsville | Diane Gordon (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
41 - Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Flatlands, Canarsie, East Flatbush | No Primary | - |
42 - Flatbush, Midwood | No Primary | - |
43 - Crown Heights, Flatbush | Karim Camara | 9-12-06 |
44 - Park Slope, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Windsor Terrace | No Primary | - |
45 - Brighton Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Flatbush, Manhattan Beach, Midwood, Plum Beach, Sheepshead Bay | No Primary | - |
46 - Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Marlboro, Sea Gate, high-rises of Brightwater, Luna Park, Trump Village, Warbasse | Alec Brook-Krasny | 9-13-06 |
47 - Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and Midwood | No Primary | - |
48 - Boro Park, Dyker Heights, Kensington, Flatbush | No Primary | - |
49 - Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park | No Primary | - |
50 - Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn | No Primary | - |
51 - Sunset Park, Red Hook, Wyckoff, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, South of Park Slope, Borough Park, Boerum Hill | No Primary | - |
52 - Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Bay Ridge | No Primary | - |
53 - Bushwick, Ridgewood, Williamsburg | No Primary | - |
54 - Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bedford, Stuyvesant, East New York, Cypress Hills, City Line | No Primary | |
55 - Oceanhill, Browsville, Bedford, Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Bushwick | No Primary | -- |
56 - Tompkins Park North, Weeksville, Bedford-Stuyvesant | Annette Robinson (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
57 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, parts of Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant | Hakeem Jeffries (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
58 - Flatbush, Brownsville, Canarsie | No Primary | - |
59 - Flatlands, Canarsie, Mill Island, Bergen Beach | Alan Maisel (Dem) |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
17 - Bushwick, Cypress Hills, parts of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York | No Primary | |
18 - Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Red Hook, parts of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens | Velmanette Montgomery (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
19 - Canarsie, East Flatbush, parts of Brownsville, Crown Heights, East New York | No Primary | - |
20 - Brooklyn | Eric Adams (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
21 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Borough Park | Kevin Parker (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
22 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, southern Sunset Park, Boro Park, St. George, Stapleton, Rosebank, Dongan Hills, Grassmere, New Dorp, South Beach, Midland Beach, Arrochas, Thompkinsville, Clifton | No Primary | - |
23 - Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Seagate, Coney Island, Windsor Terrace, parts of Brighton Beach, Kensington, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Park Slope in Brooklyn. North Shore of Staten Island | No Primary | - |
25 - Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Navy Yard, Lower Manhattan | Martin Connor (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
27 - Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergan Beach, Flatbush | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
64 - Lower East Side | No Primary | - |
65 - Upper East Side of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island | No Primary | - |
66 - Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, East Village | No Primary | - |
67 - Upper West Side of Manhattan | No Primary | - |
68 - Harlem | Adam Clayton Powell IV (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
69 - Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights | Daniel O'Donnell (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
70 - Morningside Heights, Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville | No Primary | - |
71 - West Harlem, Washington Heights | No Primary | - |
72 - Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill | Adriano Espaillat (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
73 - East side of Manhattan | No Primary | - |
74 - East side of Manhattan | Brian P. Kavanagh (Dem) | 9-13-06 |
75 - Chelsea, Clinton, Murray Hill, Midtown, Lincoln Center area in Manhattan | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
25 - Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Navy Yard, Lower Manhattan | Martin Connor (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
26 - Murray Hill, Tutor City, Sutton Place, Yorkville | No Primary | - |
28 - South and West Bronx, East Harlem, Roosevelt Island, parts of North Yorkville, Upper Washington Heights | No Primary | - |
29 - Manhattan's West Side from 77th Street to Battery Park, sections of East Midtown, Lower East Side, Little Italy, Chinatown | No Primary | - |
30 - Harlem, Upper West Side, Washington Heights | No Primary | - |
31 - West Side of Manhattan, Northwest Bronx | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
22 - Queens | Ellen Young (Dem) | 9-13-06 |
23 - Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Far Rockaway | No Primary | - |
24 - New Hyde Park, Flushing , Fresh Meadows, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, Bayside, Holliswood, Bellerose, Floral Park, Glen Oak, Douglaston | No Primary | - |
25 - Flushing, Whitestone | Rory Lancman (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
26 - East Flushing, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Whitestone, Malba, Bay Terrace, Floral Park | No Primary | - |
27 - Flushing, Queen Garden Hill, College Point, Briarwood, Auberndale, Hill Crest, Jamaica Estates | No Primary | - |
28 - Forest Hills, Rego Park, Middle Village, Glendale | Dolores Maddis (Rep) | - |
29 - Rosedale, Laurelton, Queens Village | No Primary | - |
30 - Maspeth, Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Middle Village, Astoria | No Primary | - |
31 - Far Rockaway, Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park | No Primary | - |
32 - Jamaica Estates, South Jamaica Estates, Rochdale, Springfield | No Primary | - |
33 - Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Howard, St. Alban, Bellerose, Cunnigham Heights | No Primary | - |
34 - Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona | No Primary | - |
35 - East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside | No Primary | - |
36 - Astoria, Old Astoria, Long Island City, Queensbridge, Ditmars, Ravenswood, Steinway | No Primary | - |
37 - Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City, Maspeth, Ravenswood, Blissville | No Primary | - |
38 - Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Glendale, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Middle Village | No Primary | - |
39 - Jackson Heights, Corona | Jose Peralta (Dem) | 9-12-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
10 - Queens | Shirley Huntley (Dem) | 9/13/06 |
11 - Queens Village, Flushing, Bayside Whitestone, Douglaston, Little Neck, College Point, Bellerose, Hollace, Jamaica Estates, Floral Park, Glenn Oak, New Lead Park | No Primary | - |
12 - Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Bayside, Flushing, Bay Terrace | No Primary | - |
13 - Jackson Heights, Corona and parts of Elmhurst | John Sabini | 9-13-06 |
14 - St. Albans, Laurelton, Cambria Heights, Springfield Gardens, Rockaways | No Primary | - |
15 - Forest Hills Gardens, Glendale, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Maspeth, Middle Village, Old Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Woodhaven, parts of Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Sunnyside, Woodside | No Primary | - |
16 - Flushing, Bay Terrace, Forest Hills, Rego Park | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
60 - Brooklyn: Bay Ridge, Fort Hamiliton. Staten Island: Eltingville, Great Kills, Richmond, Oakwood Beach, New Dorp Beach, Midland Beach, Fort Wadsworth, Dongan Hills, Emerson Hills, Grant City, Rosebank, Shore Acre, Grasmere, Arrochae | Anthony Xanthakis (Rep) | 9-12-06 |
61 - Westerleigh, Mariners Harbor, Port Richmond, West New Brighton, Livingston, New Brighton, Randall Manor, St. George, Stapleton, Tompkinsville | No Primary | |
62 - New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annandale, Huguenot, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Cottonville, Roseville | No Primary | - |
63 - Staten Island | No Primary | - |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
23 - Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Seagate, Coney Island, Windsor Terrace, parts of Brighton Beach, Kensington, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Park Slope in Brooklyn. North Shore of Staten Island | No Primary | - |
24 - Staten Island | Anthony Lanza (Rep) | 9-12-06 |
No Primary |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
No Primary |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
County 1 | Jacqueline D. Williams (Dem) | |
County 2 | Dena Douglas (Dem) |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
District 2 | Margaret A. Chan (Dem) | 9-13-06 |
District 7 | Rita Mella (Dem) | 9-13-06 |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
No Primary |
Office | Winner | Date Posted |
Countywide | Kim Dollard (Inp) | - |
For more results, go to our list of winners in Little Races -- for Democratic district leaders, state committee men and women, delegates and alternative delegates to the judicial convention. Â
District Leaders work as a point of contact between political parties and the communities in which they work and one of their main responsibilities is to recruit poll workers.
State committee members serve as delegates at the statewide party conventions
Delegates to the Judicial Convention are picked to formally ratify party nomination for judges who are running in upcoming elections.
Office (by State Assembly District) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
22 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, southern Sunset Park, Boro Park, St. George, Stapleton, Rosebank, Dongan Hills, Grassmere, New Dorp, South Beach, Midland Beach, Arrochas, Thompkinsville, Clifton |
Eddie Abrams |
9-13-06 |
23 - Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Seagate, Coney Island, Windsor Terrace, parts of Brighton Beach, Kensington, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Park Slope in Brooklyn. North Shore of Staten Island |
John J Baxter |
9-13-06 |
26 - East Flushing, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Whitestone, Malba, Bay Terrace, Floral Park |
Benjamin J Fischer |
9-13-06 |
27 - Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergan Beach, Flatbush |
Crosetti Denson |
9-13-06 |
30 - Maspeth, Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Middle Village, Astoria |
Gerald Everette |
9-13-06 |
34 - Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona |
Matthew E Distefano |
9-13-06 |
39 - Jackson Heights, Corona |
Orlando Tobon |
9-13-06 |
40 - East New York, Brownsville |
Earl Williams |
9-13-06 |
43 - Crown Heights, Flatbush |
Jesse E Hamilton |
9-13-06 |
56 - Tompkins Park North, Weeksville, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Albert Van |
9-13-06 |
58 - Flatbush, Brownsville, Canarsie |
Kendall Stewart |
9-13-06 |
60 - Brooklyn: Bay Ridge, Fort Hamiliton. Staten Island: Eltingville, Great Kills, Richmond, Oakwood Beach, New Dorp Beach, Midland Beach, Fort Wadsworth, Dongan Hills, Emerson Hills, Grant City, Rosebank, Shore Acre, Grasmere, Arrochae |
Paul Gibilisco |
9-13-06 |
62 - New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annandale, Huguenot, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Cottonville, Roseville |
Frank Morano |
9-13-06 |
63 - New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annandale, Huguenot, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Cottonville, Roseville |
Thomas Wm Hamilton |
9-13-06 |
66 - Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, East Village |
Arthur Z Schwartz |
9-13-06 |
68 - Harlem |
Bill Perkins |
9-13-06 |
72 - Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill |
Miguel Martinez |
9-13-06 |
79 - Morrisania, Claremont, Crotona-Mapes, Longwood, Charlotte Gardens, Belmont |
Matthew Chapman |
9-13-06 |
Office (by State Assembly District) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
23 - Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Seagate, Coney Island, Windsor Terrace, parts of Brighton Beach, Kensington, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Park Slope in Brooklyn. North Shore of Staten Island |
Laura Allen |
9-13-06 |
27 - Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergan Beach, Flatbush |
Taneisha Lomax |
9-13-06 |
39 - Jackson Heights, Corona |
Jenny Fernandez |
9-13-06 |
40 - East New York, Brownsville |
Diane Gordon |
9-13-06 |
46 - Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Marlboro, Sea Gate, high-rises of Brightwater, Luna Park, Trump Village, Warbasse |
Dilia R Schack |
9-13-06 |
56 - Tompkins Park North, Weeksville, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Annette M Robinson |
9-13-06 |
57 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, parts of Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Olanike T Alab |
9-13-06 |
58 - Flatbush, Brownsville, Canarsie |
Melba P Brown |
9-13-06 |
67 - Upper West Side of Manhattan |
Debra Cooper |
9-13-06 |
68 Harlem |
Peggy Morales |
9-13-06 |
70 - Morningside Heights, Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville |
Sylvia A Tyler |
9-13-06 |
72 - Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill |
Joan Serrano Laufer |
9-13-06 |
79 - Morrisania, Claremont, Crotona-Mapes, Longwood, Charlotte Gardens, Belmont |
Gladys Ramirez |
9-13-06 |
84 - Highbridge, Melrose, Longwood, Mott Haven, Port Morris, Hunts Point |
Iris Fernandez |
9-13-06 |
Office (by Leadership) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
22 Part A |
John C Liu |
9-13-06 |
22 Part B |
James Wu |
9-13-06 |
35 Part A |
Jimmy Smith |
9-13-06 |
39 Part B |
Hiram Monserrate |
9-13-06 |
79 |
Jose A Padilla Jr. |
9-13-06 |
Office (by Leadership District) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
22 Part A |
Marth Flores-Vasquez |
9-13-06 |
22 Part B |
Mei-Hua Ru |
9-13-06 |
35 Part B |
Barbara J Jackson |
9-13-06 |
39 Part A |
Dorothy A Phelan |
9-13-06 |
79 |
Shirley Jackson |
9-13-06 |
84 |
Maria Del Carmen Arroyo |
9-13-06 |
Office (by State Assembly District) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
22 - Queens |
Daniel Cuevas |
9-13-06 |
43 - Crown Heights, Flatbush |
James C Patterson |
9-13-06 |
55 - Oceanhill, Browsville, Bedford, Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Bushwick |
Kamaria Boyland |
9-13-06 |
56 - Tompkins Park North, Weeksville, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Richard Taylor |
9-13-06 |
57 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, parts of Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Thelma Woods |
9-13-06 |
58 - Flatbush, Brownsville, Canarsie |
Nickolas A Perry |
9-13-06 |
66 - Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, East Village |
Arthur Z Schwartz |
9-13-06 |
68 Harlem |
Brenda Colon |
9-13-06 |
72 - Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill |
Adriano Espaillat |
9-13-06 |
75 - Chelsea, Clinton, Murray Hill, Midtown, Lincoln Center area in Manhattan |
Sylvia Schwartz |
9-13-06 |
*There was more than one winner in these races. The name listed is the biggest vote-getter.
Office (by State Assembly District) |
Winner |
Date Posted |
22 - Queens |
Mai Chen |
9-13-06 |
43 - Crown Heights, Flatbush |
Lourdes Ducos |
9-13-06 |
55 - Oceanhill, Browsville, Bedford, Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Bushwick |
Ruby J Boyland |
9-13-06 |
56 - Tompkins Park North, Weeksville, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Edna Johnson |
9-13-06 |
57 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, parts of Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant |
Renee Greene |
9-13-06 |
58 - Flatbush, Brownsville, Canarsie |
Sharon Reid |
9-13-06 |
66 - Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, East Village |
Cella Wu |
9-13-06 |
68 Harlem |
Gladys Perez |
9-13-06 |
72 - Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill |
Miguel Pena |
9-13-06 |
75 - Chelsea, Clinton, Murray Hill, Midtown, Lincoln Center area in Manhattan |
Edith Collins |
09-13-06 |
* There was more than one winner in these races. The name listed is the biggest vote-getter.
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Democracy seemed at work in a basement auditorium on the Upper West Side recently, when about 40 residents attended a debate for a Special Election -- except that each of the candidates said the race was undemocratic.
One candidate called the race for an open Assembly seat left vacant after Scott Stringer was elected as Manhattan Borough President "bizarre” and “insider.” Another described it as a “travesty.” Stringer himself said it was "ridiculous."
However, none of that prevented Stringer from using the process to make sure that his favorite candidate, Linda Rosenthal, won the Democratic nomination. And it didn’t stop Rosenthal, who admitted that the “process may stink,” from accepting the nomination.
On Tuesday, February 28, voters on the West and East Side of Manhattan and in Southeast Brooklyn will elect three new State Assembly members in "Special Elections."
Most of the people who live in these areas are unaware that the elections are taking place. And even those few who do bother to go to the polls will find that the field of candidates has already been narrowed by an arcane political process and the influence of Democratic Party leaders.
The whole system of choosing a party nominee and getting on the ballot in a Special Election is so complex and inexplicable that even trying to explain it might kill off some of our readers (which we don't want to do; if you want a detailed explanation, you'll have to click here.)
Whoever wins will have to run again this fall, but given that incumbents have a nearly 100 percent reelection rate in New York, the victors have a good chance of serving a lifetime in office.
“The whole system of elections in New York State is rigged,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “Special Elections just exacerbate the existing problems because no one knows it’s happening.”
Here is a look at the three Special Elections in New York City on February 28 and the political shenanigans leading up to them.
67th Assembly District – West Side of Manhattan
Tom Weiss spent 45 minutes last week describing how he was different from the other candidates running for State Assembly seat on the Upper West Side. Then he stopped, saying that these differences don't matter anymore because the party bosses had already decided who would win – depriving the voters of the chance to do so.
"The powers that be could have taken any of the candidates and that candidate would have won," said Weiss. "You can't tell me that's not an appointment."
Last week, Weiss – who is the son of the former Congressman Ted Weiss and presumably knows a few things about running a campaign – was kicked off the ballot because of technical problems in his petitions.
Most of the other candidates also agree that Special Elections are fundamentally flawed. The only candidate who does not seem to take offense at the process is the Republican candidate, Emily Csendes. “Being the Republican candidate - for better or for worse - is a lonely process,” she said. “Hopefully someday this might be an issue for us.”
Criticism or no, this is how public officials on the West Side have historically earned their jobs. And even those who call for reform aren't shy about using the system for their own benefit.
This year, Jerrold Nadler and Scott Stringer, who both became the Democratic nominee for Congress and the Assembly seats respectively through similar clubhouse votes, decided to anoint Nadler's aide, Linda Rosenthal, as the Democratic nominee. (For the details of how they did this, again click here.)
In most Special Elections, this is generally the end of the story. Once the power brokers choose a candidate everyone else bows out.
Indeed, several Democrats did drop out once the party picked Rosenthal. But Charles Simon and Michael Lupinacci stayed in the race by getting on the ballot on newly-created minor party lines. Simon is running on the "West Side Progressive Party" line; Lupinacci is running on the "New Leadership" line.
There are not many major philosophical differences between the candidates from the Upper West Side, but they are trying to distinguish themselves from one another.
Rosenthal believes her lengthy experience in Nadler’s office sets her apart. She wants to focus on Albany's refusal to abide by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit and on overdevelopment in the district.
Charles Simon, who also serves on community board 7, says his priorities are to repeal the Urstadt Law (which took away rent regulation from city officials and gave it to the state), address gang activity in local high schools, and monitor the city's plans to use a waterfront facility on 59th Street to load commercial garbage onto barges.
Michael Lupinacci wants to push Albany on the school funding lawsuit and restructure schools so more students go to one school for kindergarten through 12th grade.
Emily Csendes is a teacher at a public high school in Harlem who ran for the seat in 2004. Her platform calls for investment in school construction to reduce class sizes and targeted tax incentives for technology.
All the candidates also agree that reforming Albany's dysfunctional system of governance should be on the list of priorities.
Linda Rosenthal, however, bristles at the idea that she is a beneficiary of an unfair system.
"While the process may stink, I think I'm the right choice," she said.
59th State Assembly District - Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Flatlands Brooklyn
Last summer, a few hours before the New York State Legislature ended its session for the year, Governor George Pataki and Senate and Assembly leaders decided to create an additional Surrogate’s Court seat in Brooklyn.
The decision was criticized for several reasons:
• Nearly every other county in the state only has one Surrogate’s Court judge – who handles wills and estates. There was no evidence that a new post was needed in Brooklyn.
• One of the sitting Surrogate's Court judges, Michael Feinberg, was removedfrom the bench for improperly awarding $9 million in fees to his friend, an attorney.
• Albany leaders carefully crafted the deal so that the Brooklyn Democratic Party leaders, the same people who selected Feinberg – not the voters - would choose the new judge.
(For more on corruption in the Brooklyn judicial system, play Gotham Gazette’s Judges Game.)
Still, despite all of the suspicion about the new seat, Brooklyn State Assemblymember Frank Seddio openly campaigned among his fellow Democrats for the post -– and reportedly gave $32,000 in donations to elected officials and local clubs in the weeks leading up to the appointment.
In September, Brooklyn Democratic Party leaders nominated Frank Seddio as the new Surrogate’s Court Judge -- thus opening up his seat in the Assembly. A few months later, Democratic leaders in Brooklyn chose Alan Maisel, Seddio’s chief-of-staff, as their nominee to replace Seddio in the 59th Assembly District. (For the details on the process by which this happened, again click here.)
Alan Maisel defends his former boss and the process by which he was selected by the local party.
“None of the people that [Seddio] gave money to -– with the exception of one or two people -– had any role in selecting him as a judge,” said Maisel.
“I have been very involved in local Democratic politics for years,” he added. “Nobody else presented themselves as a candidate.”
When voters go to the polls they will see two other candidates on the ballot: Republican Ronald Haugstatter and Conservative Alice Gaffney. (Neither candidate returned phone calls seeking an interview.)
Even if a voter wanted to attend a candidate forum and hear how the various people differ on the issues, it would be impossible; there hasn’t been one.
“I did go to one event that was supposed to be a candidate forum,” said Alan Maisel. “But no one else showed up. It was a one person forum.”
74th Assembly District – East Side of Manhattan
Last fall, East Side State Assemblymember Steve Sanders, who had recently undergone quadruple-bypass heart surgery, announced that he was retiring from the New York State Legislature after 28 years in office.
The announcement immediately generated speculation about who might run for his seat. But after Sanders endorsed his chief-of-staff Steven Kaufman, many other Democrats like former City Councilmember Margarita Lopez said they would stay out of the race in deference to the former Assemblymember.
The race for the Democratic nomination then became a two-person affair between Steven Kaufman and Sylvia Friedman, a longtime Democratic activist on the East Side.
While Steven Kaufman had the support of outgoing Assemblymember Sanders, Sylvia Friedman relied on her ties to the four local Democratic clubs, whose members would ultimately vote on the nominee – and she scored an upset win over Kaufman. (For the details of how the process works, again click here.)
“Steve didn’t have any clubs behind him,” she said.
Steven Kaufman said that the vote came down to which committee members showed up and which did not. “There were people in Hawaii and Aruba,” he said. “One guy who supported me had tickets for the ballet that night and couldn’t make it.”
He also believes that some of the Democratic committee members cast their ballot with an eye toward the Democratic Primary in September, when a larger field of candidates might be encouraged to run.
“There were people who were looking forward to the Democratic Primary and wanted an outcome in the Special Election that is better for their plans,” said Kaufman. “That’s part of politics.”
Sylvia Friedman, who also has the Working Families Party line, will face Republican Frank Scala in the Special Election.
Frank Scala, a Republican activist on the Upper East Side dating back to Governor Nelson Rockefeller's administration, believes that he actually has a better chance in a Special Election because only residents who are extremely active in the neighborhood know that the election is happening.
“In New York, people vote for the Democrat and they don’t even know who the people are,” said Scala. “But people in the neighborhood [who show up for a Special Election] know who I am.”
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When New Yorkers go to the polls on November 8, it is not an exaggeration to say that their decisions will make history - and shape the city for decades to come.
If Mayor Michael Bloomberg is reelected, New York City will have a Republican mayor for 16 years, an unprecedented streak in an overwhelmingly Democratic city. If Democrat Fernando Ferrer is elected, he will become the city's first Latino mayor. Both candidates have also made promises for the future: to build tens of thousands of new homes, expand health care programs, and create new jobs for the next generation.
But there is more at stake than just the mayor's race.
Voters will also weigh in on half a dozen other seats - from public advocate to judgeships - and vote "Yes" or "No" on four ballot questions, including one that calls for $2.9 billion in repairs to roads, bus and train improvements, and major investment in the long-awaited Second Avenue subway.
To help voters before they go into the polling booth, we offer the following guide. And on the night of the election and in the days after, see Gotham Gazette's <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005_ge_results.php> Election Results.
I. THE MAYOR'S RACE
Who Is Running?
What Are the Candidates Saying?
II. THE OTHER RACES
Who Is Running for:
-Public Advocate?
-Comptroller?
-Borough President?
-City Council?
-Judicial seats?
-Clarence Norman's seat?
III. THE FOUR BALLOT QUESTIONS
What Are the Questions?
What Are the Arguments For and Against Each?
IV. THINGS TO KNOWN BEFORE GOING TO THE POLLS
Where Do I Vote?
What Do First Time Voters Need To Know?
What Are My Rights?
V. THE RESULTS
-How Do I Find Out Who Won?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Who Is Running?
The two front-runners in the mayoral election are Republican <http://www.mikebloomberg.com/> Michael Bloomberg and Democrat <http://www.ferrer2005.com/main.cfm> Fernando Ferrer, but there are other mayoral candidates as well.<http://www.ognibeneforny.com/> Conservative Thomas Ognibene, <http://www.themilitant.com/> Socialist Worker candidate Martin Koppel, <http://www.audreysilkfornycmayor.com/> Libertarian Audrey Silk, <http://www.educationparty.org/> Education Party candidate Seth Blum, <http://www.greenmayor.org/> Green Party candidate Anthony Gronowicz, and Jimmy McMilan, who is running on the Rent is Too Damn High line, are all trying to earn New Yorkers' votes on Election Day.
For more on all of these candidates for mayor, <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/52> click here.
What are the Candidates for Mayor Saying?
Even the most attentive voters have probably found it difficult to compare the mayoral candidates this year.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has relied heavily on television ads and decided to attend only two debates, both in the week leading up to the election.
Fernando Ferrer argues that he will do more for the poor and working class New Yorkers, but several of his most prominent campaign platforms - such as building more housing, providing health care for children, and improving subway security - are things that Bloomberg vows to do as well.
But there are <http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2005/10/25/155/> distinct differences between the candidates, and each has specific plans for education, taxes, development, crime, and healthcare.
For how Bloomberg and Ferrer differ, read <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051017/200/1621> The Real Issues in the Mayor's Race.
Compare the candidates' stances on education, housing, taxes, health care, and transportation with Gotham Gazette's <http://www.gothamgazette.com/mayor_grid_05_1.shtml> Mayoral Issue Grid.
Read a transcript of the debate held on October 30. Also read the transcript of the final debate held on November 1.
And visit Gotham Gazette's blog Wonkster for a roundup of opinion on the election.
Who Is Running in the Other Races?
Public Advocate
The public advocate is the second-highest official in the city, a "watchdog" over the mayor and the rest of city government. This year, incumbent Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum is facing three challengers: Republican Jay Golub, Libertarian Jim Lesczynski, and "subway-gunman" Bernard Geotz, who is running on the Rebuild party line. (<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/53>Click here<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/53> to learn more about the race.)
Comptroller
The comptroller keeps track of the city's fiscal policies and financial transactions. This year, incumbent Comptroller Bill Thompson faces three challengers: Socialist Worker candidate Daniel Fein, Libertarian Ron Moore, and Conservative Herbert Ryan. (<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/54>Click here for more on the race.)
Borough President
Each of the city's borough presidents is also up for reelection this year. In September, Democrat Scott Stringer won a crowded primary for Manhattan Borough President. Now, he faces four other candidates in the General Election. <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/57> Click here for more on the Manhattan Borough President race. Also see races for <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/55> Bronx<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/55> , <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/56> Brooklyn<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/56>, <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/58> Queens<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/58>, and <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/59> Staten Island<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/59> Borough President.
City Council
There will be at least nine new members of the City Council elected this year because of term limits, and the remaining 42 incumbent City Council members all must run for reelection (though a dozen are unopposed).
The most competitive races in the General Election are for four seats in which Republicans and Democrats each have strong candidates. (Read the article <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051021/200/1631> City Council Races to Watch.)
In <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/4> district 4 on the Upper East Side, Democrat Dan Garodnick, Libertarian Jak Jacob Karako and Republican Patrick Murphy are fighting for the seat left vacant after the current City Councilmember Eva Moskowitz decided to run for Manhattan Borough President. (Read a transcript of a <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051024/200/1629> district 4 debate.)
In <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/5> district 5, also on the Upper East Side, Democrat Jessica Lappin and Republican Joel Zinberg are facing off for the seat of City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, who must leave office because of term limits. (Read a transcript of a <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051024/200/1629> district 5 debate.)
In <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/13> district 13 in the Northeast Bronx, Republican Philip Foglia and Democrat James Vacca are campaigning for an open seat.
In <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/43> district 43 in Brooklyn, City Councilmember Vincent Gentile faces such a tough challenge from Republican Pat Russo, who he narrowly defeated in 2003.
To find who is running in your City Council district:
1. Go to Gotham Gazette's Campaign 2005 <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005> section
2. Go to "Find Your District" on the right hand side of the page.
3. Type in your address and zip code.
4. Click "Go."
On the district page, you will find a list of candidates running, information about their campaign contributions, candidate biographies, and an archive of news stories from the campaign trail.
You can also click on the link to the <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/index.aspx> Campaign Finance Board's Voter Guide located on each district page for more information about the people running in your neighborhood.
District Attorney
While there are technically races for District Attorney in Manhattan and Brooklyn, the winners were decided in the Democratic Primary in September. Incumbent <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/62> Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau and <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/63> Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes are running unopposed in the General Election.
Judicial Seats
New Yorkers will also elect State Supreme Court Justices, and judges to the Civil Court. In <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/65> Manhattan and <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/64> Brooklyn, voters will elect the Surrogate's Court judge.
Because judicial candidates are not allowed to take public positions on issues that they may rule on, it is difficult for voters to choose between candidates. The State Supreme Court has a<http://www.nycourts.gov/vote/> voter guide that provides some background information. The New York City Bar also rates judicial candidates.
Brooklyn State Assembly Seat - District 43
Residents of Crown Heights, Brooklyn will vote in a special election to choose a replacement for State Assemblymember Clarence Norman, who was found guilty in September of mishandling campaign contributions.
Three candidates are running to fill the space: Democrat Karim Camara, Republican Kenneth Cook, and Independence candidate Geoffrey Davis, the brother of former Councilmember James Davis who was shot in City Hall in 2004. (Read an article about the race.)
(Read The Fine Print on the Ballot for everything you need to know about the four questions on the ballot.)
When New Yorkers go to the polls on November 8, they will also be asked to vote "Yes" or "No" on four ballot questions - two statewide initiatives and two specifically for New York City. The wording of these questions on the ballot is long and confusing. It is best to research each of them ahead of time.
Question 1: Amending the State Budget Process <http://www.empirepage.com/ballots.html>
This measure changes how the state budget is enacted into law.
Currently, the governor develops a budget and submits it to the State Legislature, which has limited ability to amend it. Under this proposal, the State Legislature would have greater power to shape the budget than it does now. This measure states that if the governor and legislature do not agree on a budget by the beginning of the fiscal year, a contingency budget - based on the previous year's budget - would provide the basis of the new budget.
Other provisions of the ballot measure would establish an Independent Budget Office whose members are appointed by the legislature and move certain items onto the general budget that are currently funded independently. (Read the <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/ballot_nys01.as px#see> text of the question as it will appear on the ballot.)
Pro:
Proponents <http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-%20BD442989366 5%7D/BUDGET%20REFORM%20FINAL%20REPORT.PDF> say the amendment will bring accountability and transparency to the state's budget process. It will encourage on-time budgets, while shifting some power from the governor to the legislature would bring New York into line with most other states.
Read "Vote Yes on Proposition 1" by Megan Quattlebaum and Blair Horner.
Con:
Opponents <http://www.manhattan-institute.org/rm/ECNY-09-20-05.ram> argue that this would almost guarantee late budgets because the legislature would only have power when no agreement with the governor can be reached.
Read "Vote No on Proposition 1" by Gerald Benjamin and Charles Brecher.
Question 2: Transportation Bond Act <http://www.dot.state.ny.us/>
This measure calls for New York State to borrow $2.9 billion for various transportation projects. Half of the money would go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to help fund the construction of such projects as the Second Avenue subway and the extension of the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Station and for new buses and cars for subway and commuter rail lines. The rest would go toward road and bridge projects around the state, including some in the city. Voters rejected a similar measure in 2000. (Read the <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/ballot_nys02.as px#see> text of the question as it will appear on the ballot.)
Read an article about the Transportation Bond Act.<http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/transportation/20051017/16/1620>
Pro:
Proponents say that the state's transportation infrastructure is in poor condition and this borrowing is a necessary investment in the future. It would help pay for much needed projects.
Read <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/20051017/202/1618> "Vote Yes on the Transportation Bond Act" by Jeremy Soffin.
Con:
Opponents argue that the state is already burdened with too much debt, and borrowing such a large amount of money will lead to more fiscal problems and higher taxes.
Read <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/20051017/202/1619> "Vote No on the Transportation Bond Act" by Nicole Gelinas.
Question 3: Establishing an Ethics Code for Hearing Officers <http://www.nyc.gov/html/charter/downloads/pdf/crc_ballot_questions.pdf>
This measure would amend the City Charter by allowing the mayor to establish a code of ethics for administrative hearing officers, who resolve citizen complaints and adjudicate a range of non-criminal matters, such as parking tickets, noise complaints and building code violations. (Read the <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/ballot_nyc03.as px> text of the measure as it will appear on the ballot.)
Read an overview of Proposition 3.
Pro:
Proponents argue that this measure will encourage uniform conduct among administrative judges, improving the fairness, uniformity, and efficiency of hearings.
Read "Vote Yes on Proposition 3" by Peter J. Kiernan.
Con:
Opponents argue that an ethics code could be passed by the City Council or instituted by the mayor through an executive order, and that this is just an effort to block other measures from the ballot. They also say it gives no specifics about either the content of the code or the process by which the mayor will develop this ethics code.
Read "Vote No to Proposition 3" by Richard N. Gottfried.
Question 4: Adding Financial Management Requirements to the City Charter
In response the 1975 financial crisis when New York City nearly went bankrupt, the state imposed a series of financial management practices and created the Financial Control Board, comprised of members from both the state and city, to oversee the city's finances. Some of these oversight measures will expire on July 1, 2008.
This proposed amendment seeks to preserve many of the current financial control provisions in city law, including requiring a balanced budget, maintaining a four-year financial plan, limiting the amount of short-term debt, and performing an annual audit. (Read the <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/ballot_nyc04.as px#see> text of the question as it will appear on the ballot.)
Read "The Fiscal Crisis After 30 Years" <http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051010/200/1612> by Joshua Brustein.
Pro:
Proponents of the measure say that the charter revisions would guarantee that the city continue to act responsibly after the Financial Control Board's expiration. (Read arguments for Proposition 4 <http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2005/ballot_nyc04.as px#pro>)
Con:
Critics argue that this is not a comprehensive solution. Without a specific, independent entity to assess whether the city is fulfilling its responsibilities, they argue, there is no way to keep city officials honest.
Where Do I Vote?
Registered voters should receive a postcard in the mail with the address of their polling place. If you did not, try the Board of Elections' <http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm> online <http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm> poll site locator. You can also try calling the Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE NYC.
Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m.
On their website, the Board of Elections also has instructions <http://vote.nyc.ny.us/voting.html#machine> for how to work the voting machine.
Absentee ballot applications can be obtained calling the Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE-NYC, e-mailing a request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Those who wish to vote by absentee ballot have two choices:
Deliver by mail: To be counted, an absentee ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and must reach the Board of Elections no more than seven days after the election.
Deliver in person: You can drop off an absentee ballot at one of the Board of Elections borough offices by 9:00 p.m. on Election Day.
What Do First Time Voters Need To Know?
New voting regulations may cause confusion at the polls.
New Yorkers who registered to vote for the first time via mail after January 1, 2003, may be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license, when they go to the polls.
Those without a driver's license can also offer a copy of one of the following: a valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check or other government document that shows the voter's name and address.
Those who don't have any form of identification or refuse to supply one will be allowed to vote on paper ballot, not in the machines, according to the Board of Elections. Those votes will be counted if they are verified to match registration forms.
The new rule is part of the federal Help America Vote Act, which Congress passed after the turmoil in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.
What Are Your Voting Rights?
The New York Voter's Bill of Rights guarantees the right to:
Vote: The right to vote includes voting for candidates and questions on the ballot.
Have Your Vote Count: Vote on a voting system that is in working condition and that will allow votes to be accurately counted.
Secrecy in Voting: Secrecy in voting will be preserved for all elections.
Freedom in Voting: Cast your vote, free from coercion or intimidation by poll workers or any other person.
Permanent Registration: Once registered to vote, you will continue to remain qualified to vote from an address within your county or city.
Accessible Elections: Non-discriminatory equal access to the election system for all voters, including the elderly, disabled, alternative language minorities, military and overseas citizens, as required by federal and state laws.
Assistance in Voting: You may ask for help in voting because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
Instructions in Voting: You can view a sample ballot in this polling place prior to voting, and before entering the machine, you may request help in how to operate the machine.
Absentee Voting: If you will be out of your county of residence on Election Day, or are unable to go to your polling place due to illness or physical disability, you may cast an absentee ballot.
Affidavit Voting: Whenever your name does not appear in the official poll book, you will be offered an affidavit ballot.
What If I Encounter Problems At The Polls?
If a poll worker says you are not on the list, ask an inspector to verify that you are at the correct Election and Assembly District for your address. If you believe that you are eligible to vote, you can ask for a paper or affidavit ballot. After the election, the Board of Elections will check its records and your vote will be counted if you are deemed eligible to vote and were at the correct polling site.
The Board of Elections says that it has increased efforts to make polling places accessible for senior citizens and handicapped voters, but they admit that there are still problems at some sites. Voters who feel that their polling site is inaccessible should call the Voter Registration Unit of their local borough office for information.
If you encounter problems at the polls, call one of the following places:
- League of Women Voters Election Day Hotline: 212-725-3541
- New York Public Interest Research Group: 212-822-0282
- New York Civil Liberties Union: 212-344-3005.
For assistance in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi, Khmer and English, call the Asian American Legal Defense Fund <http://www.aaldef.org/> at 800-966-5946.
How Do I Find Out Who Won?
On the night of the Election beginning at 9:00 p.m. when the polls close, and in the days after, visit <http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005_ge_results.php> Gotham Gazette's Election Results<http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005_pe_results.php>.
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This year’s primary election, with such a low turnout -– fewer than 500,000 voters out of some 2.6 million registered Democrats showed up at the polls -- should have been an easy one to handle. There were few long lines and no widespread reports of machine malfunctions.
But then things turned weird.
It was weird enough that Democratic mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer, who needed 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff, got stuck at 39.949 percent when the preliminary tally was finished by midnight. He needed just 252 more votes. Election officials informed the public that an official count might take until the following week.
Weirder still was what happened the next day, after second-place finisher Anthony Weiner conceded the nomination to Ferrer. If many saw this as a statesmanlike gesture, the Board of Elections saw it as irrelevant. If Ferrer didn’t get his 40 percent when the votes were officially counted, election officials said, he was going to face the strange prospect of a runoff against a rival who has publicly thrown his support behind him. More than 6,000 voting machines would have to be sent back to the more than 1,400 polling places, and poll workers rehired, to run a special election on September 27 to which nobody would show up, at a cost election officials put at about $10 million. It was, they said, the law.
Is this kind of weirdness peculiar to New York? Does it indicate some larger failure? Is there a better way to do things?
A New York State law (in pdf format) requires that New York City (and only New York City) hold a runoff election in citywide races if no candidate receives 40 percent of the votes cast in the primary. Runoffs are intended to bring extra legitimacy to a candidate, and are generally supported by good government groups.
New York City’s runoffs, however, have also resulted in divisive head-to-head campaigns that have left the winner damaged in the general election. This was demonstrated in 2001 when Mark Green defeated Ferrer in the Democratic runoff, then lost to Bloomberg in the general election.
Fewer people remember a similar debacle caused by the threat of a runoff four years earlier. As the Times recounted, Ruth Messenger had not reached the magic 40 percent until the official count was finished eight days after the primary. The second-place finisher, the Reverend Al Sharpton, sued. Though unsuccessful, the bad feelings did not help Messenger in her long-shot bid against Rudolph Giuliani.
A runoff seems particularly unappealing this year, since the Board of Elections will spend millions of dollars of taxpayer money to hold a completely meaningless election in which neither candidate expects -– or even wants -– voter turnout, and where the winner is predetermined.
Other jurisdictions have conducted runoffs while managing to avoid these shortcomings through a system called Instant Runoff Voting. In this system, the voters rank their preferences when they vote in the primaries. If no clear majority is achieved on first-choice votes, the candidate with the minimum amount of votes is eliminated, with his or her votes reallocated to the voters’ second choice. If there is still no victor, election officials go through the count again with voters’ third choices, and so on, until a candidate reaches the threshold for victory.
Instant Runoff Voting is more common internationally than it is in the United States, but other places around the country are adopting the system, including San Francisco. An organization called Fair Vote has launched a campaign it calls "IRV America" (IRV for Instant Runoff Voting). On its Web site it points out that the International Olympic Committee chose London as the host city for the 2012 Games of the XXX Olympiad "after four rounds of voting using a method similar to IRV," and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has used the system as well.
Proponents recommend this system for New York City, saying that it not only lowers the cost of citywide races, but also that it has reduced negative campaign tactics. "Instant runoffs encourage candidates to run high-minded races, because they need to simultaneously court voters for their second- and third-choice votes," Mark Green wrote in an article for the Daily News. "So instead of seeking a plurality by only working their respective racial, religious or community niches, candidates have to seek votes outside their own particular constituency. That avoids the scenario of a winner who gets elected by a sliver of voters only because the majority was divided among more generally favored candidates."
Critics of the system say it’s too complicated, and in effect disenfranchises those (including some immigrants) who have trouble understanding it.
Although a bill (A3510) has been proposed in the state legislature to bring instant runoffs to New York, it has yet to gain support and is currently sitting in committee.
Given the quandary of the mayoral runoff, few paid attention to the problems in other races. The preliminary tallies in two races made them too close to call by the day after primary day: Diana Johnson led Margarita LĂłpez Torres in the Democratic nomination for Surrogate’s Court by 80 votes. The campaign for the city council nomination in District 8 in East Harlem was even narrower -- front-runner Melissa Mark-Viverito led second-place finisher Felipe Luciano by a mere 16 votes.
A recount for the Surrogate’s Court race was announced less than twenty-four hours after the polls had closed.
A recount is not necessarily a sign of failure. But it often is. In 2000, while the nation waited to find out the outcome of the presidential election, New Yorkers had to wait even longer for paper ballots to be counted to determine the winner of the state senate race in District 26 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. (Republican incumbent Roy Goodman beat Democratic challenger Liz Krueger). The vote tally was held up by reports of broken down machines and incompetent poll workers. Many advocates came down hard on the Board of Elections for failing to prepare adequately for Election Day.
Improvements have been made; more could be made. Both are the case in the operation of the poll worker program. As the city phases out its old machines in the next two years, having well-trained poll workers becomes all the more important to avoid malfunction and delay in the election system.
But delay is not always a bad thing. It is of course heretic to say this in a city where people would quickly fall into despair if forced to use a rotary phone. But there are times when the electoral system sacrifices speed for increased safeguards against voter disenfranchisement.
“We want to ensure that we give voters of New York real numbers,” said John Ravitz, executive director of the Board of Elections, before this year’s primary.
The morning after Election Day the Board of Elections begins approving and counting all the paper ballots it has received. These include ”affidavit ballots” filed by voters whose names did not appear on the voter rolls, and so were not permitted to vote on the machine; absentee ballots mailed by those who couldn’t make it to the polls; and emergency ballots that allowed voters to cast a vote when broken or missing machines – or other such circumstances – prevented them from voting.
These are all important ways to make sure that every vote counts. They take time. The law requires that absentee ballots continue to be counted until the Tuesday after the election. In the Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court race, supporters of candidate Margarita Lopez-Torres say that most absentee ballots come from the so-called brownstone belt, where they feel Lopez-Torres has a large enough advantage to swing the vote her way.
Doug Israel is the public policy director of Citizens Union Foundation (publishers of Gotham Gazette), where Amy Ngai is program associate.Â
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The one issue that candidates for public office consider more important than any other is the one they are least eager to talk about – the process of getting elected to office.
It is the issue that the press has focused on in the 2005 mayoral race. The first question in the first official debate among the Democratic candidates started this way: “Anyone who has followed the primary race so far may think that the defining moments have been the fiascos. Speaker Miller took heat over the million-and-a-half dollars in recent public mailings; Congressman Weiner faces questions over use of party resources; Mrs. Fields had problems with flyers and misplaced e-mails; and you, Mr. Ferrer, took a lot of heat for statements on the Diallo case....” On the Republican side, the focus has been on Bloomberg’s billions.
However trivial some of these may seem, there are also substantive issues about elections that will last far beyond this particular campaign season. In the next several years, elected officials will have to weigh in on major changes both in the way candidates run and voters vote.
After years of legislative gridlock, on the penultimate day of the 2005 session, the New York State legislature finally agreed on legislation to implement the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). As part of this measure, the city will be purchasing brand new voting machines, possibly as early as 2006, and finally ridding itself of the old lever systems which we’ve all come to know, if not love.
It is now up to the city government to select the machines that voters will use and fund a portion of the cost. The federal government allocation of $3,192 per precinct will not cover the actual cost of replacing all lever machines, and of training a slew of new poll workers to teach voters how to use these machines. While much of the heavy lifting on this will fall to the long-under-funded Board of Elections, the mayor and City Council will have to allocate the funds in the budget to make sure that the transition runs smoothly.
A key ingredient in being elected to public office is raising funds to be able to “get your message out.” In some very rare instances candidates will fund their own campaigns, as is presently the case with Michael Bloomberg. However, most often candidates must approach donors, hold fundraisers and try to out-compete one another financially to get elected. This even extends to candidates for judicial positions.
In order to reduce the role that money plays in the process, the city’s campaign finance program gives candidates “matching funds” if they agree to spending caps and contribution limits. In exchange for abiding by these caps and limits, the city’s campaign finance program gives candidates $4 for every $1 they raise in donations less than $250. That quadruples the impact of each small donor and allows candidates with smaller donations to compete with those that get big checks. It also theoretically reduces the overall spending and time spent fundraising. The city has even instituted a bonus matching program of $6 for $1 when candidates face opponents who do not participate in the program and who spend above the spending cap that is placed on program participants.
For better or for worse, every year, our local officials tweak the program. Key changes that may be enacted in the coming year include:
In the fall of 1993, New York City voters approved term limits for the city’s elected officials by a solid margin of 59 to 41 percent. Since 2001, when the inaugural class of city officials were term limited out, public servants have been limited to serve for two consecutive four-year periods. The public has come to accept term limits.
It is less certain how popular term limits are among those public officials who now hold office because of it. There is talk in the City Council of a bill that Councilmember Gale Brewer is planning to introduce after the election that will extend the two-term limit to three. Others are talking of trying to rescind the measure all together. Those who oppose term limits will tell you that voters can get rid of politicians by voting them out of office. They will also argue that when they leave office they take their years of experience with them, ultimately hurting the city and putting much more power in the hands of permanent government and staffers. But the voters have spoken in two referenda. It may provoke a backlash to do the opposite of what the voters wish.
Doug Israel is the public policy director of Citizens Union Foundation (publishers of Gotham Gazette), where Amy Ngai is program associate.Â
![]() Last Minute Voter's Guide: • Who Is On the Ballot? • Who Is Running in My District? • What Is At Stake? • Which Races Are Competitive? • Where Do I Vote? • Problems At the Polls? • How Do I Find Out Who Won? related links: • Complete Election Coverage • Primary Election Results • Find Your Polling Place related articles: • City Council Campaign 2003 • Ballot Bumping in New York • History of NY Election Law |
Since then, Ryneski has been trying to pay attention to his local City Council race - noting the campaign posters on street corners, reading the newspapers, and saving the Board of Election's postcard with the location of his polling place.
Still he admits that when it comes to issues - things like taxes, education, or housing - he has trouble telling the Democratic candidates apart. "I couldn't really tell if there is a difference between the three candidates [in Harlem]," said Ryneski.
Even for New York's most attentive voters, this year's City Council campaign has been difficult to follow.
There are no races for higher office to generate media attention and half of the 51 incumbent council members have no primary opponent. Even in the competitive races many incumbents have kept a low profile, skipping debates and public forums.
Still, the Primary Election on Tuesday - which will effectively decide 95 percent of City Council races given the overwhelmingly Democratic voters in New York - will have repercussions for the future of the city.
The 51 members of the City Council approve the city's budget and are responsible for tax increases and budget cuts. The council passes the laws governing the city. And council members make decisions that affect their individual neighborhoods - where housing is built, which community organizations are funded, and if a classroom gets computers.
For those voters looking for some help on Primary Day, we offer the following guide:
• Who Is On the Ballot?
• Who Is Running in My District?
• What Is At Stake?
• Which Races Are Competitive?
• Where Do I Vote?
• What If I Encounter Problems At the Polls?
• How Do I Find Out Who Won?
City Council: All 51 City Council members must run for reelection this year, but there are only 24 primary races on September 9. In the remaining districts, the incumbent is facing no challengers or all of the challengers were already knocked off the ballot.
In New York, which has some of the most complicated election laws in the nation, knocking your opponent off the ballot is a routine aspect of the political game. Dozens of candidates for City Council were eliminated on technicalities. And many more potential challengers did not even bother running, knowing that they would face huge legal bills and hours in court defending their right to run. (Read Ballot Bumping in New York for more these laws and why candidates were kicked off.)
All of the City Council primary races are for the Democratic party nomination, with the exception of district 5 on the Upper East Side which has a Republican primary.
Judicial Races: There are also a handful of judicial primary races for Civil Court: one in Manhattan, three in Brooklyn, and two in the Bronx. (See a list of candidates running for Civil Court Judge)
No Ballot Questions: There will NOT be any ballot questions on Primary Day, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Charter Commission will put several questions on the November 4 ballot, including one that would eliminate party primaries. In addition to nonpartisan elections, the commission will also put two other questions on the ballot dealing with the way the city buys goods and services, and the operations of city government. (For more information on nonpartisan elections, read It Is Time For Non-Partisan Elections In NYC by Frank J. Macchiarola and Instead of Non-Partisan Elections, Consider Some Real Reforms by Mark Green.)
On Primary Day, some voters will find they live in a different City Council district than the last time they went to the polls.
Since the last local election in 2001, the City Council district lines were redrawn to reflect new census data, and so some voters have new representatives. Those who live on the edge of a district or in a neighborhood that has experienced a large change in ethnic make-up are most likely to see a change. (Read more about the City Council redistricting and the controversy it generated.)
The best way to find your district is to:
1. Go to Gotham Gazette's Campaign 2003 page.
2. Type in your address.
3. Click "Find It!"
4. Click on the Campaign Button in the top right hand column.
On the district page, you will find a list of candidates running, information about their campaign contributions, candidate biographies, and an archive of news stories from the campaign trail.
There is also information on how each council member voted on the dozen most divisive votes of the last two years - like the 18.5 percent property tax increase, the law that banned smoking in bars and restaurants, and a resolution urging the U.S. not to go to war with Iraq.
While many New Yorkers may not be able to name their City Council member, most have something to say about issues like taxes, trash pick-ups, firehouse closures, or the school system, for which council members are responsible.
One of the City Council's primary responsibilities is approving the city's $44 billion budget. In the last two years, the City Council has approved increases to the property tax, sales tax, and income tax for the wealthiest New Yorkers. Just a few months ago, the council voted on a budget that cut 4,000 city workers and closed six firehouses. Next year, the city is expected to have a $2 billion deficit, which means that more cuts may be needed.
The council is responsible for passing laws that govern the city. This fall, the council is scheduled to consider legislation:
- Requiring gun owners to buy liability insurance
- Ensuring that the city notify residents if a homeless shelter will be built in the neighborhood
- Mandating weekly trash pick-ups
- Requiring landlords to clean up lead dust in apartments.
Council members also fight for funding for local community groups, little league teams, library improvements, and classroom computers.
The most watched race this year has been the campaign to fill the vacant seat of slain City Councilmember James Davis, who was shot in City Hall in July. Davis's brother, Geoffrey Davis, has been selected as the only Democratic nominee and there will be no primary for district 35. Four candidates will face off in the November general election.
But there are some primary races to watch.
In the north Bronx in district 12, Shirley Saunders, who lost to Larry Seabrook by just 103 votes in 2001, is running again and challenging the record of the incumbent. "I think people have seen Larry Seabrook more over the last three months [campaigning] than they have in all of sixteen years," said Saunders.
In district 18 Soundview and Parkchester, incumbent Councilmember Pedro Espada Jr. has dropped out of the race and handed his seat to his son Pedro G. Espada. He is facing a new challenger, Annabel Palma, who is backed by the Bronx Democratic Party.
In district 34 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, affordable housing has emerged as the number one issue in an area where the waterfront is being developed and trendy neighborhoods have pushed out long time residents. Incumbent City Councilmember Diana Reyna is facing a strong challenge from Juan Martinez, a former community school president.
In district 45, a nondescript building in East Flatbush could determine the political future of City Councilmember Kendall Stewart. He owns the building and blamed recent violations on his tenants. His challengers say he is not serving the community. "He is a slumlord," said one of his opponents.
For more races, read A Dozen Races To Watch.
Registered voters should have received a yellow post card in the mail with the address of their polling place. If you did not, call the Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE NYC, try the board's poll site locator web site, or e-mail them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your complete address, and you should receive an email instructing you where to vote.
Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m. Absentee ballots must be hand-delivered to the Board of Elections by 9:00 p.m.
If you have problems at your polling site on Election Day, call the New York Public Interest Research Group Voter Help Line 212-822-0282 to register your complaint.
On their website, the New York Public Research Interest Group also has a instructions for how to work the voting machine and a Voter's Bill of Rights, which answers basic questions like "Can I bring someone with me to help vote?" and "Can I still vote if the machine breaks?" (The answer to both questions is "yes.")
Television stations and newspapers will cover the City Council races, but some results - like judicial races - are more difficult to find.
Visit Gotham Gazette's Results Page on election night and the following days. Remember, a close race can take days or weeks to decide.
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From Royal Rule to Public Finance
1665 - First Mayor
Governor Richard Nicolls appoints Thomas Willett the first "mayor of New York." For the next 156 years, the mayor will be appointed and have limited power.
1686 - Common Council
Governor Thomas Dongan divides New York City into six wards and creates a Common Council with an alderman and assistant alderman elected from each ward.
1820s - Property Qualifications Removed
In New York State, the right to vote is extended to all white males, regardless of whether they own or rent property.
1821 - Choosing a Mayor
The Common Council, which includes elected members, gains the authority to choose the mayor who will sit in City Hall. Previously, the state government appointed the mayor.
1834 - First Elected Mayor
An amendment to the state constitution provides for the direct popular election of the mayor. Cornelius W. Lawrence, a Democrat, is elected.
1846 - Voting Rights Rejected
New York voters reject a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would guarantee free blacks the same voting rights as whites.
1861 - Tammany Hall Emerges
Tammany Hall, which evolved from an organization of craftsmen into a Democratic political machine, gains control of Democratic Party nominations in the state and city.
1870 - Voting Rights
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, giving blacks throughout the United States the same voting rights as whites.
1880 - Standard Ballot
In response to an era of political scandals, New York begins requiring the so-called "Australian ballot," a uniform ballot listing all candidates. To get on it, an office seeker would have to be nominated by a political party or submit nominating petitions, laying the groundwork for a system that persists to this day.
1890 - Primary Election
Because of perceived abuses in the way political parties select candidates, the New York State Legislature enacts a law that, for the first time, requires government to manage and pay for elections to select party officials who would then choose the party's candidates.
1892 - Voting Machine
The first voting machine, invented by Thomas Edison, is used in Lockport, New York in 1892. By the early 1920s, voting machines would be used for all general elections in New York City.
1894 - Bipartisan Control
The state establishes a system, in effect to this day, under which all election positions, from Board of Elections officials to poll watchers, must be divided equally between the two major parties.
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1898 - Greater New York Formed
A new City Charter merges Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island into greater New York. All five boroughs now elect the mayor.
1915 - Suffragists Defeated
A referendum giving women the vote is defeated by city and state voters.
1920 - Suffragists Victorious
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is signed into law, guaranteeing women throughout the United States the right to vote.
1965 - Opening the Polls
Congress passes the federal Voting Rights Act to ensure that no person is denied the right to vote on account of race or color.
1967 - A Black District
A suit brought under the Voting Rights Act leads to the creation of a majority black congressional district in Brooklyn. Previously, black voters had been divided among several predominantly white districts. In 1968, voters in the district elect Shirley Chisholm as the first black woman ever in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since then, congressional, state legislative and City Council districts have been drawn so as to ensure minority representation.
1969 - School Elections
Non-citizens who have children in public schools are given the right to vote in elections for members of community school boards.
1970 - Voting Rights in New York
The federal government determines that Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx must be covered under the federal Voting Rights Act because of low voter registration levels. As a result, the federal government has to approve any changes in voting practices in these boroughs, including redistricting. This would mean that any switch to nonpartisan elections would require clearance by the U.S. Justice Department.
1971 - Younger Voters
The 26th Amendment lowers the voting age in New York from 21 to 18.
1975 - Multilingual Ballots and Election Information
Amendments to the Voting Rights Act require that election information be provided in Spanish as well as English in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan.
1988 - Ethical Finance
The Campaign Finance Board is formed as part of a response to corruption in city agencies. Its goal is to limit the influence of private funds in city politics. Candidates participating in the program can receive public money for their election campaigns. In return, they must agree to a spending limit and full disclosure of their campaign finances.
1989 - End of Board of Estimate
The U.S. Supreme Court abolishes the Board of Estimate, which gave each borough president an equal vote. The court rules that this violates the principle of one person-one vote because the boroughs vary so much in population. A new charter eliminates the board and distributes the board's powers between the mayor and an expanded City Council. 1992 - Chinese Ballots
The city begins providing voting information in Chinese, and Spanish is added to Queens ballots.
1993 - Term Limits
City voters approve a ballot measure, backed by millionaire Ronald Lauder, that would limit citywide officials, including the mayor, as well as borough presidents and members of the City Council to two consecutive four-year terms.
1996 - Public Debate
A law is passed requiring candidates who run for citywide office and participate in the Campaign Finance Program to participate in a series of public debates in order to receive public matching funds.
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1996 - Two Terms and You're Out
Voters reject a plan put forth by City Council Speaker Peter Vallone to delay the implementation of term limits and to allow officials three terms, instead of two.
2001 - Primary Date
The primary vote is originally scheduled for September 11. Voting begins that day but is halted after the attacks on the World Trade Center and postponed until September 25. With Primary Day always falling on the second Tuesday in September, some have urged the state to shift the election to keep it from ever falling on September 11. So far, such efforts have failed.
2001 - The Big Change
Because of term limits, all citywide officials and 37 of 51 City Council members are unable to run for reelection, creating the largest turnover in city history.
2003 - School Change
The state approves a law eliminating community school boards, replacing them with councils selected by parents.
2003 - Two More Years
The City Council adjusts the term limits law to allow some council members, who were elected in the middle of a term and would have had to leave office after serving fewer than eight years, to remain in their seats. The action cleared the way for Council Speaker Gifford Miller and four other members, who would have had to leave office in January, 2004, to seek re-election this November.
In four special elections on February 25th, voters in the Bronx and Brooklyn fill two vacant city council seats, in District 18 and District 43, for the remainder of each term, which is until the end of this year. In addition, two state assembly races are on the ballot also in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
With special elections, the rules that apply to regularly scheduled elections change completely. The nature of a special election changes the dynamics of the campaign process, both for the candidates and for the voters.
TIME MATTERS
Strategists love to say that campaigns have three resources: people (the candidate being the chief among them), money, and time. Of these three, the most valuable is time. It is the only resource that is non-renewable. (As we have seen, sometimes tragically, even candidates can be replaced). A compressed timeframe means a candidate must conduct an entire campaign in the time that under different circumstance might be spent choosing a campaign headquarters, hiring staff and picking out letterhead.
Less time to campaign does not change the ultimate goal: successfully communicating a winning message to persuadable voters. What it does mean is that the message gets shorter, the communication gets louder, and the voters become fewer in number. With less time to test different messages, or try different audiences, candidates are forced to hone in on one basic message, get that message out in a consistent, repetitive, frequent manner, and target it to the most high-interest, highly motivated, likely voters they can identify.
TURNOUT MATTERS
Turnout is the single most important factor affecting the outcome of any campaign. In most campaign surveys, pollsters measure the support a candidate has among the hard-core, "registered to vote on my eighteenth birthday," kind of voters. Then they measure support among the likely, "I try to vote, if I can, I will" kind. Then among the possible, "maybe, I'm not sure," and on and on. Based on the answers they get to the questions asked, they can put together models that can predict election results if the turnout is 17 percent, or 22 percent, or 31 percent. The only remaining question is who decides to show up. When campaign analysts wring their hands over the weather on Election Day, it is not superstition, it really can change the outcome of a close race.
Of course, none of that matters in a special election, because the turnout is easily predictable. If past elections are any indicator, it will be low. Historically, turnout is highest for general elections in a Presidential election year, next would be general elections in off years (no Presidential contest). On down would be local general elections, then party primaries, and at the very bottom would be a special election to fill a local office. Only the most interested, the most involved, the most dedicated, civic-minded individuals tend to show up to vote.
The two city council special elections are both the result of a council member getting elected to higher office. The contests come at a time when the city faces a number of crises; they also come just a few short months before the next scheduled primary election for all city council members. For both these reasons, the council races are being watched closely; the results could indicate how these most engaged of all voters feel about things right now, and how they may be feeling next fall.
Although low turnout can be discouraging in a democracy, it does mean the collective decision is among the most well-informed, well-educated choice in any election. And for the candidates, it means they can easily classify the pool of voters they need to reach.
LOCAL ISSUES MATTER
In legislative races, local issues are always important. In special elections, this is especially true. Special elections tend to shine a spotlight on the immediate time and place in which the election happens, regardless of the larger issues that might be facing the city, or the state. Whatever crisis or problem has been facing the district most recently will be foremost in the minds of the voters. This can be a good chance for communities to vent grievances; the danger is that the contest may be decided around a passing crisis, rather than the overall needs of the district.
In the assembly race in the 79th assembly district in the Bronx, the reason for the sudden vacancy may itself be the issue. Assemblymember Gloria Davis confessed to bribery charges, leaving her district with the task of replacing her. Issues of character, ethics, and propriety do not typically dominate a state assembly race, but in the wake of a recent scandal, the character question may be foremost in voters' minds.
NAME ID MATTERS
There are several steps to a winning campaign strategy, and identifying the voting bloc, and a winning message, are both certainly key. But before you can send out your message to those voters, you have to be sure that voters will have something to stick that message to, namely, your name.
In most campaigns, candidates vastly overestimate the importance of name identification. In the course of a normal campaign, by Election Day, both candidates have high name identification ratings among voters regardless of the results. In a special election, name ID actually can play a role. With less time to campaign and more candidates in the mix, voters can get understandably mixed up as they try to sort out multiple names and slogans.
In the special city council election in Brooklyn, there are six declared candidates; in the Bronx, there are three running for city council, although one has been knocked off the ballot. This means that the candidates who are known to voters -- those who have run before, or held office before -- will have a head start in the process of introducing themselves and making their case.
Name identification may very well be a factor in the 55th state assembly race in Brooklyn. The sitting assembly member, William Boyland, announced his decision to step down not long after being re-elected last fall. His son, William Boyland, Jr., is among the candidates vying to replace him in the special election. The Boyland family name is well known in New York politics; more importantly, it is a name that is familiar to voters in the district. In a special election, having a well-known, well-respected family name can be a distinct advantage.
PARTY DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
Although party remains a powerful voting cue in other elections, it plays virtually no role in special elections. Candidates run on specially coined slogans, or banner headings, instead of party labels. The slogans themselves are of little descriptive value, but they do place the burden of choice squarely with the voter, and not with party loyalty.
Special elections are a necessity in order to ensure representation for all city residents during times such as these when interim absences occur. Whatever differentiates them from other elections, they matter a great deal, not only for the ultimate goal of representative democracy, but also for what they can demonstrate to us about the voting process.
Susan Reefer is a Republican pollster and media strategist. Both are based in New York. Elizabeth Daniel is an associate counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, working on issues relating to campaign finance reform, voter choice, and ballot access.