State Senate 12
Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Bayside, Flushing, Bay Terrace

State Senate Representative Michael N Gianaris Party: D, WF Campaign Activity Voting record: on Project Vote Smart Committee Assignments: Codes,Energy and Telecommunications, Finance,Health,Judiciary,Labor
Albany Office: Legislative Office Building 742 Albany, NY 12248 Astoria Office: 21-77 31 Street, Suite 107 Astoria , NY 11105	Contact: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: http://www.nyssenate12.com

Detailed Image of this District Who's Running in this District

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Michael N Gianaris in the news
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State Senate 10
Brookville, Laurelton, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, Jamaica, South Jamaica, Forest Hills Gardens, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach

State Senate Representative Shirley Huntley Party: D, WF Campaign Activity Voting record: on Project Vote Smart Committee Assignments: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse,Codes,Consumer Protection,Education,Ethics,Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Racing, Gaming and Wagering,Social Services
Albany Office: 803 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12247 Jamaica Office: 161-10 Jamaica Ave, Suite 504 Jamaica, NY 11432	Contact: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: http://www.nyssenate10.com

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Related Gotham Gazette original coverage

Shirley Huntley in the news
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These 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.

President

National	New York State	New York City
Obama 52%	Obama 62%	Obama

Ballot proposal

proposing an amendment to section 6 of article 5 of the constitution, in relation to additional civil service credit for members of the armed forces of the United States

YES

U.S. House of Representatives

District	Winner	Party
5	Ackerman	D
6	Meeks	D
7	Crowley	D
8	Nadler	D
9	Weiner	D
10	E. Towns	D
11	Clarke	D
12	Velazquez	D
13	McMahon	D
14	Maloney	D
15	Rangel	D
16	J. Serrano	D
17	Engel	D

Bronx State Senate Districts

District	Winner	Party
28	J. Serrano	D
32	Diaz	D/R
33	Espada	D
34	Klein	D
36	Thompson	D

Bronx State Assembly

District	Winner	Party
76	P. Rivera	D
77	A. Greene	D
78	J. Rivera	D
79	Benjamin	D
80	N. Rivera	D
81	Dinowitz	D
82	Benedetto	D
83	Heastie	D
84	Arroyo	D
85	Diaz Jr.	D
86	Castro	D

Bronx Courts

Position and District	Winner	Party
Supreme Court	Hunter	D
Civil Court	Taylor	D

Brooklyn State Senate

District	Winner	Party
17	Malave-Dilan	D
18	Montgomery	D
19	Sampson	D
20	Adams	D
21	Parker	D
22	Golden	R
25	Squadron	D
27	Kruger	D

Brooklyn State Assembly

District	Winner	Party
40	Barron	D
41	Weinstein	D
42	Jacobs	D
43	Camara	D
44	Brennan	D
45	Cymbrowitz	D/R
46	Brook-Krasny	D
47	Colton	D
48	Hikind	D/R
49	Abate	D
50	Lentol	D
51	Ortiz	D
52	Millman	D
53	Lopez	D
54	D. Towns	D
55	Boyland	D
56	Robinson	D
57	Jeffries	D
58	Perry	D
59	Maisel	D

Brooklyn Courts

Position and District	Winner	Party
Supreme Court	Belen	D/R/C
Supreme Court	Dabiri	D/R/C
Supreme Court	Leventhal	D/R/C
Supreme Court	Lott	D/R/C/
Supreme Court	Velasquez	D
Supreme Court	Wooten	D
Supreme Court	Spodek	D/R
Supreme Court	Steinhardt	D/R/C
Civil Court	Joseph	D
Civil Court	Ruben	D
Civil Court	Schiffman	D
Civil Court, 1st Dist.	Cohen	D
Civil Court, 4th Dist.	Ottley	D

Manhattan State Senate

District	Winner	Party
26	Krueger	D
29	Duane	D
30	Perkins	D
31	Schneiderman	D

Manhattan State Assembly

District	Winner	Party
64	Silver	D
65	Kellner	D
66	Glick	D
67	Rosenthal	D
68	Powell	D
69	O'Donnell	D
70	Wright	D
71	Farrell	D
72	Espaillat	D
73	Bing	D
74	Kavanagh	D
75	Gottfried	D

Manhattan Courts

Position and District	Winner	Party
Supreme Court	Schoenfeld	D/R
Supreme Court	Kahn	D/R
Supreme Court	Gische	D
Supreme Court	Kornreich	D
Surrogate Court	Anderson	D
Civil Court Court	Bannon	D
1st District	Nervo	D

Queens State Senate Districts

District	Winner	Party
10	Huntley	D
11
12	Onorato	D
13	Monserrate	D
14	Smith	D
15	Addabbo	D
16	Stavisky	D

Queens State Assembly

District	Winner	Party
22	Meng	D
23	Pheffer	D
24	Weprin	D
25	Lancman	D
26	Carrozza	D
27	Mayersohn	D
28	Hevesi	D
29	Scarborough	D
30	Markey	D
31	Titus	D
32	Cook	D
33	Clark	D
34	DenDekker	D
35	Aubry	D
36	Gianaris	D
37	Nolan	D
38	Seminerio	D/R
39	Peralta	D

Queens Courts

Position and District	Winner	Party
Supreme Court 1	Siegal	D
Supreme Court 2	Schulman	D
Supreme Court 3	Rios	D
Supreme Court 4	Roman	D
Supreme Court 5	Mayersohn	D
Supreme Court 6	Kitzes	D
Supreme Court 7	Sampson	D
Civil Court	O'Connor	D
Civil Court	Velasquez	D
4th District	Jackman-Brown	D

Staten Island State Senate

District	Winner	Party
23	Savino	D
24	Lanza	R

Staten Island State Assembly

District	Winner	Party
60	Hyer-Spencer	D
61	Titone	D
62	Tobacco	R
63	Cusick	D

Staten Island Courts

Position and District	Winner	Party
Supreme Court	McMahon	D/WF/C

 

Illustration (c) Gotham Gazette

Councilmember Oliver Koppell, a career politician who has gone from state attorney general to a member of the Bronx delegation in City Hall, needs a new job.

Term limited out of his seat next year, the councilmember told Gotham Gazette in March he would not seek higher office in 2009. His plan was to leave public life behind after 38 years.

Well, maybe his plans have changed.

Just after Labor Day, Koppell said he would ask the council staff to draft a bill that could allow him, 34 other council members, four borough presidents and the mayor -- all of whom face being term limited out of office at the end of 2009 -- another four years in their posts. It would extend the city's term limit from two terms to three, from 8 years to 12. Councilmember David Weprin, followed by Tony Avella, plans to introduce competing legislation requiring a referendum on any extension of term limits.

Though Koppell says he has not decided whether he would seek a third term if the legislation passes, the councilmember argues that allowing his colleagues the opportunity to win one more term would boost the power of the people.

"The people should have a right to vote (for or against incumbent council members)," said Koppell. "There are outstanding members of the council who would run."

That is, if they can get the necessary bill or referendum passed first.

Literally Speaking: What Do They Say About Term Limits?

Council Speaker Christine Quinn:
"I think we should make changes to term limitations legislatively. It is an issue I would want to discuss immediately with my colleagues if I were elected speaker. I'm inclined to think 12 years is the right timeframe, but I'm not committed to that because I think it really is a decision we all have to come to collectively in the new city council." –- November 2005

"After careful consideration and discussions with my colleagues in the council, I have decided not to pursue a change in New York City's term limit law. I will neither support legislation nor will I seek or support a new referendum eliminating or altering term limits." –-December 2007

"I'm very confident if (Mayor Bloomberg) decides he wants to move a piece of legislation, term limits or anything else, he will call me, we will talk. If that happens, there will be more to say, but there is nothing to say right now on term limits… Councilmember (Oliver) Koppell like any member is free to put in a legislative request… When and if Oliver gets a piece of legislation to the floor, Oliver and I will have a conversation and we'll move from there." -- September 4, 2008

Mayor Michael Bloomberg:
"The public has spoken twice through referendums, and I think that if the public changes its mind, the public has a right to do so. I would oppose any change in the law that a legislative body tries to make. It seems to me that democracy has been given a chance, and we should live with the results." –- February 2002

"At a time of excessive cynicism about so many of our institutions, I believe that elected officials should seek at every opportunity to maintain and enhance the trust of the citizens… I believe it is simply inappropriate for those members elected in 1997, who were aware of the rules under which they were elected, to seek to change those rules in a manner that may work to their own advantage." -- August 2002

"If the bill were to change term limits from two to three, I would have to think long and hard about it." -- September 9, 2008

Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg first floated the possibility of extending term limits, pundits, pollsters and politicians have mulled how city officials would go about doing it.

Would – or, more importantly, could -- the City Council pass legislation? Would it send the question to voters before 2009? Would any movement be able to withstand the all but certain lawsuit? And when would the council need to act?

None of these questions have sure answers.

Capping Terms

Twice – in 1993 and 1996 -- voters in New York City approved a two-term cap on how long members of the City Council, borough presidents, the public advocate, comptroller and mayor could serve. They hoped that the limits would infuse City Hall with new blood. Many new politicians entering office in 2002 expressed support for the measure.

"There's no company that I know of that doesn't benefit when they have changes in management once in a while," Bloomberg told the New York Post in 2005 after winning his second – maybe his final – term.

The majority of the city's veteran politicians had to leave office in 2001, and next year, City Hall will face a similar change: two thirds of the 51 members of the City Council are in their second term.

When the issue of extending term limits came up as council members vied to become speaker in 2005 (the previous speaker, Gifford Miller, had to leave because of term limits), current Speaker Christine Quinn promised to take up the issue "immediately" if elected speaker. Despite that, the subject basically has been off the table since then.

In the meantime, many council members have already declared candidacies for other office – from mayor to borough president to the state legislature – and have started fundraising campaigns to match their ambitions.

Then a few weeks ago, the landscape shifted.

Bloomberg -- in what could be an attempt to keep City Hall observers on their toes, a grab for power or publicity, or an effort to stave off lame-duck status -- met with the publishers of three major newspapers, seeking their opinion on extending term limits. He then flirted with the idea at press conferences, punting the term-limit question back to the council, saying he would have to think "long and hard" if a bill upping the term-limit cap to three crossed his desk.

As the term-limit debate revs up again – commercials are hitting television screens urging the City Council to abandon the issue – some observers are not only wondering if, but how it could be done.

Term Limit Options: A Referendum

Image from New Yorkers for Terms Limits ad

Regardless of what one thinks of term limits, New York has them because voters wanted them. More than a million New Yorkers voted for term limits in two elections, according to New Yorkers for Term Limits – a lobbying group that opposes an extension. That group is funded by billionaire cosmetics heir Ronald S. Lauder, who funded the original campaign for term limits.

The voters could have another opportunity to weigh in on the issue.

Under state law, a legislature, such as the City Council, can put a question on the ballot if it collects 30,000 signatures. Ordinary citizens, though, need to collect 45,000 signatures to get a referendum on the ballot.

Good government groups in the city, including Citizens Union, whose sister organization publishes Gotham Gazette, and the New York Public Interest Research Group, support a referendum, allowing the voters to decide, if the city chooses to look into extending term limits.

A Referendum, But When?

It is too late to get this on the ballot for November. So, if term limits were to be extended in time to save the jobs of Bloomberg, Quinn, Koppell and so on, a special election would have to be held. The council has not called a special election – that power is usually reserved for the mayor – and it is unclear whether the council can call one on its own.

If a legislature approves a bill changing a public office's power, state law requires a referendum be held. Some interpretations of the law, according to a memo from Citizens Union, say it may be possible for the council to call a special election on term limits for this reason. Whether term limits falls into this "power" category is unclear. Given the historically low turnout for special elections, some fear an election could be timed to place incumbents at an advantage.

Bloomberg could also place a term limits question on the ballot via the City Charter Revision Commission. In his State of the City address earlier this year, the mayor said he would set up a committee to examine the City Charter. The scope of that committee has not yet been announced. If it eventually gets off of the ground, it could look at term limits and then put a referendum to the voters in the 2009 general election.

The mayor's office declined to comment on whether the commission would be looking into this issue.

To ensure the council would allow voters to determine the fate of term limits, Weprin asked the council's legal arm -- one day after Koppell made his legislative request -- to draft legislation that would explicitly require a referendum for term limit revisions.

At a press conference on Sunday, Weprin and council members Bill de Blasio and Eric Gioia stood on the City Hall steps in the sweltering heat, vowing to vote against any bill that extends term limits without a referendum.The members called Koppell's bill "corrosive" and said it undermined the public interest.

In the Chamber

Some interpretations of the law suggest that the council does have the authority to expand term limits without putting the question to voters – as in Koppell's proposal. If vetoed by the mayor, the council could override it with a three-fourths majority.

This scenario, by far, has sparked the most criticism.

"I don't know why these people think they have the ability or the authority to make a decision that the voters already said they shouldn't do," said Hank Sheinkopf, a consultant who works on many local campaigns.

The council's power to extend term limits legislatively hinges on a 2003 state appellate court opinion. The council had redefined term limits to mean two consecutive full four-year terms, as opposed to just two terms. This meant that some members, elected mid-term in a special election or during redistricting years, could actually serve 10 years, say, instead of the usual eight. Some potential City Council candidates challenged the 2002 law. The state courts, though, ruled in the council's favor.

Several council members said their legal staff interprets the court's finding as a green light for additional term-limit changes. Other advocates say the latest proposal is different, because it is not clearing up ambiguity in the law, but fundamentally changing it. For that reason, it could be susceptible to a legal challenge.

"I ultimately believes this goes to court," said Councilmember Vincent Ignizio, who is not term limited and says any bill the council considers needs to be for the next class of legislators.

The question is whether allowing additional terms amounts to an extension of the council's power, thus triggering a referendum, or whether it is revising the current law.

Koppell, citing his experience as a former state attorney general, insists that the proposal could survive a legal challenge.

Others, not surprisingly, disagree.

"Do they have the power? The power is from the people and the people have already voted on it," said Kenneth Moltner, a spokesman for New Yorkers For Term Limits. "There is absolutely nothing the City Council should be doing."

Council members say a majority of members would approve a bill to extend term limits. If the mayor vetoed it, most members believe the council would not have enough votes to override that veto.

The city's Law Department declined to comment on the legality of Koppell's approach.

A Constituent Backlash?

So, let's say the council can revise the term-limit law legislatively and give members the opportunity to snag four more years. But, should it?

Many advocates and consultants say no, arguing the council would be acting primarily in its own self interest (Even Koppell said half of the support for the bill is motivated by self interest – the other half being a policy-based decision).

"This is not a good way to be having a debate," said David Birdsell, the dean of the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College. "It should not be a debate about individuals. It should be about structure of choice."

For that reason, some members argue any change should be done prospectively for the next class of council members. The council, as a legislative body, could get all the benefits of a longer term (including, the enhanced ability to stand up to the all-powerful executive branch, experience to get larger policy initiatives passed, less reliance on staff members, etc.) without the political ramifications.

If they made any change take effect immediately -- benefiting themselves -- political consultants say the council might see a backlash from the electorate, who could vote them out of office anyway.

"There is a danger that the voters may revolt and might go in and elect (challengers)," said Shienkopf.

On the other hand, the incumbents' popularity, particularly the mayor's, is precisely what's fueling the debate. More than 70 percent of voters approve of Bloomberg, according to a poll this summer by Quinnipiac University, but 56 percent don't want to see a change in term limit law.

That said, some New Yorkers would like to see him stick around anyway. "Michael Bloomberg runs a quality mayoralty. New York City could do worse than to have him around for another four years," read one editorialin the New York Post this June."And it probably will do worse - thanks (or no thanks) to term limits."

Campaign Confusion

To add to the confusion over legislative power, at least 24 term-limited officeholders are fundraising for another office. If some of them decided to run for a third term instead, they may have to return donations.

A candidate for City Council can accept contributions of $2,750 each, while a candidate for a citywide office can accept $4,950.

In addition, spending limits vary by office. Council candidates, if they participate in the public financing program, can spend $161,000 on a primary and the same amount on a general election. A mayoral candidate can spend about $6.2 million, while an aspirant for borough president can spend $1.4 million.

De Blasio, who is running for Brooklyn borough president, said, "We cannot change the game in the 11th hour." He would not say on Sunday whether he would consider running for a third term if the voters approved an extension.

Campaign Finance Board Press Secretary Eric Friedman said the board is already considering how to react if incumbents change their '09 plans. Office space in Manhattan, would not help a candidate if he or she decided to skip the citywide races and instead run for a third term in a council seat in Queens. Should spending in Manhattan count in a Queens race?

Already, candidates who could potentially run for a third term if term limits were extended, like council members Melinda Katz and Weprin, have far exceeded the spending limit for council races.

"You think of a monopoly board and someone walks by and flips it upside down," said Friedman. "You have to put the pieces back together."

A Extension Deadline

Because the city could hold a special election to determine term limits and the City Council could pass legislation anytime, term limits are very much in limbo.

Friedman said candidates have until June 2009 to decide whether they would enter the campaign finance program. Realistically, candidates need to know the term limits situation if they are to direct fundraising and outreach far sooner than that date.

The speaker's office will have until November to comply with both Koppell's and Weprin's legislative requests. Before that though, we will need to get direction from Quinn on whether either bill will get a hearing. In almost all cases, legislation does not move unless the speaker wants it to.

But insiders say it's really Bloomberg who will determine how, if and when any referendum or legislation moves forward. For now, both Quinn and Bloomberg aren't answering any questions.

"I'm very confident, if (the mayor) decides to move a piece of legislation on term limits, or anything else, he will call me, we will talk," said Quinn at a recent press conference. "If that happens, then there will be more to say. But there is nothing to say right now on term limits."

Winner's name appear in bold. These 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 Nov. 4.

U.S. Congress

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 13- Staten Island, Brooklyn	Harrison, McMahon (Dem) Straniere, Wyne (Rep)	-
Dist 10- Brooklyn	Powell, Towns (Dem)	-

Bronx State Assembly Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 79	Benjamin, S. Gonzalez (Dem)	-
Dist 83	Browne, Heastie (Dem)	-
Dist 85	Cruz, Diaz Jr. (Dem)	-
Dist 86	Castro, M. Soto (Dem)	-

Bronx State Senate Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 33	Espada, E. Gonzalez (Dem)	-

Brooklyn State Assembly Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 40	Barron, Bradley, Evans, Key, Williams (Dem)	-
Dist 42	Adolphe, Jacobs (Dem)	-
Dist 55	Antoine, Boyland, Hatter(Dem)	-
Dist 56	Edwards, Robinson (Dem)	-
Dist 59	Clarke, Maisel (Dem)	-

Brooklyn State Senate Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 21	Felder, Parker, Stewart (Dem)
Dist 25	Connor, Squadron (Dem)

Manhattan State Assembly Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 64	Henry, Newell, Silver (Dem)	-
Dist 72	Espaillat, Martinez (Dem)	-

Manhattan State Senate Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 25	Connor, Squadron (Dem)	-

Queens State Assembly Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 22	Meng, Young (Dem)	-

Queens State Senate Districts

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Dist 10	Huntley, Jennings (Dem)	-
Dist 15	Addabbo, Baldeo (Dem)	-
Dist 16	Schwartz, Stavisky (Dem)	-

Judicial Races

Office	Candidates	Date Posted
Manhattan - Surrogate Court	Anderson, Reddy Jr., Tingling	-
Bronx - Civil Court	Matos, Powell, Taylor	-
Manhattan - Civil Court	Bannon, Katz	-
Brooklyn - Civil Court	Adler, Cohen	-

 

Photo (cc) Jonathan P. Berger

To find out who won and who lost, go to Gotham Gazette's election results page.

Barack Obama just spelled out his vision of America before a packed football stadium in Denver. John McCain and Sarah Palin prepare to make their case to the American people. And in Flatbush, voters are deluged by campaign flyers singing the praises (and sins) of Simcha Felder and Kevin Powell.

ALL COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES:

Bronx:

33rd State Senate District

• Pedro Espada Jr. (D)
• Efrain Gonzalez Jr. (D)
• Richard Soto (D,R)
• William Sullivan C

79th State Assembly District

• Michael Benjamin (D, WF)
• Sigfredo Gonzalez (D,C)

83rd State Assembly District

• Sherman Browne (D)
• Carl Heastie (D, WF)
• Michel Blot (R,C)

85th State Assembly District

• Israel Cruz (D)
• Ruben Diaz Jr. (D, WF)
• Sandra Eligon (C)
• Nelson Moran (R)

86th State Assembly District

• (no incumbent)
• Nelson Castro (D)
• Mike Soto (D)
• Lisa Marie Campbell (R, C)

Brooklyn:

10th Congressional District

• Kevin Powell (D)
• Edolphus Towns (D)
• Salvatore Grupico (R, C)

21st State Senate District
• Simcha Felder (D)
• Glenn Nocera (R,C)
• Kevin Parker (D)
• Kendall Stewart (D)

40th State Assembly District

• (no incumbent)
• Inez Barron (D, WF)
• Nathan Bradley (D)
• Kenneth Evans (D)
• Winchester Key (D)
• Earl Williams (D)
• Kenneth Waluyn (R,C)

42nd State Assembly District

• Michele Adolphe (D)
• Rhoda Jacobs (D)
• Alan Kesler (R)

55th State Assembly District

• Royston Antoine (D)
• William Boyland Jr.(D, WF)
• Leonard Hatter (D)
• Jonathan Anderson (R)

59th State Assembly District

• H R Clarke (D)
• Alan Maisel (D)
• Edward Bracken (R)

Manhattan:

25th State Senate District (Brooklyn, Manhattan)

• John Chromczak (R)
• Martin Connor (D)
• Daniel Squadron(D, WF)

64th State Assembly District

• Luke Henry (D)
• Paul Newell (D)
• Sheldon Silver (D)
• Danniel Maio (R)

72nd State Assembly District

• William Buran (R)
• Adriano Espaillat (D)
• Miguel Martinez (D)

Queens:

10th State Senate District

• Shirley Huntley (D, WF)
• Allan Jennings Jr. (D)

16th State Senate District

• Robert Schwartz (D)
• Toby Ann Stavisky (D, WF)
• Peter Koo (I,C,R)

22nd State Assembly District

• Grace Meng (D)
• Ellen Young (D,I, WF)

Staten Island:

13th Congressional District (Staten Island, Brooklyn)

• Stephen Harrison (D)
• Michael McMahon (D, WF)
• Robert Straniere (R)
• Jamshad Wyne (R)
• Carmine Morano (I)

As most of America focuses on the presidential election, New Yorkers have a local primary to think about. People in other states can mull who would be better able revitalize a shaky economy and cope with chaos in Pakistan, while New Yorkers get to consider whether the Rainbow Rebellion deserves more power in the Bronx and rivalries in the Chinese community in Flushing.

As in every even-numbered year, the entire State Senate and State Assembly, as well as all members of Congress, and a number of judges and party functionaries must face the voters. Because Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans in many city districts, the key contests for a number of positions could come in the Sept. 9 primary and not in the Nov. 4 general election.

Despite that, many voters will be shut out of the action on Sept. 9 Only voters registered with a party having a primary can vote on Tuesday. And even their choices are limited.

As usual, most incumbents do not face serious challenges. For example, only two of the city's 13 congressional districts offer primaries, and no legislative seats from Staten Island even appear on the ballot. Unless they live on Staten Island or in a sliver of Brooklyn, Republicans have nothing to vote for.

That said, the ballot this month does offer some important contests. The Bronx features a number of races, individual battles in the wider fight for control of the county party organization. Voters from both parties will select nominees to run in November for what has been the city's only Republican congressional seat. And a handful of competitive State Senate races will set the stage for the showdown in November -- when Democrats will try to wrest the state Senate from Republican control.

Gotham Gazette offers a complete guide to the primary. For links to our articles on every competitive race for Congress, State Senate and State Assembly from New York City, see the box. For a guide to other races and for voter information, see below

• Manhattan Surrogate's Court:
• Civil Court, The Bronx
• Civil Court, Manhattan
• Civil Court, 1st Municipal Court District, Brooklyn
• State Party Committee
• District Leaders
• Judicial Convention Delegates
• Where and How to Vote
• New Ballot Marking Devices
• First-Time Voters
• Problems at the Polls?

Manhattan Surrogate's Court:

Three Democrats are facing off for a 14-year term at the Manhattan Surrogate Court, which oversees wills, adoptions and estates.

The candidates all have close ties to estate law in the city. Nora Anderson had been the chief clerk at the court for three years. For more than a decade, John Reddy has served as counsel to the department of the Manhattan public administrator's office, which oversees the distribution of estates without wills. Manhattan Justice Milton Tingling oversees some guardianship cases.

The candidates are looking to replace Renee R. Roth, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Manhattan has two surrogate court judges, the other being Kristin Booth Glen.

The Surrogate's Court has faced repeated allegations of cronyism, because its judges appoint attorneys to oversee the distribution of estates, allowing the attorneys to benefit financially. The court then can become a venue for doling out political favors. All three candidates have reportedly emphasized the need to do away with this public perception.

The party organization has backed Tingling, while Anderson received the endorsement of the New York Times.

In the latest campaign-finance filing period, Anderson received $21,185 in contributions, Reddy received $36,795 and Tingling garnered $9,400.

Civil Court Judge, The Bronx

Three candidates are competing in a hotly contested race to fill a vacancy on Civil Court in the Bronx. Like many of the other primary contests in the borough this year, this judicial race is being viewed as a proxy fight in the larger battle between the party organization and a group dubbed the Rainbow Rebellion. The dispute also has its racial dimensions. The organization's candidate, Maria Matos, is Puerto Rican; the rebellion's Elizabeth Taylor, is black.

Matos currently serves as a court attorney in Bronx Civil Court, according to her Web site, while Taylor is principal law clerk for the Bronx County Supreme Court. Verena Powell, a former assistant district attorney, is in private practice and the candidate of the Rising Voice coalition. Some see her candidacy as a boost for Matos since she is black and could split that vote.

By many accounts, the race is not only emblematic of the rift in the Bronx but has also deepened it. Members of the Rainbow group are reportedly angry that Assemblymember Jose Rivera, the leader of the Bronx Democratic organization, opted to back Matos instead of Taylor. The New York Times has "enthusiastically" endorsed Taylor.

Whoever wins will face Republican/Conservative Marcos A. Pagan III in November.

Civil Court Judge, Manhattan

Voters must decide between Nancy M. Bannon and Michael L. Katz, who both currently serve as clerks on the state Supreme Court. The seat became vacant in mid May, near the filing deadline, when Judge Shirley Kornreich was promoted to an interim seat on the state Supreme Court.

Katz has reportedly raised far more money than Bannon. Some people in legal circles have questioned whether Bannon tried to conceal a $13,000 loan she gave to her campaign. She claims any mistake was a result of bad advice from the state Board of Elections and that the dispute is " wasting everybody's time."

Bannon received the endorsement of the New York Times, which described both candidates as "able and committed to making the legal system more accessible for less-wealthy litigants," but said that "Bannon's thoughtful manner and depth of legal experience give her the edge." Bannon also received an endorsement from the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, while the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats endorsed Katz.

Civil Court, 1st Municipal Court District, Brooklyn

Lawyers Roger B. Adler and Devin P. Cohen are facing off in a Brooklyn Civil Court primary, which covers Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and parts of Park Slope. Both candidates are attempting to distance themselves from the Brooklyn party machine, which has had a longstanding reputation for corruption.

Adler is the former attorney for the former Brooklyn Democratic party boss, Clarence Norman, who has since been found guilty for embezzling campaign funds. Although he has won the backing of Brooklyn Party Boss Vito Lopez, Adler is reportedly boasting that a lack of endorsements testifies to his distance from the party machine.

Cohen, a member of Community Board 6, has received backing from local politicians, including City Council members Letitia James, Bill de Blasio and David Yassky. He has also won over the Independent Neighborhood Democrats and Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats.

State Party Committee

State committees are the official party organizations. Most Assembly districts get two members -- one male and one female -- elected by party members in that district. Often these elections, little noticed by many voters, involve larger battles for party control between two or more factions.

This year, there are contests for the Democratic State Committee from Assembly districts 69 and 72 in Manhattan; 78, 79, 80, 83, 85 and 86 in the Bronx; 40 and 55 in Brooklyn; and 22 in Queens;

The Independence Party State Committee will elect members from district 68 in Manhattan, district 54 in Brooklyn; districts 24, 26 and 27 in Queens; and 60, 61 and 62 on Staten Island.

None of the other parties are having contests for state committee posts.

District Leaders

District leaders are intermediaries between the major political parties and the community in which they are elected. Together they form the governing bodies of the Democratic and Republican parties within their respective counties. The position is often seen as a stepping-stone to higher office, and many times is held by members of the State Assembly or City Council. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch started his political career as a district leader.

Each district elects a male and female representative. District leaders serve four-year terms, are not paid and work within the political parties. "The way to think of them is not as a 'block captain,' but as a 'neighborhood captain,'" according to Alex Carabelli, deputy director of Grassroots Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps community members get elected to local office. "They help coordinate petitioning and local campaigns, and anything else the parties are doing in the community."

District leaders select poll inspectors, clerks, supervisors and translators to fill the various poll worker positions on Election Day. They also serve as ex-officio members of the County Committee Executive Board.

Contested elections for district leader often reflect wider battles for party control, which could explain why so many district leader positions from the Bronx will be on the Democratic Party ballot this year. At least two factions -- the party organization of Assemblymember Jose Rivera and a group calling itself the Rainbow Rebellion, are seeking control of the Bronx party. There will be contests in the borough's 76th, 79th, 80th, 82nd -- Part A, 83rd and 85th districts.

In Queens, Democrats in district 22 -- Part A, district 22 -- part B and 32 part A will select district leaders. The party in the 22nd is split between activists aligned with City Councilmember John Liu and supporters of former Assemblymember Jimmy Meng and his daughter -- and Assembly candidate -- Grace Meng.

Judicial Convention Delegates

A number of candidates on Tuesday are seeking election to posts that some New Yorkers want to eliminate. They hope to be delegates or alternative delegates to state judicial conventions. Those elected attend a meeting to vote on their party's candidates for state Supreme Court - New York's main trial court. Their action at these meetings tend to be "a formality because the bosses have usually picked the nominees beforehand," Carol DeMare has written in the Albany Times Union.

In the meantime, though, the positions exist, and a lot of people run for them. In Manhattan's 72nd Assembly district, 26 people are vying for seven delegate posts, while 22 people want to be alternate delegates. There are also Democratic contests in Manhattan's 75th Assembly district; the 76th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 82nd, 83rd, 85th, 86th districts in the Bronx; the 40th district in Brooklyn; and the 22nd district in Queens.

The Independence Party has a contested race for delegate to the Judicial Convention from the 61st district on Staten Island.

Where and How to Vote

The election will be Tuesday, Sept. 9, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Only registered voters who have registered in a party at least 25 days before the election can vote. If you have moved within your election district, you can still vote. But if you moved to another election district you must have notified the Board of Elections of your new residence - unless you moved within 20 days of the election. Then you can still vote in your old district.

In primary elections in New York people can vote only in the party in which they are registered.

You should have received a notice in the mail telling you where to vote, or you can go to the Board of Election's poll site locator or call 1 866.VOTE-NYC. This number can provide you with other information as well, such as registration deadlines.

On its Web site, the Board of Elections also has instructions for how to work the voting machine.

If you cannot get to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot.

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., or downloading one from the board's Web site.

To cast your vote, you can deliver the ballot to the board's office in your borough or mail it to the borough office. To be counted, an absentee ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day -- in this case Sept. 8 -- and must reach the Board of Elections no more than seven days after the election.

If the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed and you cannot appear at the polls on Election Day because of an accident or sudden illness, you may send a representative with an authorized letter to receive an absentee ballot application and absentee ballot and return both to the Board of Elections by 9 p.m. on Election Day at your borough office.

Ballot Marking Devices

This year, voters will see a new addition to their poll site on Election Day. The Board of Elections will put a ballot marking device -- or BMD -- in place at every polling location to allow disabled voters to cast their ballots independently and privately at their own poll site for the first time here. The devices are part of the New York State Board of Election's plan to bring the entire state into compliance with the Help America Vote Act by the 2009 elections.

This first phase of the plan means that all voters -- disabled or not -- can cast their ballots with the assistance of what might be described as an electronic pencil. Voters put a paper ballot into the BMD and then select from a number of different formats for casting their vote. The machine can read the ballot to you with the audio function, it can display enlarged text for those with vision problems, it can accommodate two switch paddles and sip and puff devices, and it can do so in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean.

For detailed information about the BMDs and instructional pictures the Board of Elections has information here. You can also find frequently asked questions and videos there.

First-Time Voters

New Yorkers who registered to vote for the first time via mail may be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license, when they arrive at the polls.

Voters without a driver's license can also offer a copy of one of the following:

• valid photo ID
• current utility bill
• bank statement
• government check or other government document that shows the voter's name and address.

Those who do not have any form of identification or decline to supply one will be allowed to vote by paper ballot, not in the machines, according to the Board of Elections. Those votes will be counted only if they are verified to match registration forms.

The new rules are part of the federal Help America Vote Act, which Congress passed after the turmoil in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.

What If You 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 Democratic primary in this swath of the west Bronx " shapes up as the toughest taste test since the Iran-Iraq War," Tom Robbins recently wrote in the Village Voice. The contest features two candidates who have faced repeated questions about their integrity and ethics.

The primary also includes Richard Soto, who operates a real estate company and served as chief of staff for former Bronx City Councilmember Israel Ruiz. Soto will remain in the ballot -- as the Republican and Independence candidates -- in November regardless of what happens in the primary. For the primary, though, Soto "largely been an absentee candidate," according to the Norwood News. William J. Sullivan is the Conservative Party candidate.

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Incumbent Ephrain Gonzalez, runs while under indictment on federal charges alleging that he used hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for non-profit organizations for his own use, including personalized cigars. Gonzalez, who maintains his innocence, is set to go on trial in October -- after the primary.

Despite being under indictment in 2006, Gonzalez, a former bus driver who has held the office since 1989, won the general election with 97 percent of the vote.

His opponent, former City Councilmember and State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. was the subject of a public corruption investigation but never was charged, according to Robbins. Later three executives of his Soundview Health Centers pleaded guilty to steering $30,000 from various health programs into Espada's political campaigns. Questions have arisen over whether he really lives in the Bronx district, although he has apparently survived an effort to disqualify him from running this year.

The Bronx Democratic organization is supporting Gonzalez. Espada earned its enmity for bucking the party organization and for allying himself with Senate Republicans when he served in the legislature.

Espada does have more money though. At the July filing, he had $35,623.51, compared to a negative balance of $10,856.55 for Gonzalez. Soto, who spent $32,175.62, had a balance of $11,044.38.

Update: In this contest for an open seat, Castro defeated Soto in the Democratic primary and will face Campbell on the Conservative and Republican lines on Tuesday.

Only days after Luis Diaz filed his petitions to run for re-election to the State Assembly, Gov. David Paterson named him as his downstate government and community affairs person. The party organization then selected a successor to run or the post: Nelson Castro, a former chief of staff to Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat.

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In the primary, Castro faces Mike Soto, brother of Richard Soto, who is running for State Senate in the 33rd district. But according to the City Room blog, " Soto has campaigned little if at all."

Soto did try to get Castro knocked off the ballot, questioning his residence: It seems Castro and his girlfriend -- and nine other adults -- all list the same one bedroom apartment as their address. Even though a Board of Election referee found Castro "less than credible," he got to stay on the ballot.

Lisa Marie Campbell plans to run in November on the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines.

District 30 Candidates: Charles Ober, Elizabeth Crowley, Thomas Ognibene, and Anthony Como

The unofficial results are as follows: Como received 2,352 votes, Crowley has 2,282 votes, Ognibene has 1,031 and Ober has 752. This does not include absentee ballots. Currently, a Board of Elections official said, there are 196 unopened absentee ballots -- certainly enough to topple Como's lead of 70 votes. We will continue to update you as results trickle in.

Four candidates, two Republicans, two Democrats, one woman, three men and the opportunity to widen the partisan gap in the New York City Council by yet another seat.

The 30th district -- a Republican pocket of New York City that has served as one of the council's remaining conservative strongholds (in context of an overwhelmingly Democratic city) for nearly the last two decades -- is the scene of yet another special election. After now-disgraced, former Councilmember Dennis Gallagher stepped down as a result of a plea bargain on rape charges in April, the 30th, which comprises a swath of quasi-suburban communities from Middle Village to Ridgewood, has become center stage of council politics.

A pool of six candidates has been whittled down to the four who will face voters on June 3. Though a nonpartisan election, the two major parties have made their selection: for the GOP, Anthony Como, former counsel to State Sen. Serphin Maltese and Queens County Board of Elections commissioner, and on the Democratic side, Elizabeth Crowley, who ran against Gallagher in 2001 and whose cousin heads the Queens Democratic Party and is a member of Congress.

They battle Democratic candidate Charles Ober, an openly gay civic leader who has clinched some of the county's independent endorsements, and former Republican City Councilmember Thomas Ognibene, who served in the seat for a decade before being forced out by term limits in 2001.

The Apolitical Race

In a small, windowless room in P.S. 49 in Middle Village, four candidates passed a microphone back and forth while fielding questions on development and urban planning issues late last month.

Crowley touted her experience as an urban planner. Como described his record of community service. Ober committed to hiring a land use expert to address overdevelopment and Ognibene reiterated his experience.

This was just one event in what has become a two-month series of forums and debates in a race where no clear frontrunner has emerged.

All the candidates have, in one way or another, gleaned some sort of political know-how -- whether in Albany, in City Hall or on the streets of Glendale. All also have to leave their party affiliations behind -- at least officially -- as is required in special elections. The practice is supposed to limit the influence of powerful party leaders, since special elections often have low turnouts and can easily assure the victor of a seat for years to come (Incumbency, whether for four years or several months, sways voters in the city).

As a result, the candidates have adopted their own political label. Como is stumping on "People First," while Crowley has tweaked her slogan to "Schools First." Ober is running on "Community First," and Ognibene is using "Experience Counts."

But whoever wins the title of councilmember on June 3, cannot rest for long. City law requires another special election in November to determine who will serve the remainder of Gallagher's term, which ends in 2009. Then, the successful candidate would face another election in just a year in order to serve a full four-year term.

These candidates, however, claim to be up to the challenge.

The Issues

The 30th district has not been immune to the criticism that has plagued the City Council of late. In addition to the slush fund scandal, residents in Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth and Glendale also were hit hard by the circumstances of Gallagher's resignation.

As a result, some community leaders say any potential successor will have to re-establish the trust and support of the community.

In addition, candidates face a plethora of other issues, including overcrowded schools, overdevelopment and flooding. Historical row houses are threatened by inconsistent zoning regulations, which could bring development that many see as out of character with the rest of the community. Their next councilmember, residents say, must also confront the loss of small businesses and address the area's transportation woes -- much of the neighborhood is no where near a subway.

All of the candidates have voiced support for preserving the district, including urging the city to move forward with downzoning regulations (Here is a survey filled out by the candidates for the Historic Districts Council, which addresses preservation and land marking issues).

They must also raise funds to preserve and move Maspeth's St. Saviour's Church -- a structure from the early 1800s threatened by development. And then there is flooding, which often inundates Middle Village and Maspeth.

On many of these issues, the candidates have voiced similar positions: They intend to balance development and preservation in order to protect the character of the district.

Some of the candidate's differences, however, have been seen elsewhere.

Sticking to the Issues -- Or Not

Crowley calls herself an "environmentalist." She drives a hybrid, has a master's degree in urban planning and two kids in the public schools. She's been a resident of the area all of her life. Her parents served on the City Council, representing some of the same neighborhoods she now is vying to take over.

Her critics cite nepotism, saying she is just another member of a politically powerful family and not necessarily representative of the change the neighborhood needs. Given the council's tainted reputation currently, her Democratic opponent cites fines Crowley incurred from the city's Campaign Finance Board following her 2001 race, where she failed to respond to allegations of fraud.

The Glendale resident has also received flak from a powerful neighborhood civic organization for skipping a debate in order to attend a local newspaper's editorial meeting.

Crowley has landed several key endorsements, including those of council members Joseph Addabbo and Eric Gioia, Rep. Anthony Weiner and Rep. Joseph Crowley, who is her cousin, and several Assembly members. She has raised far more than any other candidate at $159,400, and garnered more signatures than anyone else as well.

In contrast to Crowley's green perspective, Ognibene says he will not be "duped" by global warming, though he said he does recognize reducing emissions is worthwhile. While the veteran candidate has been successful at playing up his experience -- most of his answers are accompanied by anecdotes of his time as council minority leader, and he claims to be the only candidate competent enough to handle a marathon election. "When you have three budgets coming up, there is a learning curve to become a City Council member," Ognibene said on NY1's "Inside City Hall." "I think I have the experience and knowledge, and I'll be ready on day one."

Ognibene, though, cannot escape references to scandal either. Gallagher was Ognibene's protégé. Before that, Ognibene, who ran for mayor in 2005 against Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was mired in his own scandal in 2001 when he was accused of taking bribes from a buildings consultant. Ognibene has raised $35,365 and received nearly $60,000 in public matching funds.

Como, the leading Republican candidate based on endorsements, has cast himself as an experienced candidate who worked in the community for years with Maltese. A former assistant district attorney, the Middle Village resident has cited senior services and keeping taxes down as key issues in his campaign.

But Como's competence to serve has also been questioned. During a debate on NY1, Ognibene asked him what the capital budget consists of. Como could not answer the question. Como has also been criticized for snubbing the same debate Crowley had and for challenging his Republican rivals at the Board of Elections earlier in the race.

Como has received endorsements from the county Republican Party, and state senators Maltese and Martin Golden. He has raised $48,230 in private funds and received more than $75,000 in the city's matching funds.

Ober has defined himself as the independent candidate in this cast and played up his financial background. The Ridgewood resident belongs to several area civic associations and is the former president of the Queens Pride House, a gay and lesbian community center. The Juniper Park Civic Association, known as powerful political group in the area, has called him competent.

Ober has also gained the endorsement of several gay and lesbians organizations in the city and of mayoral candidate and council maverick, Councilmember Tony Avella. Ober also received an endorsement from The New York Times. He has raised $23,744 in private funds.

 

The following General Election results are based on the unofficial vote tally as reported by the New York City Board of Elections. The results below are subject to change as the official count is made public.

BRONX

BROOKLYN

MANHATTAN

QUEENS

STATEN ISLAND