The fight over the Democratic nomination for Queens Borough President is starting to gain momentum, as several interested parties have stepped forward to declare their intentions for 2009.
A recently published item in a New York City daily cited an inside source saying that the Queens County Democratic Organization is leaning towards Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, a Democrat of Ozone Park and the Rockaways, as their choice for the nomination.
That news runs contrary to recent speculation that Councilman Leroy Comrie of St. Albans was the front-runner for the endorsement and the office, which in recent history has been more or less handed to the Democratic nominee.
A source close to the organization said that despite any exterior grumblings, the Queens County Democratic Organization still considers it extremely early to be settling on any one candidate for an endorsement.
Astoria Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. has been vocal about his intention to run for borough president, and has been quoted as saying that his desire to run won’t be tempered by other politicians throwing their hat in the ring.
Vallone held a fundraising event every week in September, and according to the campaign finance board, as of July 2007 had raised nearly $300,000 in anticipation of the race for the office.
Pheffer is the only candidate who has filed her intention to run with the state campaign finance board.
It’s important to note that Pheffer, as the only one currently in the conversation who is not a City Council member, could conceivably keep her state position while running for the office, while Comrie and Vallone would both be left out due to term limits.
A source also said that any number of candidates who are far along in the fundraising process for other positions in the city could have a change of heart and decide to take a shot at the borough president’s office as a consolation prize in the event that their citywide choice becomes unattainable.
A source close to the organization said that despite any exterior grumblings, the Queens County Democratic Organization still considers it extremely early to be settling on any one candidate for an endorsement.
Astoria Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. has been vocal about his intention to run for borough president, and has been quoted as saying that his desire to run won’t be tempered by other politicians throwing their hat in the ring.
Vallone held a fundraising event every week in September, and according to the campaign finance board, as of July 2007 had raised nearly $300,000 in anticipation of the race for the office.
Pheffer is the only candidate who has filed her intention to run with the state campaign finance board.
It’s important to note that Pheffer, as the only one currently in the conversation who is not a City Council member, could conceivably keep her state position while running for the office, while Comrie and Vallone would both be left out due to term limits.
A source also said that any number of candidates who are far along in the fundraising process for other positions in the city could have a change of heart and decide to take a shot at the borough president’s office as a consolation prize in the event that their citywide choice becomes unattainable.
