The race for Queens borough president is more than a year away, but four candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring.
And if fund-raising is any barometer of a candidate's chances, Peter Vallone Jr. is miles ahead of his nearest competitor. The term-limited city councilman has already raised more than $680,000 for an undeclared office, according to city Campaign Finance Board records as of Jan. 15.
Fellow term-limited Council members Leroy Comrie and Helen Sears, as well as Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, also are considering a run for the office.
Pheffer, the only one officially registered as a candidate for borough president, has raised about $230,000, roughly a third of Vallone's war chest. Comrie has raised more than $77,000, while Sears has accumulated close to $74,000.
"Fund-raising is important. It shows support," said Vallone, who has already held a high-profile event at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria, and plans on hosting several smaller parties in the near future. "I love public service and I'd like to continue in it," he said.
Pheffer flirted with running for the office in 2001, but dropped out of a crowded field early in the race. She told Queens News she plans on ramping up her profile and hosting more events for a stronger run in 2009.
"In a borough with over 2 million people, you want fund-raisers that reach everyone," said Pheffer, who has served in the Assembly for more than 20 years. "You really have to talk to the man and woman on the street. I want to bring people into the electoral process."
Comrie has openly coveted the office for the past few years, and said he doesn't plan on playing catch-up for long. "We want to have some events soon," he said. "It's an opportunity to talk to people. We want our fund-raisers to have an emphasis on fun."
Queens Republicans have yet to anoint a candidate for the 2009 race, and are focusing on the presidential and statewide races in 2008, party leaders said.
The borough president's office has historically been occupied mostly by Democrats, and many see the Democratic primary in September 2009 as the real election.
"I'm sure we're going to run someone," said Queens County GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa. "We don't have any names yet."
Vallone said he hopes to capitalize on his family's political legacy, which goes back to his grandfather, Queens Criminal Court Judge Charles Vallone, and his father, Peter Sr., who served on the Council for more than 25 years.
"I hope that in 2009, with the cacophony of candidates, [voters] will look for a name they can trust," he said.
