A Breezy Point resident and former Wall Street maven will attempt to give Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer a run for her money in the 23rd Assembly District this fall.Gerald Sullivan, a 41-year-old Queens Republican, who currently works for a Connecticut investment manager, announced his candidacy.
Sullivan, the son of a New York City police officer, said he is running in an effort to get the state government more in tune with the needs of the people in south Queens.
“People get lost in the political process,” he said. “I just think we need a stronger voice for the working class in this community.”
His biggest concerns are making sure the community sees an increase in services for children and the elderly, something he feels has been lacking for many people in the southern part of the borough, especially in the Rockaways where he resides.
In Sullivan’s view, the current slate of largely Democratic politicians have failed his native district and Queens as a whole, by making promises without following through on them.
“A lot of my decision (to run for office) is based on the failures of the current politicians.” He pointed at a perceived unwillingness of Democratic party members to differ from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and said he was afraid of the consequences if Democrats take control of both state legislative houses in the fall.
Sullivan has the support of the Queens County Republican Party, according to Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone, who said that the most important support for the candidate comes from Republicans in the community.
“I know he has the full support of his district leaders,” Tabone said. “They have been rebuilding the party in that area very aggressively.”
Sullivan will be facing off against incumbent Democrat Audrey Pheffer, who is an established candidate with a strong base of support after 20 years of service in the Assembly. She has filed with the campaign finance board to run for borough president. Tabone acknowledged that Sullivan would be in for a fight, but said the Republican certainly had a fair amount of ammunition in his quiver.
“I think when it comes down to the record, he’ll be able to show significant distinctions between her rhetoric and her record,” he said.
